One of the best gangster movies ever is airing on TV tonight

The film has one of the most iconic final scenes of all time.

Set in the late 1970s, the film follows Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), an English gangster attempting to become a legitimate property mogul.

In an effort to accomplish this, he wants the American mafia to bankroll his transformation of a derelict area of London into a possible venue for a future Olympic Games.

Just as the Americans arrive in the city to discuss the deal, however, Shand's world is destabilised by a series of shock bomb attacks on his property, as well as the murders of several of his associates.

Convinced there is a traitor amidst his organisation, the gangster sets out to eliminate the rat in a typically ruthless fashion, all the while trying to secure the deal with the Americans.

Alongside Hoskins, The Long Good Friday also stars future Oscar-winner Helen Mirren (The Queen) as Shand's resourceful girlfriend Victoria.

On top of this, the movie features a very young Pierce Brosnan (James Bond) in a small but pivotal part.

Thanks to the film's brilliant performances, gritty depiction of late ’70s London and unforgettable closing scene, The Long Good Friday is widely considered a classic entry in the gangster sub-genre.

In fact, the movie was cited as an influence on the recent Guy Ritchie-directed London-set gangster series MobLand, which also starred Brosnan and Mirren.

Holding a whopping 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Long Good Friday is airing tonight/tomorrow morning on Film4 at 12.20am. It is also available to rent on Apple TV and Google Play.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

Con Air - Virgin Media One - 9pm

'Put… the bunny… back… in the box.'

The Mechanic / Wild Card - Film4 - 9pm / 10.50pm

Two very solid Jason Statham action thrillers back to back.

The Alamo - Legend - 9pm

The 2004 US historical war drama about the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.

The Gunman - Legend Xtra - 9pm

Sean Penn leads a great cast – including Idris Elba, Javier Bardem and Mark Rylance – in this action thriller that is sadly not very good.

Man Without a Star - TG4 - 9.10pm

The 1955 Kirk Douglas-led Western.

The Bucket List - RTÉ2 - 9.35pm

A comedy-drama following two terminally ill men (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who head off on a globetrotting last vacation with a wish list of things to do before they die.

American Reunion - Channel 4 - 10.35pm

The fourth and final instalment in the American Pie theatrical series.

Who We Love - RTÉ One - 11.15pm

The well-liked 2021 Irish coming-of-age drama.

Vehicle 19 - Legend Xtra - 11.15pm

Paul Walker is the lead of this watchable thriller set in South Africa, playing a man who unknowingly picks up a rental car that winds up tying him to a web of corrupt local police.

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