Portrayals of Italian-Americans in cinema have become more authentic and diverse in recent years, yet old stereotypes keep getting recycled. This dates back to the emergence of the gangster stereotype, which solidified and confirmed certain prejudices that began after World War II.

Since then, characters like Don Vito Corleone, Tony Montana, and Fonzie are not representative of what it is to be an Italian-American, but rather exist to entertain, void of any authenticity or lack of interest in who Italian-Americans are.