Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin ...( see more  see more... ) , Armand Assante , RZA , John Ortiz , John Hawkes , Ted Levine , Common , Idris Elba

Based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant, Frank Lucas, who grew up in segregated North Carolina where he watched as his cousin was shot by the Klan for looking at a white girl. He eventually...( read more  read more... ) made his way to Harlem where he became a heroin kingpin by traveling to Asia's Golden Triangle to make connections, shipping heroin back to the US in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. He soon made upwards of one million dollars a day in drug sales. Lucas was shadowed by lawman, Richie Roberts, who finally helped bring the kingpin to justice. The two then worked together to expose the crooked cops and foreign nationals who made importing heroin so easy.

Flixster Users

87% liked it

922,480 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

202 critics

R, 2 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Release Date: November 2, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 19, 2008

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Stats: 70,981 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (70,981)


  • January 9, 2010
    A true masterpiece. An epic cinematic crime classic that ranks with The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Departed. A great, blistering, stylish, riveting, adrenaline-pumping and sizzling crime drama. Director, Ridley Scott has crafted some of his finest work as a filmmaker. A magnif...( read more)icent and muscular gangster saga. It explodes on the screen. An extremely powerful and breathtaking film. Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington give performances in which movie legends are made of. Washington is brilliant, giving a portrayal that stands with Malcom X and Training day. Crowe is electrifying, giving also a portrayal that stands with Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind. These two mega stars have never been better. Josh Brolin is terrific. Ruby Dee is wonderful. This is one movie you wont forget. It's cool, captivating, mesmerizing, intense, outstanding and unforgettable. It's relentless and utterly satisfying. It's sensational and original. A full-clip of genius. A gripping, dramatic and realistic film. Stunning suspense and heart-pounding action. An explosive and very exciting action-packed ride.
  • October 1, 2009
    Nice to see Ridley Scott making good films again! This is a great Gangster epic, although it can never be compared to the classics (Godfather, Goodfellas), it is one of the best Gangster films of resent times.
  • September 4, 2009
    This movie has a good cast, but it slow starting. It looks at how a gangster uses his family and contacts in the drug world.
  • May 17, 2009
    Brilliant acting by Crowe and Washington plus Scott's near flawless direction, make 'American Gangster' one of the best films.
  • March 25, 2009
    although this film dims slightly with time, it is still a phenomenal film and one of the better gangster films ever made. it almost went the direction of depalmas scarface, but averted such a tragedy just in time to remain an amazing film.
  • February 7, 2010
    one of my fav gangster movies, seen it about 10 times and even did a universtiy english paper on it comparing it to king lear, thought it was a great movie and a great story
  • February 5, 2010
    Good acting, good directing and good writing. But it's a little bit too long than it needed to be.
  • February 1, 2010
    Odli?an film,sniman kao old school krimic!drama 70/80-ih...
  • January 28, 2010
    Nice to see Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe back together. It was better when I just saw the previews, though.
  • January 26, 2010
    Some tried to compare it to "The Godfather"... maybe they are wrong, but this film really deserves 5 stars... Denzel Washington once again confirms he is a great actor...

Critic Reviews


November 15, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

Length does not add substance to the drama, even where reality adds weight to the argument. full review

November 9, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

It marks a return to the lost art of true storytelling, every bit as epic as 'The Godfather' and just as fascinating to see. full review

November 2, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Their ambition is out there. But for all the sprawl, American Gangster feels secondhand. It's like Scarface drained of blood, at arm's length from the culture that spawned it. full review

November 2, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It's a much better film than nine-tenths of what's out there on any given Friday, and if you're a fan of steak-and-potatoes crime drama, I highly recommend it. full review

November 2, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is an engrossing story, told smoothly and well, and Russell Crowe's contribution is enormous. full review

November 2, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

As an entertaining cops-and-crook procedural -- it's not half-bad, jacked up by strong performances, a couple of bravura action scenes and a generous attention to period detail. full review

November 1, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The movie, based on a true story, takes surprising twists and turns right up to its chilling ending and is probably the best gangster crime drama of the year. full review

November 1, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

As a piece of storytelling -- built on the foundation of a great story -- it's an epic that's been sliced and diced into so many little morsels that almost nothing in it has any weight. full review

October 31, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

American Gangster's simultaneous celebration of crime, punishment and upward mobility should be titled Cry Capitalism. That's the code of the new Western. full review

October 18, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Call it the black Scarface or the Harlem Godfather or just one hell of an exciting movie, but the fact-based, 1970s-era American Gangster is already looking like a major awards contender. full review

View more American Gangster reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • patriciacoffin
    July 23, 2009
    I luv it....
  • terris85017
    February 4, 2009
    (2007 Director: Ridley Scott) One of Denzel Washington's best performances......Almost missed this one...but that would have been a waste...liked this like I liked "16 Blocks" (Bruce Willis). Only Russell Crowe plays the down-on-his-luck cop with a "hunch."

    Based on a true story (or so people are saying) Great cast. Who WASN'T in THIS movie? I might take notice of that if in charge of the next casting call!!

    Even Armando Assante starred a key role as a mob boss. Great performances.

    Kind of the story of ruin of a good man (Denzel Washington) raised with mob influences in the ghetto who succombed to profit at what cost?

    Every criminal has their heyday and what a heyday he had!
  • Knytmare0
    January 22, 2009
    http://musiccrave.webs.com
  • guneetdhaliwal
    July 24, 2008
    THE LOUDEST 1... IS THE WEAKEST 1....
  • issy17
    April 19, 2008
    Of all the gangster movies this one comes 2nd Great...cause Scar Face was thee MOST.
  • pavacri23
    February 24, 2008
    good story and denzel relly acts here
  • nbhatti3000
    February 19, 2008
    heroin dealing crime movie
  • TexasHorn
    February 15, 2008
    go denzel, he is always amazing in his movies
  • strick2u
    December 30, 2007
    Densel was hot!!!
  • superque007
    December 11, 2007
    man the movie is a classic cna't wait for the DVD

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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American Gangster Trivia


  • American Gangster, the new movie by Ridley Scott, once was offered to Michael Bay.  Answer »
  • Who was the actor that played in these movies: Virtuosity, American Gangster, The Quick and the Dead and LA Confidential?  Answer »
  • Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington have been in two movies together. One is American Gangster, what's the other?  Answer »
  • What two movies have Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe starred in together?  Answer »

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