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IMDb rating Visit page
IMDb rating 7.8
Critic rating Average critic rating
Critic rating 7.8

Reviews

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Critic Ian Freer
rated 6

Despite Crowe’s sterling efforts, (...) this is Washington’s show. Channelling some of the intensity and aggression he brought to Training Day...

Read full review at Empire
Critic Roger Ebert
rated 10

It is about an extraordinary entrepreneur whose story was told in a New York magazine article by Mark Jacobson.

Read full review at Roger Ebert
Critic Tasha Robinson
rated 8

Washington stands out; he's charming, intense, and charismatic as ever, and his inevitable direct confrontation with Crowe is appropriately breathless...

Read full review at The A.V. Club
Critic Kenneth Mcneil
rated 7

Et interessant indblik i 70’ernes Harlem, og et endnu mere imponerende indblik i én af det seneste århundredes største narkobaroners liv.

Read full review at Cinemazone

Cast & Crew

Ridley Scott
Director
John Cenatiempo
As Cop #1 (uncredited)
Jon Polito
As Rossi
Josh Brolin
As Detective Trupo
Cuba Gooding Jr.
As Nicky Barnes
Ruby Dee
As Mama Lucas
RZA
As Moses Jones

Frequently Asked Questions

What is American Gangster about? Toggle content

American Gangster is a crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the true story of Frank Lucas, a drug lord who rose to power in Harlem in the 1970s. The film follows Lucas' journey from being the right-hand man of Harlem mob boss Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson to becoming the top crime lord in Harlem, buying heroin directly from producers in Thailand and smuggling it into the US through returning Vietnam War servicemen. Lucas' heroin, branded as "Blue Magic," becomes incredibly popular due to its affordability and purity, eliminating much of his competition. However, his rise to power attracts the attention of Newark Detective Richie Roberts, who is determined to bring him down. Roberts is portrayed as a tough, no-nonsense detective who is willing to go against the grain to get results. The film explores themes of ambition, greed, corruption, and violence as Lucas and Roberts engage in a cat-and-mouse game. The tension between Lucas and Roberts drives the plot forward as they both try to outsmart each other. Throughout the film, Scott uses symbolism effectively when depicting scenes involving drugs being transported via plane across oceans or during closeups that show nothing but barren streets containing only trash - demonstrating how something pure can easily become corrupted over time just like these two characters' motives eventually do too with fatal consequences looming near at all times!

Where can I stream American Gangster? Toggle content

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What movies are similar to American Gangster? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as American Gangster include Unthinkable, City of God, Inside Man, In Bruges, Lord of War, No Country for Old Men.