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American Gangster

"There are two sides to the American dream."

2007-11-02 Drama 2hr 37m

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.

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MGM+ Amazon Channel

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American Gangster
MGM+ Amazon Channel

Watch on MGM+ Amazon Channel

Storyline

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.

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Cast

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe

Richie Roberts
Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Nicky Barnes
Josh Brolin

Josh Brolin

Detective Trupo
Ted Levine

Ted Levine

Lou Toback
Armand Assante

Armand Assante

Dominic Cattano
John Ortiz

John Ortiz

Javier J. Rivera
John Hawkes

John Hawkes

Freddie Spearman
RZA

RZA

Moses Jones
Yul Vazquez

Yul Vazquez

Alfonso Abruzzo
Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee

Mama Lucas
Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino

Laurie Roberts
Joe Morton

Joe Morton

Charlie Williams
Common

Common

Turner Lucas
Ritchie Coster

Ritchie Coster

Joey Sadano
Ric Young

Ric Young

Chinese General
Roger Bart

Roger Bart

US Attorney
T.I.

T.I.

Stevie Lucas
KaDee Strickland

KaDee Strickland

Richie's Attorney
Norman Reedus

Norman Reedus

Detective in Morgue
Kathleen Garrett

Kathleen Garrett

Mrs. Dominic Cattano
Albert Jones

Albert Jones

Terrence Lucas
J. Kyle Manzay

J. Kyle Manzay

Dexter Lucas
Skyler Fortgang

Skyler Fortgang

Michael Roberts
Warner Miller

Warner Miller

Melvin Lucas
Robert C. Kirk

Robert C. Kirk

Police Captain
Tom Stearns

Tom Stearns

2-Star General
Jon DeVries

Jon DeVries

Judge James Racine
Lee Shepherd

Lee Shepherd

Laurie's Attorney
Gavin Grazer

Gavin Grazer

Mike Sobota
Linda Powell

Linda Powell

Social Worker
Eddie Rouse

Eddie Rouse

Detective at Party
Maryann Urbano

Maryann Urbano

Real Estate Broker
Cedric Sanders

Cedric Sanders

Serviceman in Cafe
Jason Veasey

Jason Veasey

Serviceman in Cafe
Roosevelt Davis

Roosevelt Davis

Army Captain
Eric Silver

Eric Silver

White Kid
Saycon Sengbloh

Saycon Sengbloh

Tango's Woman
Conor Romero

Conor Romero

Tough Teenager
Daniel Hilt

Daniel Hilt

Tough Teenager
Daniel Farcher

Daniel Farcher

Tough Teenager
David Spearman

David Spearman

Civilian Cleaning Staff
Maurice Ballard

Maurice Ballard

Civilian Cleaning Staff
Paul Doherty

Paul Doherty

Newscaster
William C. Tate

William C. Tate

Baptist Minister
George Lee Miles

George Lee Miles

Frank's Lawyer
Chris McKinney

Chris McKinney

Reporter on TV
Tommy Guiffre

Tommy Guiffre

Medical Examiner
Dan Moran

Dan Moran

Army Captain
Chuck Cooper

Chuck Cooper

Private Doctor
Kevin Geer

Kevin Geer

Law School Professor
Joey Klein

Joey Klein

Chemist
Scott Dillin

Scott Dillin

4th Amigo
Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton

Funk Band Singer
Sarah Hudnut

Sarah Hudnut

Assistant Prosecutor
Jeff Greene

Jeff Greene

Metal Door Worker
Tyson Hall

Tyson Hall

Drug Dealer
Kirt Harding

Kirt Harding

Drug Dealer
Bryant Pearson

Bryant Pearson

Drug Dealer
Al Santos

Al Santos

Mechanic
Dylan Gallagher

Dylan Gallagher

Casket Loader
Dawn A. Douglas

Dawn A. Douglas

Narc Officer
Robbie Neigeborn

Robbie Neigeborn

Cop in Narc Headquarters
Clinton Lowe

Clinton Lowe

Man Arrested in Elevator
Wilhelm Lewis

Wilhelm Lewis

Head Wedding Photographer
Lonnie Gaetano

Lonnie Gaetano

Prison Guard
Jeff Mantel

Jeff Mantel

Officer Walsh
Panama Redd

Panama Redd

Policeman
Fab 5 Freddy

Fab 5 Freddy

Smalls Patron
Jonah Denizard

Jonah Denizard

Store Manager
Steve McAuliff

Steve McAuliff

Mounted Policeman
Bill Richards

Bill Richards

Helicopter Pilot
Brian Albanese

Brian Albanese

Spectator (uncredited)
Brian Keith Allen

Brian Keith Allen

Narc Squad Detective (uncredited)
Ephraim Benton

Ephraim Benton

Thug #4 (uncredited)
Myo Campbell

Myo Campbell

Red Carpet Walker (uncredited)
John Cenatiempo

John Cenatiempo

Cop #1 (uncredited)
J.W. Cortes

J.W. Cortes

Narc Officer in Hallway (uncredited)
Cris D'Annunzio

Cris D'Annunzio

Frank McNamara (uncredited)
Ernest Dancy

Ernest Dancy

Hustler (uncredited)
Michael Den Dekker

Michael Den Dekker

Undercover Cop (uncredited)
Mark DiConzo

Mark DiConzo

Soldier (uncredited)
Kevin van Doorslaer

Kevin van Doorslaer

Student (uncredited)
Monique Dupree

Monique Dupree

Club Dancer (uncredited)
Joseph Ferrante

Joseph Ferrante

Gangster at Funeral (uncredited)
Eddie Goines

Eddie Goines

Hallway Guy (uncredited)
Kelvin Hale

Kelvin Hale

Drug room door security (uncredited)
Gabriel Hansen

Gabriel Hansen

Mechanic Drug Dealer (uncredited)
Jermel Howard

Jermel Howard

Kid gangster #1 (uncredited)
Hristo Hristov

Hristo Hristov

Bookie / Soldier (uncredited)
Atif Lanier

Atif Lanier

Frank Lucas Bodyguard (uncredited)
Tina Lorraine

Tina Lorraine

Harlem Junkie (uncredited)
Artie Pasquale

Artie Pasquale

Mobster (uncredited)
Nick Poltoranin

Nick Poltoranin

Mobster (uncredited)
Kevin Pinassi

Kevin Pinassi

Building Maintenance Guy (uncredited)
Louis Rosario

Louis Rosario

Teenage Vandal (uncredited)
Paula Rittie

Paula Rittie

Maid of Honor (uncredited)
Billy Smith

Billy Smith

Bookkeeper (uncredited)
Aija Terauda

Aija Terauda

Nicky's Girl (uncredited)
Tammy Vaughn

Tammy Vaughn

Diana Ross (uncredited)
Philippe Vonlanthen

Philippe Vonlanthen

Skeet Shoot Handler (uncredited)
Clarence Williams III

Clarence Williams III

Bumpy Johnson (uncredited)
Brad Lee Wind

Brad Lee Wind

Trupo's detective in library (uncredited)
Ray Wineteer

Ray Wineteer

Photographer (uncredited)
Frances Mignano

Frances Mignano

Marie Saldano (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

American Gangster
American Gangster
American Gangster
American Gangster
American Gangster
American Gangster
American Gangster

Movie Reviews

Reviews for American Gangster
reviewer avatar

A Review by tanty 6

Written by tanty on 2015-07-14

Quite a disappointed since it is really as much as you expect, but nothing new. Washington and Russell perform really well, so, as a char... read more

Quite a disappointed since it is really as much as you expect, but nothing new. Washington and Russell perform really well, so, as a characters movie, it works. It doesn't work at all as a biopic. Too much Hollywood on it.

reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 9

Written by r96sk on 2020-08-16

A thoroughly entertaining 157 minutes! <em>'American Gangster'</em> delivers in every area it needs to. Enthralling premise, immaculate m... read more

A thoroughly entertaining 157 minutes! <em>'American Gangster'</em> delivers in every area it needs to. Enthralling premise, immaculate music, phenomenal casting and great pacing. I was surprised slightly with how it finishes, but it's far and away from a disappointing/underwhelming conclusion. Not much really needs to be said about Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. They're exactly how you'd expect them to be, outstanding! Washington is fantastic as Frank, while Crowe is superb as Richie. You have to wait a while for their proper screen time together, but it's worth the time it takes. Away from the leads, you have a load of recognizable faces - I was literally that Rick Dalton meme for the first 45-60 mins! Chiwetel Ejiofor (Huey) and Josh Brolin (Trupo) have sizeable roles, though there's also appearances from Carla Gugino (Laurie), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Nicky), Idris Elba (Tango) and Norman Reedus (Norman). Excellent casting, that! I was expecting slow moments due to the run time, but there aren't any - at least in my opinion. As noted, the way it ends is a tad differently to how I would've predicted, but I still enjoyed it alongside the rest of the it. It might not be accurate on the real life Frank Lucas, but all that truly matters is does it excel as a film? Yes it does. Highly recommend!

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-09-08

Denzel Washington is on top-form here as he takes on the role of the unscrupulous and devious heroine importer "Lucas" in this superior crim... read more

Denzel Washington is on top-form here as he takes on the role of the unscrupulous and devious heroine importer "Lucas" in this superior crime drama. Following the death of his boss, he spots an opening in New York's drugs market which he deftly exploits by importing top grade product directly from Thailand and he sells his "Blue Magic" cut-rate to an increasingly willing population. Largely insulated from risk by his very profitable links with organised crime, it falls to "Richie Roberts" (Russell Crowe) to head up a narcotics task force charged with stopping this lucrative trade that has made "Lucas" one of America's most wanted. It has to be said that his method of importation is extremely shrewd, and as the narrative unfolds we discover that this is not just a tale of drug smuggling, but of police corruption, violence, addiction and brutality and director Ridley Scott gets the best from both his stars - especially a terrifically plausible Crowe. There are strong contributions from a superb Ruby Lee as his mother and from Josh Brolin as the dodgy cop "Trupo" and an ensemble cast that keep this well scripted, paced and scored drama moving along in a characterful and interesting fashion. Certainly one of Scott and Washington's better efforts, and though long it flows well and passes just over 2½ hours compellingly.

reviewer avatar

A Review by SoSmooth1982 6

Written by SoSmooth1982 on 2023-04-16

Love gangster movies. Denzel Washington's one of the best to ever do it.... read more

Love gangster movies. Denzel Washington's one of the best to ever do it.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Andres Gomez

Quite a disappointed since it is really as much as you expect, but nothing new. Washington and Russell perform really well, so, as a characters movie, it works. It doesn't work at all as a biopic. Too much Hollywood on it....

reviewer avatar

A Review by tanty 6

Written by tanty on 2015-07-14

Quite a disappointed since it is really as much as you expect, but nothing new. Washington and Russell perform really well, so, as a characters movie, it works. It doesn't work at all as a biopic. ...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 9

Written by r96sk on 2020-08-16

A thoroughly entertaining 157 minutes! <em>'American Gangster'</em> delivers in every area it needs to. Enthralling premise, immaculate music, phenomenal casting and great pacing. I was surprised s...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-09-08

Denzel Washington is on top-form here as he takes on the role of the unscrupulous and devious heroine importer "Lucas" in this superior crime drama. Following the death of his boss, he spots an openin...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by SoSmooth1982 6

Written by SoSmooth1982 on 2023-04-16

Love gangster movies. Denzel Washington's one of the best to ever do it....

read more