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American Gangster

  • 2007
  • K-15
  • 2h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
448K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
678
232
Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster Trailer
Play trailer1:57
19 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama

An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.

  • Director
    • Ridley Scott
  • Writers
    • Steven Zaillian
    • Mark Jacobson
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Russell Crowe
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    448K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    678
    232
    • Director
      • Ridley Scott
    • Writers
      • Steven Zaillian
      • Mark Jacobson
    • Stars
      • Denzel Washington
      • Russell Crowe
      • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • 582User reviews
    • 302Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 12 wins & 38 nominations total

    Videos19

    American Gangster
    Trailer 1:57
    Watch American Gangster
    American Gangster
    Clip 1:00
    Watch American Gangster
    American Gangster
    Clip 0:39
    Watch American Gangster
    American Gangster
    Clip 0:54
    Watch American Gangster
    American Gangster
    Clip 0:42
    Watch American Gangster
    American Gangster: The Piano (4K)
    Clip 2:30
    Watch American Gangster: The Piano (4K)
    American Gangster: Clip 7
    Clip 0:57
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 7
    American Gangster: Clip 2
    Clip 0:59
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 2
    American Gangster: Clip 6
    Clip 0:45
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 6
    American Gangster: Clip 8
    Clip 0:55
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 8
    American Gangster: Clip 3
    Clip 0:50
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 3
    American Gangster: Clip 5
    Clip 0:57
    Watch American Gangster: Clip 5

    Photos282

    Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Common in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe in American Gangster (2007)
    Denzel Washington, David Lee, and Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe and Carla Gugino in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, and Yul Vazquez in American Gangster (2007)
    Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, and Yul Vazquez in American Gangster (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Frank Lucas
    Russell Crowe
    Russell Crowe
    • Richie Roberts
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Huey Lucas
    Josh Brolin
    Josh Brolin
    • Detective Trupo
    Lymari Nadal
    Lymari Nadal
    • Eva
    Ted Levine
    Ted Levine
    • Lou Toback
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    • Nate
    John Hawkes
    John Hawkes
    • Freddie Spearman
    RZA
    RZA
    • Moses Jones
    Yul Vazquez
    Yul Vazquez
    • Alfonse Abruzzo
    Malcolm Goodwin
    Malcolm Goodwin
    • Jimmy Zee
    Ruby Dee
    Ruby Dee
    • Mama Lucas
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson
    • Doc
    Carla Gugino
    Carla Gugino
    • Laurie Roberts
    Skyler Fortgang
    • Michael Roberts
    John Ortiz
    John Ortiz
    • Javier J. Rivera
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Nicky Barnes
    Armand Assante
    Armand Assante
    • Dominic Cattano
    • Director
      • Ridley Scott
    • Writers
      • Steven Zaillian
      • Mark Jacobson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Ridley Scott's Films, Ranked by IMDb Users

    Ridley Scott's Films, Ranked by IMDb Users

    Cinema legend Ridley Scott has directed several iconic film masterpieces. See how IMDb users rank all of his feature films as director.
    See the rankings
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Not only did the real Richie Roberts serve as Frank Lucas's lawyer after he went into private practice, he was godfather to Lucas's son.
    • Goofs
      In 1968, when Frank prepares to call his cousin in Bangkok for the first time, an Internet URL is clearly visible on a billboard across the street.
    • Quotes

      Frank Lucas: The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the closing credits, Frank Lucas approaches the camera and fires one shot from a pistol directly at the audience.
    • Alternate versions
      The 175 min.-unrated extended version includes approx. 19 minutes of additional footage not seen in the theatrical release. Among the highlights are:
      • A flashback with Frank Lucas and Bumpy Johnson on a boardwalk
      • A short scene showing Richie Roberts acquiring office space for his new narcotics task force (this added scene follows immediately after Toback assigns Roberts to head up the federal investigation using honest cops of Roberts' choice)
      • A nighttime scene where Roberts and his team tail a drug pusher with a stash of Blue Magic to an auto body shop; the next morning, Spearman strikes a deal with the shop owner "Scott" over the phone, which leads up to Roberts under disguise dropping off $20,000 to get a supply of Blue Magic
      • In the Bronx, right after Spearman drops off Roberts and informs him that he'll circle the block, an extended scene takes place where Roberts sees both Scott take off in his Jeep and Spearman getting blocked by a broken-down truck, unable to reach Roberts. In desperation, Roberts stops a yellow cab and shows his badge, argues with the uncooperative cabbie to use it, and eventually decks the cabbie in the face to take control of the cab and quickly pursues the escaping drug pusher, ending with Roberts following the unsuspecting Scott on foot.
      • After the Christmas visit with Charlie Williams, there's an extended scene with Frank and Eva back at their home, where Frank reminisces how Bumpy gradually stayed more and more at home towards the end of his life because of constant police surveillance. He then asks Eva if she wants to go out, nevertheless.
      • An extended ending in 1991 where Lucas upon release from jail is picked up by Roberts, and the two make their way towards the intersection of 116 St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd, conversing while drinking lattes.
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: The Making of 'American Gangster' (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Why Don't We Do It in the Road
      Written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney
      Published by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
      Performed by Lowell Fulson
      Courtesy of Jewel-Paula Recording
      By arrangement with Fuel 2000 Records Inc.

    User reviews582

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Surprisingly Coherent
    Watch American Gangster without preconceived ideas. While the film is long it never drags. You don't get the sense that you've seen this movie before. It's not Serpico. It's not The Wire. It's not The Sopranos. While much is going on, the story is easy to follow. There is action, but this isn't an "action movie".

    Both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe act convincingly and give depth to their characters.

    The film leaves you wanting to know more about about happened to the lead characters. You care about them that much. Now *that's* film making.
    helpful•302
    108
    • vidarium
    • Oct 26, 2007

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    FAQ27

    • How long is American Gangster?Powered by Alexa
    • Is 'American Gangster' based on a book?
    • Is "American Gangster" based on a true story?
    • Why is the shot of Frank walking into an empty diner, shooting, dropping his weapon and leaving missing from the final cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 25, 2008 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Universal (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Thai
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Return of Superfly
    • Filming locations
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Relativity Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $100,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $130,164,645
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $43,565,135
      • Nov 4, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $269,755,430
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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