15 Best Movies Like American Gangster

American Gangster, an epic crime movie starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and directed by Ridley Scott, tells the compelling true story of Harlem crime boss Frank Lucas, leading many viewers to seek out other films like it. The film was a box office success, but hasn’t reached the same levels of popularity as other films in the same genre, or from the same director or stars. Nevertheless, the film is sufficiently engaging that many audiences are interested in watching other crime movies like American Gangster.

The 2007 film is based on the true story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a drug trafficking criminal who rose to prominence in the ’60s and ’70s, and the investigation into his affairs by Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). The film can be categorized into the genre of epic crime, which typically describes longer dramas surrounding the rise and fall of a criminal, usually employed with ensemble casts that show crime at its highest level. For those wishing to continue their exploration of the genre, there are some exciting movies like American Gangster to enjoy.

15

Public Enemies (2009)

Directed By Michael Mann

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Public Enemies

r

Crime

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

Release Date

July 1, 2009

Runtime

140minutes

Director

Michael Mann

Writers

Johnny Depp, Michael Mann

Cast

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    Johnny Depp

  • Headshot Of Marion Cotillard

    Marion Cotillard

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American Gangster is a thriller period crime drama that highlights the gritty crime world of 1970s New York City. Public Enemies is another period story, albeit one that takes audiences even further back in time. Johnny Depp stars in Public Enemies as John Dillinger, the famed bank robber who became something of a folk hero in the 1930s and one of the most wanted men in America, alongside fellow criminals like Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd.

imagery-from-American-Gangster

Related

American Gangster Leaves Out An Incredible True Story About Richie Roberts & Frank Lucas After His Release

American Gangster tells the story of real-life mobster Frank Lucas, but the film leaves out one of his most interesting Richie Roberts connections.

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Like American Gangster, the criminal is put at the forefront of this story with Dillinger mirroring the depiction of Frank Lucas. Both men are shown to be charismatic people who inspire love among typical citizens. However, neither movie shies away from the realities of their crimes and the fact that they were cold-blooded killers. Also, like Russell Crowe in American Gangster, Christian Bale plays the honest lawman hunting down Dillinger.

14

Blow (2001)

Directed By Ted Demme

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Blow

R

Biography

Crime

Documentary

Drama

Release Date

April 4, 2001

Runtime

124 minutes

Director

Ted Demme

Writers

Bruce Porter, David McKenna, Nick Cassavetes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Johnny Depp In The UK premiere of Jeanne Du Barry

    Johnny Depp

  • Headshot Of Penelope Cruz

    Penelope Cruz

  • Headshot Of Franka Potente

    Franka Potente

  • Headshot Of Rachel Griffiths

    Rachel Griffiths

George Jung, from a struggling family, starts dealing marijuana in the 1960s, eventually moving into the cocaine trade after a stint in jail. His fortunes soar, but his success ultimately comes at a high personal cost.

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Johnny Depp stars in another crime movie that is similar to American Gangster in a number of ways. Blow finds Depp playing real-life drug kingpin George Jung, a man deadset on not falling into bankruptcy the way his father did, and decides to turn to a life in the illegal drug trade. However, his ambitions are set high as he forms a connection with Pablo Escobar and helps open up the cocaine trade in the United States.

American Gangster follows Frank Lucas’ rise in the drug world with his success shown to be his willingness to take that step further than his competitors. Frank’s journey to Cambodia to secure relationships with the manufacturers mirrors Jung’s risky and profitable business strategy that put him right at the center of the drug trade with some of its most dangerous players.

13

Carlito’s Way (1993)

Directed By Brian De Palma

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Carlito’s Way

R

Crime

Drama

Romance

Thriller

Release Date

November 10, 1993

Runtime

144 minutes

Director

Brian De Palma

Writers

David Koepp

Producers

Judith Stevens, Louis A. Stroller, Martin Bregman, Michael Bregman, Ortwin Freyermuth

Cast

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  • Headshot of Al Pacino

    Al Pacino

    Carlito Brigante

  • Headshot Of Sean Penn In The 76th Cannes Film Festival

    Sean Penn

    David Kleinfeld

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Penelope Ann Miller

    Gail

  • Headshot Of John Leguizamo In The Los Angeles premiere of HBO 'The Survivor'

    John Leguizamo

    Benny Blanco

Carlito’s Way follows a Puerto Rican ex-con, played by Al Pacino, who, after being released from prison, vows to avoid the pitfalls of drugs and violence. Set in 1970s New York City, the film explores his struggle to lead a law-abiding life amidst challenging circumstances.

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Part of the fun of American Gangster is seeing Frank Lucas rise to power. Working as a henchman for famed gangster Bumpy Johnson, Lucas was not seen as a true contender to take over when his boss died. However, he proves to be more than up for the challenge, taking out anyone foolish enough to stand in his way while also building the empire that will eventually come crashing down on him.

It is a thrilling crime story of an ambitious criminal who doesn’t know when to stop.

This is a similar journey taken in Carlito’s Way. Serving almost as a spiritual sequel to Scarface, Carlito’s Way reunites Al Pacino and Brian De Palma in the story of a gangster who gets out of prison after years and begins putting his life back together. Torn between taking a clean path from now on and reclaiming the criminal life he had, he soon finds himself surrounded by danger at every corner. It is a thrilling crime story of an ambitious criminal who doesn’t know when to stop.

12

The Departed (2006)

Directed By Martin Scorsese

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The Departed

R

Drama

Thriller

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

12

9.6/10

Release Date

October 4, 2006

Runtime

151 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writers

William Monahan

Producers

Brad Grey, Brad Pitt, Doug Davison, G. Mac Brown, Graham King

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Leonardo DiCaprio In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Leonardo DiCaprio

    Billy

  • Headshot Of Matt Damon In The 74th Berlin International Film

    Matt Damon

    Colin

The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicts the tense interplay between the police and the Irish Mafia in South Boston. As an undercover officer infiltrates the criminal underworld, a syndicate informant rises within the police force, culminating in a high-stakes struggle to uncover the dual moles within their ranks.

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Seeing Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe going head-to-head in a cops and gangsters story is a true thrill that is reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s Best Picture winner, The Departed. The star-studded cast of The Departed is led by Leonardo DiCaprio as an undercover Boston cop who has infiltrated the Irish mob, led by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). However, Costello already has his own mole (Matt Damon) in the police department, seeking out the spy.

The Departed is much more of a cop thriller than the gangster story that American Gangster presents. However, DiCaprio and Damon make for a great A-list duo to face off on the opposite sides of the law. Like American Gangster, it is a story of police corruption and the complexities of gangster characters while also being a thrilling crime saga that costars Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Alec Baldwin.

11

Lord Of War (2005)

Directed By Andrew Niccol

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Lord of War

R

Crime

Drama

10/10

Release Date

September 16, 2005

Runtime

122 Minutes

Director

Andrew Niccol

Writers

Andrew Niccol

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Nicolas Cage In The 77th Cannes Film Festival 'The Surfer' Premiere

    Nicolas Cage

  • Headshot Of Jared Leto

    Jared Leto

Loosely based on various true stories surrounding various real-life weapons smugglers, Lord of War is a crime drama film starring Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov, an arms dealer who enters the business after a deadly moment in his youth, triggering his fascination with the trade. The film follows Orlov’s life and explores the dangers and chaos of the illegal arms market.

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American Gangster sets out to do the very difficult task of making an unrepentant criminal and murderer the protagonist of the story. This is also the approach taken in the underrated crime movie Lord of War. Nicolas Cage stars in one of his best roles as Yuri Orlov, an unscrupulous man of business who becomes a power player in the world of international arms trade, gradually losing his soul while making a lot of money.

While Lucas and Orlov deal in different worlds, they are both brilliant and ambitious leaders who are willing to go the extra mile to be the best at what they do. It is fascinating following such evil and remorseless characters yet still be compelled by them. Orlov differs from Lucas as he is not a man of violence, yet his work contributed to more deaths than he could even imagine.

10

Scarface (1983)

Directed By Brian De Palma

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Scarface

R

Crime

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

9.3/10

Release Date

December 9, 1983

Runtime

170 minutes

Director

Brian De Palma

Writers

Oliver Stone, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht

Cast

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  • Headshot of Al Pacino

    Al Pacino

  • Headshot Of Michelle Pfeiffer In The 33rd Annual EMA Awards Gala

    Michelle Pfeiffer

Brian De Palma’s iconic crime drama is loosely based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who begins a life of crime after arriving in Miami. It chronicles his rise from a penniless thug to one of the richest and most ruthless kingpins in the world, amassing a criminal empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Brian De Palma’s crime epic, Scarface, follows a similar story pattern as American Gangster, centered around Miami drug kingpin Tony Montana’s rise and fall. The film is loosely adapted from the 1932 film of the same name, following Montana’s vicious ascension to becoming a drug lord.

Imagery from Scarface and Goodfellas

Related

10 Gangster Movies That Defined The Genre

Several prevalent gangster movies have defined this particular brand of film in one way or another, shaping the genre for future adaptations.

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3

Part of the fun of American Gangster is seeing how Lucas rose to the top of the game following the death of Bumpy Johnson. Though his rivals overlooked him, like Tony, he proved them all wrong. Unlike with Frank Lucas, Tony Montana’s fall from power in Scarface isn’t proceeded by a detailed criminal investigation. Instead, the film hones in on Montana’s self-destruction, as his drug use and failure to act diplomatically make his reign come to a premature, bloody end.

9

Heat (1995)

Directed By Michael Mann

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Heat

R

Action

Crime

Documentary

Drama

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

10/10

11

9.4/10

Release Date

December 15, 1995

Runtime

170 minutes

Director

Michael Mann

Writers

Michael Mann

Cast

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  • Headshot of Al Pacino

    Al Pacino

  • Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Robert De Niro

Michael Mann’s classic crime thriller Heat was released in 1995 and stars Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as two men on opposite sides of the law whose live become tangled and destabilized in an intense game of cat-and-mouse. When one heist led by master thief Neil McCauley is compromised due to a clue left behind, LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna finds himself obsessed with pursuing them in an ever-escalating war – one that may cause significant collateral damage. 

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Michael Mann’s Heat follows a similar commercial model as American Gangster, as it’s a crime epic centered around two movie stars playing opposing characters. Heat explores the psychological relationship between the criminal lead, played by Robert De Niro, and his cop pursuer, played by Al Pacino. Like Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in American Gangster, the two leads only really share one scene together, but their dynamic on screen makes it the movie’s most memorable moment.

Rather than drug dealing, the central crimes in Heat are heists, leading to some incredible shootouts and action sequences that add a thriller element that American Gangster doesn’t have. Commonly considered to be one of the greatest crime films ever, Heat’s legacy presides mainly on featuring crime movie legends Pacino and De Niro together in some of their best roles.

8

Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Directed By Sergio Leone

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Once Upon a Time in America

r

Crime

Drama

9.7/10

Release Date

June 1, 1984

Runtime

229 Minutes

Director

Sergio Leone

Writers

Harry Grey, Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Enrico Medioli, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Stuart Kaminsky, Sergio Leone

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Robert De Niro

  • Headshot Of James Woods

    James Woods

Once Upon a Time in America tells the story of a group of Jewish gangsters in New York City over several decades, from their youth in the 1920s to their final days in the 1960s. Robert De Niro and James Woods star in the 1984 crime drama directed by Sergio Leone.

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Truly an epic in both its scale of drama and its four-hour run time, Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America continued the director’s line of exceptional work, for the first time in the crime genre. While the film has received some justified criticism for its disturbing sexual assault scenes, there are still reasons for a fan of the genre to dive into this epic crime movie. Plus, its setting and themes make it an interesting companion piece to Scott’s epic.

The film explores the mysticism of urban crime, as well as ideas about nostalgia that are captured perfectly by the use of historic New York City imagery and period costumes, much like American Gangster. While Denzel Washington’s charm and the story of American Gangster make Frank Lucas an easily watchable character, Robert De Niro’s portrayal of the protagonist “Noodles,” in Once Upon a Time in America is far more challenging to sympathize with. As such, both films offer a different viewing experience.

7

Casino (1995)

Directed By Martin Scorsese

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Casino

R

Biography

Crime

Drama

8/10

Release Date

November 22, 1995

Runtime

178 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writers

Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Robert De Niro

  • Headshot Of Sharon Stone

    Sharon Stone

Casino is a 1995 crime drama starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, and James Woods. The film is based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi and centers on Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein (De Niro), who is asked to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas.

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Like 1970s Harlem in American Gangster, Martin Scorsese’s Casino offers a unique look at its own, relatively unexplored world of organized crime in Las Vegas. Similarly to Goodfellas, Casino explores a conflict primarily between criminals, revolving around the implosion of the main character Sam “Ace” Rothstein’s career.

While the sources of drama in Casino are very different from American Gangster, Ridley Scott’s inspiration from Scorsese’s crime films is clear with the use of music and pacing. It is a thrill seeing both Rothstein and Lucas build their criminal enterprises out of their own cleverness, despite the violent mayhem they are causing. Between Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci and James Woods, Casino’s cast is easy to love, offering a similar complexity to American Gangster, in that it’s easy for audiences to find themselves rooting for the bad guys.

6

The Irishman (2019)

Directed By Martin Scorsese

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The Irishman

R

Biography

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7.6/10

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Runtime

210 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writers

Steven Zaillian

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Bobby Cannavale In The 'An Evening with EZRA:' A Storytelling and Screening Event

    Bobby Cannavale

  • Headshot Of Jack Huston

    Jack Huston

Based on the nonfiction book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt, The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran and his time working for the Italian mafia. In recounting his past, the mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

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Another crime epic that earns its name due to its length, The Irishman is one of the more obscure entries to the genre due to its use of technology. While star-driven crime thrillers aren’t as common in modern filmmaking, Martin Scorsese managed to turn back time with his 2019 film, literally using CGI to de-age stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci.

The Irishman tells the story of a real, American crime mystery, giving its perspective on the still unsolved legend of Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance. Whether that perspective is true is still undetermined. For fans of American Gangster who enjoyed delving into a chapter of recent American history, The Irishman is worth a watch. They both delve into periods of organized crime in America in fascinating ways while exploring the idea of the gangster lifestyle being confronted with the realities of the harm they cause.

5

Road To Perdition (2002)

Directed By Sam Mendes

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Road to Perdition

R

Drama

Crime

Thriller

8/10

Release Date

July 12, 2002

Runtime

117 minutes

Director

Sam Mendes

Writers

David Self

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Tom Hanks In The Los Angeles World Premiere Of Apple TV+ Series 'Masters Of The Air'

    Tom Hanks

  • Headshot Of Tyler Hoechlin

    Tyler Hoechlin

2002’s Road to Perdition sees Tom Hanks step into the role of Michael Sullivan, a man raised by an Irish Mob boss who betrays him. Directed by Sam Mendes, Sullivan embarks on a journey to get vengeance on the man who wronged him.

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For Tom Hanks fans, crime isn’t the first genre they might look toward to see the actor shine, but he certainly does. Hanks proves he can do anything as Mike Sullivan in Road to Perdition. The film is a tale of revenge, seeing Tom Hanks face off against one of the all-time great movie stars, Paul Newman. The cast is also filled to the brim with Ciarán Hinds, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Stanley Tucci in supporting roles.

Directed by Sam Mendes, Road to Perdition is great for fans of American Gangster and other 2000s crime thriller films. It is a Prohibition-era gangster movie, examining an earlier period in American crime. However, there is an interesting dynamic to the code of the gangers in this movie with Newman’s John Rooney playing a cold-blooded gangster who seems tired of the senseless violence that comes along with the job. Similar to Denzel Washington’s performance in American Gangster, it is a lot of fun seeing typical good guy Tom Hanks playing a darker role.

4

A Bronx Tale (1995)

Directed By Robert De Niro

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A Bronx Tale

R

Crime

Drama

Release Date

October 1, 1993

Runtime

121 Minutes

Director

Robert De Niro

Writers

Chazz Palminteri

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Robert De Niro

  • Headshot Of Chazz Palminteri

    Chazz Palminteri

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Lillo Brancato

  • Headshot Of Francis Capra

    Francis Capra

A Bronx Tale is a coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s Bronx and directed by Robert De Niro. The film explores the life of a young boy named Calogero who is torn between the values of his hardworking father and the allure of a charismatic mob boss. Starring Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri, it delves into themes of loyalty, family, and the complexities of moral choices.

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A Bronx Tale is an interesting project for Robert De Niro, whose career is covered in crime epics and thrillers. Firstly, De Niro actually directs this film, adapted from costar Chazz Palminteri’s play of the same name. Secondly, this is one of the few crime films starring Robert De Niro in which he isn’t playing a criminal. Like in Goodfellas, De Niro plays a supporting role behind a younger star, as the film is also a coming-of-age story.

The film explores the social turbulence of its era, narrowed in on a neighborhood in the Bronx where racial violence and bigotry are rampant and intertwined with youth life. Similar to the dynamic between Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts in American Gangster, A Bronx Tale examines the contrast between the criminal life through gangster Sonny (Palminteri) and working-class father Lorenzo (De Niro).

3

Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)

Directed By Michael Curtiz

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Angels with Dirty Faces

Not Rated

Crime

Drama

Release Date

November 26, 1938

Runtime

97 Minutes

Director

Michael Curtiz

Writers

John Wexley, Warren Duff, Rowland Brown, Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    James Cagney

    Rocky Sullivan

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Pat O’Brien

    Jerry Connolly

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Humphrey Bogart

    James Frazier

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Ann Sheridan

    Laury Ferguson

Angels with Dirty Faces, directed by Michael Curtiz, follows the divergent paths of childhood friends Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connelly. Rocky becomes a notorious gangster, while Jerry dedicates his life to the priesthood, serving their old neighborhood community. The film explores themes of crime, redemption, and moral influence.

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Classic Hollywood had crime epics too, and James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart always offer enjoyable performances. Both actors are known as having made great contributions to the genre of film noir, which inspired much of modern crime cinema. Angels with Dirty Faces explores friendship’s place in crime, with similar themes to Once Upon a Time in America.

The movie follows two childhood friends who take different paths in life, with one becoming a gangster and the other becoming a priest only to come in conflict later on in life. Like American Gangster, the film displays movie stars lending their charisma to the world of crime, showing how complex it can be to emotionally connect with evil characters as audience members. It is a rare gangster movie that can showcase both the noble heroes and the vicious villains of the world, but both American Gangster and Angeles with Dirty Faces pull it off.

2

Goodfellas (1990)

Directed By Martin Scorsese

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Goodfellas

R

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

10/10

26

8.9/10

Release Date

September 19, 1990

Runtime

145 minutes

Director

Martin Scorsese

Writers

Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Pileggi

Producers

Barbara De Fina

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ray Liotta

    Ray Liotta

    Henry Hill

  • Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Robert De Niro

    James Conway

GoodFellas chronicles the life of Henry Hill, a young Brooklynite with half-Irish, half-Sicilian heritage, as he rises through the ranks of a Mafia family. As he navigates the criminal underworld, he is mentored by seasoned gangster Jimmy Conway amidst the backdrop of organized crime in New York.

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The ’90s were a great period for crime movie lovers, as the decade saw many great actors and directors giving contributions to the genre. Goodfellas is considered some of the greatest work in the genre, as well as arguably being Martin Scorsese’s best film. Based on the life of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), Goodfellas follows the similar pattern of the rise and fall of a criminal, this time in the Italian Mafia.

Like American Gangster, Goodfellas is known for its exceptional use of music, and takes place in New York City during the same time period.

Like American Gangster, Goodfellas is known for its exceptional use of music, and takes place in New York City during the same time period. Unlike many crime epics, Goodfellas isn’t as star-driven. Lead actor Ray Liotta was lesser known at the time, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci played supporting roles, and much of its cast is filled with character actors, many of whom would later appear in The Sopranos.

1

The Untouchables (1987)

Directed By Brian De Palma

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American Gangster

R

Biography

Crime

Documentary

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

10/10

Release Date

November 2, 2007

Runtime

157 minutes

Director

Ridley Scott

Writers

Steven Zaillian, Mark Jacobson

Cast

See All

  • Headshot oF Carla Gugino

    Carla Gugino

  • Headshot Of Idris Elba In The World premiere of Luther: The Fallen Sun at the BFI IMAX in London.

    Idris Elba

American Gangster is a 2007 crime film directed by Ridley Scott, featuring Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin in Harlem, and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, the detective determined to bring him down. The film explores the rise of Lucas in the drug trade and the eventual intersection of their lives amidst the backdrop of a corrupt and morally complex society.

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Directed by Brian De Palma, The Untouchables is in many ways similar to American Gangster. Taking a more optimistic approach to the genre, the movie is based on a semi-true story of an American victory over crime. The film’s exceptional cast, including Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Andy Garcia, play a group of law enforcement officers set on taking down Robert De Niro’s Al Capone.

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Set in prohibition-era Chicago, one of the main dynamics in the film is police corruption and the power of Al Capone over the town. The movie almost flips the approach of American Gangster, focusing more on the lawman and less on the famous gangster he was hunting. The protagonists must overcome not only a notorious gangster but also those in their own ranks who have been bought out by Capone. Like with Frank Lucas in American Gangster, De Niro’s portrayal of Al Capone is a must-watch for crime lovers.

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American Gangster

R

Biography

Crime

Documentary

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

10/10

Release Date

November 2, 2007

Runtime

157 minutes

Director

Ridley Scott

Writers

Steven Zaillian, Mark Jacobson

Cast

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    Carla Gugino

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    Idris Elba

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