Directed by:
Ridley ScottScreenplay:
Steven ZaillianCinematography:
Harris SavidesComposer:
Marc StreitenfeldCast:
Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Ted Levine, Roger Guenveur Smith, John Hawkes, RZA, Yul Vazquez, Malcolm Goodwin (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
Ridley Scott directs this biopic of 1970s Harlem drug baron Frank Lucas. When his boss dies, underworld driver Lucas (Denzel Washington) seizes his chance and begins to build his own criminal empire. Utilising the bodies of dead US soldiers, Lucas begins importing heroin direct from South-East Asia, increasing purity on the street, and undercutting his rivals in one swoop. Before long he's amassed a fortune, bringing him to the attention of maverick policeman Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe), an honest cop in an otherwise corrupt force, who makes it his business to shut Lucas down. (Universal Pictures UK)
(more)Cast
![Denzel Washington](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/873/162873124_112c0f.jpg)
Denzel Washington
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Philadelphia (1993)
Man on Fire (2004)
![Russell Crowe](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/781/164781022_f94653.jpg)
Russell Crowe
New Zealand
Best movies:
L.A. Confidential (1997)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Gladiator (2000)
![Chiwetel Ejiofor](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/315/166315976_e6c3e2.jpg)
Chiwetel Ejiofor
UK
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Love Actually (2003)
The Martian (2015)
![Josh Brolin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/784/162784936_b2d2da.jpg)
Josh Brolin
USA
Best movies:
Dune: Part Two (2024)
American Gangster (2007)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
![Lymari Nadal](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276908_aaa272.jpg)
Lymari Nadal
Puerto Rico
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Battlestar Galactica (2003) (TV movie)
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009)
![Ted Levine](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/126/165126070_2bf22b.jpg)
Ted Levine
USA
Best movies:
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Heat (1995)
Shutter Island (2010)
![Roger Guenveur Smith](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/605/161605917_09bbbc.jpg)
Roger Guenveur Smith
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Final Destination (2000)
![John Hawkes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/485/166485419_c6a990.jpg)
John Hawkes
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Taken (2002) (series)
![RZA](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274013_d13488.jpg)
RZA
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Hype Williams: The Videos, Vol. 1 (2002) (video compilation)
![Yul Vazquez](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/235/164235947_0f053a.jpg)
Yul Vazquez
Cuba
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Captain Phillips (2013)
Traffic (2000)
![Malcolm Goodwin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/444/444431_79016f.jpg)
Malcolm Goodwin
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) (series)
Miracle at St. Anna (2008)
![Ruby Dee](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274209_eee107.jpg)
Ruby Dee
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
Roots: The Next Generations (1979) (series)
![Ruben Santiago-Hudson](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271135_5ec686.jpg)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
Coming to America (1988)
![Carla Gugino](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/751/163751049_cdaea3.jpg)
Carla Gugino
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
This Boy's Life (1993)
Sin City (2005)
![John Ortiz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276036_e046ee.jpg)
John Ortiz
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Carlito's Way (1993)
A Dog's Purpose (2017)
![Cuba Gooding Jr.](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/996/163996806_92a595.jpg)
Cuba Gooding Jr.
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
As Good as It Gets (1997)
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009) (TV movie)
![Armand Assante](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267617_da631b.jpg)
Armand Assante
USA
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980) (TV movie)
California Dreamin' (Endless) (2007)
![Joe Morton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267502_f2bb7c.jpg)
Joe Morton
USA
Best movies:
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
American Gangster (2007)
Of Mice and Men (1992)
![Ritchie Coster](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/699/158699708_e89b15.jpg)
Ritchie Coster
UK
Best movies:
The Dark Knight (2008)
American Gangster (2007)
John Adams (2008) (series)
![Idris Elba](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/847/164847739_0d5d90.jpg)
Idris Elba
UK
Best movies:
American Gangster (2007)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Zootopia (2016)