American Gangster, an epic crime movie starring Denzel Washington, 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 off 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 describes typically 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, here are 10 other epic crime movies like American Gangster.
10 Scarface (1983)
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. 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)
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. 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)
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, it's 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)
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. 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)
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.
5 Road To Perdition (2002)
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.
4 A Bronx Tale (1995)
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.
3 Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)
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. 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.
2 Goodfellas (1990)
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. Unlike many crime epics, Goodfellas isn't as star-driven. Its lead actor was lesser known at the time, 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, 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.
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 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.