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American Gangster

American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical crime drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical crime drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. It stars Denzel Washington as drug trafficker Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe as detective Richie Roberts. The film is loosely based on Lucas’s criminal career and the investigation that led to his arrest.

Plot basis

The film dramatizes Frank Lucas’s heroin smuggling operation and the law-enforcement investigation led by Richie Roberts. It presents the story as a crime drama grounded in real events, though it is not a strict historical documentary.

Production

American Gangster was directed and produced by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Steven Zaillian. The film’s cast included several notable supporting actors alongside Washington and Crowe.

Release and reception

The film premiered in New York on October 20, 2007, and was released in the United States on November 2, 2007. It was commercially successful, grossing over $266 million worldwide, and received generally positive critical reception.

Historical context

The story is set during the Vietnam War era and the early 1970s, when Lucas reportedly used American service planes returning from Vietnam to smuggle heroin into the United States.

Key facts

  • The film is loosely based on the real-life drug trafficker Frank Lucas and detective Richie Roberts.
  • Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucas, while Russell Crowe plays Richie Roberts.
  • It premiered in New York on October 20, 2007, and opened in the United States on November 2, 2007.
  • The film was well received by critics and grossed over $266 million worldwide.
  • The screenplay was written by Steven Zaillian, and the film was directed and produced by Ridley Scott.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada in 2007 and is also known to Canadian audiences under the same title.

Frequently asked questions

What is American Gangster about?
It tells a dramatized version of Frank Lucas’s rise as a heroin trafficker and the investigation by detective Richie Roberts that brought him down.
Who directed American Gangster?
Ridley Scott directed and produced the film.
Who stars in American Gangster?
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are the leads, playing Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts.
When was American Gangster released?
It premiered in New York on October 20, 2007, and was released in the United States on November 2, 2007.
Is American Gangster based on a true story?
Yes. It is loosely based on the real-life criminal career of Frank Lucas and the work of Richie Roberts.
How successful was the film?
It was commercially successful, grossing over $266 million worldwide.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gangster_(film)
    Supports: Director, screenwriter, cast, release dates, plot basis, and worldwide gross.
  2. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/american-gangster
    Supports: Runtime, rating, release timing, director, and lead cast.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/
    Supports: Story premise and lead character names.
  4. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gangster
    Supports: Disambiguation showing the film as one meaning of the title.