Trailer #1
American Gangster(2007)
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2007 · FILM
American Gangster
A Harlem mob enforcer turned heroin kingpin battles a tenacious cop determined to dismantle his empire as both men are consumed by ambition, loyalty, and the high stakes of the drug war.
“There are two sides to the American dream.”
Directed by
Written by
Rated
MPA · R
Runtime
157 min
BiographyCrimeDrama
Synopsis
The film is loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina, who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War. He was eventually detained by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.
Credits
Actors
Production Designer
Director of Photography
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 963+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Pietro ScaliaShot by Harris SavidesScored by Marc StreitenfeldDesigned by Arthur MaxSound by Karen Baker Landers Nm0048623Costumes by Janty YatesStunts by G A AguilarVFX by Ashley Clark
Box Office
2007 · Box office
✅ Made its money back — grossed 2.7× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$269.8M
Budget$100.0M
Worldwide gross$269.8M
break-even (2.5×)
US & Canada: $130.2M — 48% of worldwide · International: $139.6M (52%)
Opening weekend: $43.6M — 33% of its US run.
Opening week (7-day): $56.4M — 43% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 3,054 theaters
Full synopsis
Versions & cuts
- extended· 176 min
Also known as
- (Flemish)American Gangster
- (French)American Gangster
- American Gangsterde
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- United StatesOct 19, 2007
- NetherlandsOct 31, 2007
- BulgariaNov 2, 2007
- CanadaNov 2, 2007
Production & Distribution
Production companies
Community tags
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Cast & Crew
963 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Denzel Washington
as Frank Lucas
Russell Crowe
as Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor
as Huey Lucas
Josh Brolin
as Detective Trupo
Lymari Nadal
as Eva
Ted Levine
as Lou Toback
Roger Guenveur Smith
as Nate
John Hawkes
as Freddie Spearman
Rza
as Moses Jones
Yul Vazquez
as Alfonse Abruzzo
Malcolm Goodwin
as Jimmy Zee
Ruby Dee
as Mama Lucas
Supporting cast
214Ruben Santiago Hudson
as Doc
Carla Gugino
as Laurie Roberts
Skyler Fortgang
as Michael Roberts
John Ortiz
as Javier J. Rivera
Cuba Gooding Jr
as Nicky Barnes
Armand Assante
as Dominic Cattano
Kathleen Garrett
as Mrs. Dominic Cattano
Joe Morton
as Charlie Williams
Ritchie Coster
as Joey Sadano
Bari K Willerford
as Joe Louis
Idris Elba
as Tango
Common
as Turner Lucas
Warner Miller
as Melvin Lucas
Albert Jones
as Terrence Lucas
J Kyle Manzay
as Dexter Lucas
Tip T I Harris
as Stevie Lucas
Melissia Hill
as Redtop
Quisha Saunders
as Darlynn
Kevin Corrigan
as Campizi
Robert Funaro
as McCann
Jon Polito
as Rossi
Tom O Rourke
as Banker
Robert C Kirk
as Police Captain
Tom Stearns
as 2-Star General
Kadee Strickland
as Richie's Attorney
Jon Devries
as Judge James Racine
Jim R Coleman
as Bailiff
Lee Shepard
as Laurie's Attorney
Gavin Grazer
as Mike Sobota
Linda Powell
as Social Worker
Roxanne Amandez
as Paramedic
Norman Reedus
as Detective in Morgue
Pierra Francesca
as Stewardess
Eddie Rouse
as Detective at Party
Maryann Urbano
as Real Estate Broker
Cedric Sanders
as Serviceman in Cafe
Jason Veasey
as Serviceman in Cafe
Roosevelt Davis
as Army Captain
Roger Bart
as US Attorney
Eric Silver
as White Kid
Mitchell Green
as Tango Bodyguard
Saycon Sengbloh
as Tango's Woman
Conor Romero
as Tough Teenager
Daniel Hilt
as Tough Teenager
Daniel Farcher
as Tough Teenager
David Spearman
as Civilian Cleaning Staff
Maurice Ballard
as Civilian Cleaning Staff
Paul Doherty
as TV Newscaster
William C Tate
as Baptist Minister
George Lee Miles
as Frank's Lawyer
Jason Furlani
as Bailiff
Chris Mckinney
as Reporter on TV
Ric Young
as Chinese General
David Wayne Britton
as Army Colonel
Tommy Guiffre
as Medical Examiner
Laurence Lowry
as Paramedic
Dan Moran
as Army Captain
Marjorie Johnson
as Charlene
Larry Mitchell
as FBI Agent
Chuck Cooper
as Private Doctor
Kevin Geer
as Law School Professor
Chance Kelly
as MP
Hamilton Clancy
as Seller
Sam Freed
as Judge
Joey Klein
as Chemist
Scott Dillin
as 4th Amigo
Anthony Hamilton
as Funk Band Singer
Sarah Hudnut Brody
as Assistant Prosecutor
Jeff Greene
as Metal Door Worker
Tyson Hall
as Drug Dealer
Kirt Harding
as Drug Dealer
Bryant Pearson
as Drug Dealer
Al Santos
as Mechanic
Chuuch
as Dealer
Christopher A Sawyer
as Dealer
Dylan Gallagher
as Casket Loader
Jehan Pierre The Preacher Vassau
as Narc Officer
Dawn A Douglas
as Narc Officer
Robbie Neigeborn
as Cop in Narc Headquarters
Clinton Lowe
as Man Arrested in Elevator
Wilhelm Lewis
as Head Wedding Photographer
James Hunter
as Deacon
Neville White
as Deacon
Lonnie Gaetano
as Prison Guard
Jeff Mantel
as Officer Walsh
Serena Joan Springle
as The Proctor
Ron Piretti
as Judge
Nino Del Buono
as Announcer
Arthur Mercante
as Referee
Panama Redd
as Policeman
Robert Wiggins
as Piano Player
Fab 5 Freddy
as Smalls Patron
Jonah Denizard
as Store Manager
Steve Mcauliff
as Mounted Policeman
Fatima Robinson
as Dancer
Karen Adisson
as Dancer
Autavia Bailey
as Dancer
Candyce Barnes
as Dancer
Janelle Cambridge
as Dancer
Cicily Daniels
as Dancer
Andrea Edmead
as Dancer
Ortos J Gutierrez
as Dancer
Celestine Rae
as Dancer
Luam Keflezgy
as Dancer
Monique Lea Gall
as Dancer
Flavia Tamara Livolsi
as Dancer
Tamara Marrow
as Dancer
Shannon Macmillan
as Dancer
Jonathan Medero
as Dancer
Marielys Molina
as Dancer
Kesha Nichols
as Dancer
Nefertiti Robinson
as Dancer
Krista Saab
as Dancer
Luis Salgado
as Dancer
Carlos Sierra Lopez
as Dancer
Latonya Tolbert
as Dancer
Sandra Park
as Singer
Yuri Kamino Fennell
as Singer
Brian Albanese
as Spectator
Mauricio Alexander
as Cop in Squad Room
Brian Keith Allen
as Narc Squad Detective
Tony Terrell Alston
as Army Soldier
Angelo Angrisani
as Photographer, Thomas
Andrea Barnett
as Woman at the Club
Andrea J Barnett
as Woman at the club
Claudia Bassols
as Claudia
Fred Benjamin
as Wilt Chamberlain
Ephraim Benton
as Thug #4
Aj Billions
as Spectator
Lloyd Booker
as Neighborhood Man
Taylor Brandon
as Pvt First Class Ward
Myo Campbell
as Red Carpet Walker
Dj Nino Carta
as Bartender
Kal Cauthen
as Restaurant Ambassador
John Cenatiempo
as Cop #1
Daniel R Cooper
as Checker Player
J W Cortes
as Narc Officer in Hallway
Tom Coughlin
as Student taking bar exam
Dono Cunningham
as Soldier
Cris D Annunzio
as Frank McNamara
Ernest Dancy
as Hustler
Makeia Davis
as Nicky Barnes Bodyguard
Michael Den Dekker
as Undercover Cop
Mark Diconzo
as Soldier
Monique Dupree
as Club Dancer
Brian Edwards
as Housing Resident
Sharlene Falls
as Club Dancer
Joseph Ferrante
as Gangster at Funeral
Wanda Ferreiras
as Bridesmaid
Eddie Goines
as Hallway Guy
Jeremy Ryan Good
as Soldier
Anthony L Gurino
as Soldier
Cathy Haase
as Club VIP
Kelvin Hale
as Drug Room Door Security
Johnathan Hallgrey
as 1971 Penthouse Party Guest
Gabriel Hansen
as Mechanic Drug Dealer
Reshonnah Harvey
as Trap Girl
Jermel Howard
as Kid Gangster #1
Hristo Hristov
as Bookie, Soldier
Brevard Hudson
as Lucas - Drug Enforcer
Joe James
as Nicky Barnes Right Hand Man
Marvin Jones Iii
as Rival Gang Boss
Mark A Keeton
as Rock Star - Ali-Frazier Match
Khafre King
as Pedestrian
Atif Lanier
as Frank Lucas Bodyguard
Nikolett Lemmon
as Elevator Mom with Kids
Tina Lorraine
as Harlem Junkie
Shawn Luckey
as Nicky Barnes' Guy
Racheline Maltese
as Dying Junkie
Dominick Mancino
as Mobster
Nick Mastromarco
as Bystander
Dan Maysen
as Fight Spectator
Frances Mignano
as Marie Saldano
Ismaelpeter Casillas Nelson
as Baseball Player
Walter Wiz Nichols
as Bartender
Robert Nicotra
as Gangster
Richard Nixon
as Self
Daniel Nugent
as Newark Detective
Richard O Brien
as Muhammad Ali Trainer
Jerrod Paige
as Muhammad Ali
Michelle Joan Papillion
as Smalls Patron
Artie Pasquale
as Mobster
Anthony Nio Perez
as Pedestrian
Tasha Perri
as Factory Worker
Kevin Pinassi
as Building Maintenance Guy
Anthony Pittman
as Drug Addict
Nick Poltoranin
as Mobster
Bartolo Raffaele
as Gangster
Paula Rittie
as Maid of Honor
Enrique Sebastian Rivas
as Narc Detective
Germir Robinson
as Elevator Kid with Mom and Sister
Louis Rosario
as Teenage Vandal
Niko Rusakov
as Army Soldier
Vincent James Russo
as Corrupt Undercover Detective
Robert Sciglimpaglia
as Press Photographer
Billy Smith
as Bookkeeper
Shayna Smith
as Clubgoer
Verinia C Taylor
as Business Woman
Aija Terauda
as Nicky's Girl
Karl Thwaites
as Street Kid
Brigid Turner
as Wilt Chamberlain's Girl, Waitress
Evelyn O Vaccaro
as Nicky's Girl
Tacuma Vanterpool
as Junkie
Tammy Vaughn
as Diana Ross
Philippe Vonlanthen
as Skeet Shoot Handler
Julian Walker
as Smalls Doorman
Adrain Washington
as Detective Reynolds
Johnny E Webb
as Club Goer
Craig Weintraub
as MSG Spectator
Clarence Williams Iii
as Bumpy Johnson
Derrick Williams
as Junkie
Brad Lee Wind
as Trupo's Detective in Library
Ray Wineteer
as Photographer
Dolores Winn
as Funeral Mourner
Directors
1Writers
3Producers
16Ashley Clark
visual effects producer: Gray Matter FX
Branko Lustig
executive producer
Brian Grazer
Producer
Christopher Cram
visual effects associate producer (uncredited)
Dan Griffin
Producer
Dick Edwards
visual effects producer: Invisible Effects
Hank Shocklee
composer: additional source music / music producer: additional source music
Jim Whitaker
executive producer
Jonathan Filley
co-producer
Margaux Mackay
supervising visual effects producer: Gray Matter FX
Michael Costigan
executive producer
Nicholas Pileggi
executive producer
Ridley Scott
Producer
Sarah Bowen
co-producer
Sarah Coatts
visual effects producer: main title sequence - yU+co. (uncredited)
Steven Zaillian
executive producer
Other crew
733Leslie E Rollins
(as Leslie Rollins), as Leslie Rollins
Dennis Green
24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Jennie Myers
accounting clerk
Katherine Dejesus
accounting clerk
Idzerono
acknowledgement
George Kalinsky
acknowledgement: photograph, © 2006 used by permission
Leroy Neiman
acknowledgment: artwork, © 2006 used by permission
Chidchanok Plodripu
action vehicle: Thailand (uncredited)
Jeff Muhlstock
additional camera operator (uncredited)
Wayne Paull
additional camera operator (uncredited)
Adam Benlifer
additional electrician (uncredited)
Christopher Cannucciari
additional electrician (uncredited)
Parents Guide
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Ratings & reviews
Official ratings
MPA·RUSRe-ratedBBFC·18GBRe-ratedFSK·FSK 16DERe-ratedACB·MA15+AURe-ratedCBFC·AINRe-ratedEirin·R-15JPRe-ratedClassInd·16BRRe-ratedKAVI·K-16FIRe-ratedCNC·Accord parentalFRRe-ratedICAA·18ESRe-ratedItaly·VM14ITRe-ratedKijkwijzer·12NLRe-ratedIFCO·18IERe-ratedRTC·CMXRe-ratedKMRB·18KRRe-ratedUNITED ARAB EMIRATES·18+Re-ratedUKRAINE·16Re-ratedTURKEY·18+Re-ratedTHAILAND·u 18+Re-ratedTAIWAN·18+Re-ratedSWITZERLAND·14Re-ratedSWEDEN·15Re-ratedSOUTH AFRICA·16Re-ratedSINGAPORE·M18Re-ratedRUSSIA·18+Re-ratedPORTUGAL·M/16Re-ratedPOLAND·18Re-ratedPHILIPPINES·R-13Re-ratedPERU·14Re-ratedNORWAY·15Re-ratedNEW ZEALAND·R16Re-ratedMALAYSIA·18PLRe-ratedISRAEL·16Re-ratedINDONESIA·18+Re-ratedICELAND·16Re-ratedHONG KONG·IIBRe-ratedEGYPT·GRe-ratedDENMARK·15Re-ratedCANADA·13+Re-ratedAUSTRIA·16Re-ratedARGENTINA·16Re-rated
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Trailer #1
American Gangster(2007)
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