Is 'American Gangster' historically accurate?

It’s 'loosely based.' While Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts were real people, the film heightens the drama significantly. For instance, the real Richie Roberts later became Frank Lucas's defense attorney and godfather to his son—a weird twist the movie skips.

How graphic is the drug use?

Very. There are multiple close-up shots of needles entering veins and people in the throes of a heroin high or overdose. It’s not stylized; it’s meant to look ugly and realistic.

Is there a 'clean' version available?

Not really. Some TV edits exist, but so much of the plot and character development is tied to the R-rated content (the drug trade, the corruption) that a sanitized version would lose the point of the movie.

What's the 'Blue Magic' everyone talks about?

That was Lucas's brand of heroin. He marketed it as being 100% pure and cheaper than the competition by sourcing it directly from Southeast Asia, which is a major plot point about his 'business' acumen.

American Gangster – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

American Gangster

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2007

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe face off in a gritty, high-stakes crime epic that’s basically a masterclass in '70s-era corruption and cool.

81%

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American Gangster

movie

R, 2007

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe face off in a gritty, high-stakes crime epic that’s basically a masterclass in '70s-era corruption and cool.

81%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're looking for a tight, high-IQ crime drama, American Gangster is a heavy hitter. It’s basically The Godfather meets Serpico, anchored by two of the best actors of their generation. It’s long, it’s intense, and it doesn't pull any punches about the reality of the drug trade.

For an intentional parent, this isn't a family movie night selection. It’s a 'wait until the kids are in bed' pick, or something to watch with a mature 17-year-old who can handle the graphic content and appreciate the historical and ethical layers Ridley Scott is peeling back.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults and older teens (16+). The R-rating isn't just for a few f-bombs; it's the heavy, realistic depiction of the heroin trade and the casual nature of the violence that makes this a 'grown-up' movie.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a story about the heroin trade, systemic police corruption, and cold-blooded murder. While it has themes of family loyalty and personal integrity, the core is undeniably dark and gritty.

Imaginative

Ridley Scott’s recreation of 1970s Harlem is immersive and richly detailed. It’s a masterclass in period-piece world-building, even if it stays within the bounds of the crime genre.

Safe

R-rated for a reason. Expect graphic drug use (needles and overdoses), point-blank executions, nudity, and a constant stream of heavy profanity.

Enriching

As a character study and historical snapshot, it's top-tier. It explores the 'business' of crime, the ethics of law enforcement, and the sociopolitical climate of the Vietnam War era with sharp intelligence.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Denzel Washington delivers one of his most chillingly charismatic performances as Frank Lucas, a man who treats heroin like a Fortune 500 commodity.
The period detail is incredible; it perfectly captures the grime and soul of 1970s New York and the tension of the Vietnam War era.
It’s a dual narrative that actually works, balancing the rise of a criminal empire with the dogged, lonely pursuit of an honest cop.
The film offers a fascinating, albeit dark, look at entrepreneurial strategy and how Lucas cut out the middleman to build his 'Blue Magic' brand.

⚠

What to Watch For

The drug scenes are brutal. There are several sequences showing people using heroin with needles and the graphic aftermath of overdoses.
The violence is sudden and cold. One famous scene involves a character being shot in the head on a busy sidewalk in broad daylight.
There is explicit nudity in a scene involving a drug-processing facility where the workers are forced to work naked so they can't steal product.

Conversation Starters

"Frank Lucas calls himself a businessman. Does the fact that he's selling a destructive product change how we view his 'success'?"
"Richie Roberts is an 'honest' cop in a corrupt system. Why is he so isolated because of his integrity?"
"How did the Vietnam War provide the perfect cover for Lucas's smuggling operation, and what does that say about the chaos of that time?"
"Compare the two main characters: who is more disciplined, and does discipline make a person 'good'?"

Deep Dive

The Business of Blood

American Gangster isn't your typical shoot-'em-up. It’s a sprawling, methodical look at how a criminal empire is built using the same principles as any legitimate corporation: supply chain management, branding, and cutting out the middleman. Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas is a terrifyingly efficient CEO whose product just happens to be killing people.

What makes the movie stand out—and why it’s worth the 157-minute runtime—is the contrast between Lucas and Russell Crowe’s Richie Roberts. Roberts is the anti-hero in his own right: a mess of a human being whose only redeeming quality is that he’s the only cop in New Jersey who won't take a bribe. The film spends a lot of time showing how hard it is to be a 'good guy' in a broken system, which is a much more interesting conversation than just 'cops vs. robbers.'

"I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man."

While the movie takes some liberties with the actual history of the real Frank Lucas, it perfectly captures the cultural crossroads of 1970s America. You see the intersection of the Civil Rights movement, the heroin epidemic, and the disillusionment with the Vietnam War. It’s a dense, smart, and visually stunning film that demands your full attention. Just be prepared for the needle scenes; they haven't gotten any easier to watch since 2007.

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