American Gangster (Amerikan Gangsteri)

American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical crime drama directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Steven Zaillian. Loosely based on a New York magazine article, it follows Frank Lucas, a gangster from North Carolina who built a heroin empire in Harlem by smuggling drugs directly from Southeast Asia aboard planes returning from the Vietnam War, and Richie Roberts, the honest detective determined to bring him down. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe lead a cast that also includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ruby Dee.

Filmed in New York City and Thailand, it was released on November 2, 2007, topping the box office in its opening week and grossing over $266 million worldwide. The film earned two Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee, who won a Screen Actors Guild Award for the role.