The popular crime movie American Gangster, which previously led to legal action against Universal, is leaving Netflix at the end of the month.
Next week, on August 1, 2026, the movie American Gangster will no longer be available on Netflix. The 2007 film stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a real-life drug kingpin, and tells the story of his climb to power in Harlem and the police efforts to stop him.
American Gangster Remains a Crime Drama Masterpiece
The movie American Gangster begins with Lucas working as a key assistant to a powerful Harlem crime boss. After his boss is killed, Frank leverages his intelligence and business skills to rise in the criminal world, ultimately becoming a major heroin dealer. He smuggles the drugs into the US using returning Vietnam War soldiers.
Lucas’s highly potent ‘Blue Magic’ heroin quickly gained popularity because he sold directly to dealers, effectively squeezing out his rivals. This allowed him to rise through the ranks and become a major drug kingpin in Harlem, but it also drew the attention of Newark detective Richie Roberts.
When Roberts’ partner overdoses on the drug Blue Magic, he takes charge of the investigation to find those responsible. He’s determined to arrest Lucas. The film features strong performances from actors including Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Based on a true crime story, American Gangster was immediately popular with both movie reviewers and general audiences. It’s considered ‘Fresh’ by Rotten Tomatoes, earning an 81% approval rating from more than 200 critics.
Audiences are really enjoying the film, with over 250,000 ratings reflecting its popularity. Critics at Rotten Tomatoes agree, describing it as both tough and fun, and highlighting strong performances from the actors and its clear inspiration from classic gangster movies.
American Gangster did well in theaters, earning $269.8 million despite costing $100 million to make. The film also received recognition from award shows, including two Academy Award nominations – one for Best Art Direction and another for Ruby Dee as Best Supporting Actress.
American Gangster Prompted a Lawsuit for Its Alleged Accuracy
Although many viewers enjoyed Ridley Scott’s thrilling movie, its portrayal of the actual events sparked criticism. Several people depicted in American Gangster, including both Frank Roberts and Howard Lucas, have stated that the film significantly altered the truth. Sterling Johnson Jr., who helped bring Lucas to justice, famously described the movie as “one percent reality and ninety-nine percent Hollywood.”
Three former DEA agents went as far as to sue Universal, claiming the movie distorted events and damaged their reputations and those of other agents. However, the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. The judge ruled that the film didn’t meet the legal requirements for defamation, primarily because it didn’t clearly depict anyone identifiable as a DEA agent.
American Gangster departs from Netflix on Aug. 1, 2026.
2026-07-23 16:05