What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAmerican Gangster
Ridley Scott · Film · 2007
If you loved American Gangster, start with Narcos (Chris Brancato, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to American Gangster across media.
If you were captivated by American Gangster, you will appreciate these stories exploring the complex intersection of ambition, corruption, and power.
Books on the same thread
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with American Gangster: American Dream.
Like American Gangster, this story examines the hollow pursuit of the American Dream, showing how wealth and status can lead to inevitable ruin and moral decay.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Explores: The American Dream, Social Class, Wealth and Status.
This classic tale mirrors the tragic arc found in American Gangster, focusing on how the pursuit of status and excess ultimately dismantles the lives of those involved.
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
Set in the same era as American Gangster, this narrative captures the visceral reality of 1970s urban decay and the dangerous forces operating within the criminal underworld.
American Prometheus
Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin · Book
Shares a thread with American Gangster: Moral ambiguity.
This biography explores the profound moral ambiguity and hubris that defined the life of a central figure, echoing the complex character study found in American Gangster.
Series on the same thread
Narcos
Chris Brancato · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with American Gangster: Corruption, Moral Ambiguity.
If the scale of drug trafficking in American Gangster fascinated you, this chronicle offers a similarly gritty look at the power dynamics within violent, global cartels.
Miami Vice
Anthony Yerkovich · Series · 1984
Shares 2 threads with American Gangster: Drug trafficking, Moral ambiguity.
This series captures the same tension between law enforcement and organized crime seen in American Gangster, highlighting the moral ambiguity inherent in deep-cover police investigations.
Boardwalk Empire
Terence Winter · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with American Gangster: American Dream, Moral Ambiguity.
This drama perfectly mirrors the dual life of the protagonist in American Gangster, showing how political corruption and organized crime frequently overlap in the pursuit of power.
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Shares a thread with American Gangster: American Dream.
Much like the transformation witnessed in American Gangster, this story tracks a man’s descent into moral decay as he navigates the dangerous consequences of his criminal choices.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Underworld Podcast
Podcast
Explores: organized crime, transnational crime, global crime.
This podcast provides an investigative look at the transnational networks that facilitate the drug trade, expanding on the global criminal operations depicted in American Gangster.
Crime World
Podcast
Shares a thread with American Gangster: Drug Trafficking.
This series offers a grounded look at the reality of organized crime, exploring the same themes of illicit drug trafficking and underworld dynamics found in American Gangster.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is American Gangster based on a true story?
Yes, American Gangster is loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas. He was a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina, who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War.
Who directed American Gangster?
American Gangster was directed by Ridley Scott. The 2007 film depicts the criminal career of Frank Lucas and his eventual detention by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.
What is the primary conflict in American Gangster?
The primary conflict in American Gangster centers on the criminal activities of Frank Lucas and the efforts of a dedicated task force to stop him. This operation is led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts, who works to dismantle the heroin smuggling network.
How did Frank Lucas smuggle heroin in American Gangster?
In American Gangster, Frank Lucas smuggles heroin into the United States by utilizing American service planes. These aircraft were returning from the Vietnam War, allowing him to transport the drugs undetected before he was eventually detained by a task force.