Is American Gangster appropriate for children?

# American Gangster - Parent Guide This R-rated crime drama follows a real-life drug kingpin and contains strong violence, frequent profanity, and moderate sexual content. The film's mature themes and graphic depictions make it unsuitable for children and early teens. It's best reserved for adult viewers who can handle intense criminal storylines.

What age is American Gangster suitable for?

Our verdict for American Gangster is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is American Gangster safe for children?

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

Strong

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

Moderate

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

2007

Rating

Genre

Drama, Crime

Synopsis

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, before being detained by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.

Cast

Denzel Washington

Frank Lucas

Russell Crowe

Richie Roberts

Josh Brolin

Detective Trupo

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Huey Lucas

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

Affiliate links support ScreenWise at no extra cost to you.

Parents also checked

The Shawshank Redemption

Not recommended

Forrest Gump

Not recommended

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
Every child is different — always preview content for your family's specific needs.