Is American Gangster on Netflix| How to watch Denzel Washington’s American Gangster on Netflix in 2023?

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American Gangster Netflix

American Gangster is an exciting true crime movie about 1970s heroin dealer Frank Lucas and the cop trying to stop him. Denzel Washington gives one of his best performances as Lucas, an intelligent gang boss smuggling pure heroin from Asia. Russell Crowe plays Detective Richie Roberts, an honest cop who builds a case against Lucas.

Director Ridley Scott creates gripping cat-and-mouse scenes between the criminal mastermind and moral cop.

This blog will guide you on how you can watch American Gangster on Netflix, so read till the end.

Is American Gangster on Netflix?

American Gangster is available on Netflix but not internationally. If you reside in the United States or Australia, you won’t find it in your Netflix library, and that is due to copyright issues.

However, you can easily watch American Gangster on Netflix from anywhere with a reliable VPN.

How to watch American Gangster on Netflix in 2023?

American Gangster is available on Netflix but in limited countries like Canada and Germany. Get ExpressVPN to change your IP address and watch Denzel Washington’s American Gangster on Netflix in the US.

Here is the step you need to follow.

1- Get ExpressVPN to unblock Netflix (12+3 month special deal with a 30day money-back guarantee)

2- Download the VPN app on your preferred device (ExpressVPN works on Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows)

3- Select a Canadian IP address from the country list

4- Now open Netflix.com on your browser or in the app

5- Search for American Gangster on Netflix

6- Enjoy the movie

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American Gangster Netflix countries

American Gangster is a well-made, engaging film that tells a fascinating true story about the world of drug trafficking, which fetched fame among viewers making people curious about where they can watch American Gangster online.

Our team of experts has checked several Netflix libraries and found the movie in the Netflix library of the following countries:

  • Germany
  • Canada
  • Iceland
  • Sweden
  • Portugal
  • Others

American Gangster release date

American Gangster was released in theaters on November 2, 2007, in the United States and earned a revenue of $266 million worldwide.

With a decent IMDb score of 7.8, the movie also got nominated for several awards, including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards.

If you like watching movies and tv shows, watch Flipped, Maybe I Do, The Meg, All American S5, and The Emoji Movie on Netflix.

American Gangster Trailer

American Gangster | What to expect

After the kingpin who dominated the Harlem drug trade dies, Frank Lucas seizes the opportunity to build his own narcotics empire.

Lucas imports pure heroin directly from Southeast Asia, smuggling it back using the coffins of dead Vietnam soldiers. Lucas quickly becomes New York’s most powerful crime boss with his meticulous business strategy and brutal enforcement tactics.

Cop vs. Kingpin

However, his rapid rise gets the attention of Richie Roberts, an honest detective in a predominantly corrupt police force. When Roberts is assigned to a special narcotics task force, he makes it his mission to take down the mysterious Lucas, who has eluded prosecution.

Truth Against Corruption

Roberts’ dedication puts him at odds with corrupt detectives on the mob’s payroll as he slowly gathers evidence and convinces informants to testify against the ruthless Lucas. Meanwhile, Lucas attempts to keep his business afloat despite increasing law enforcement scrutiny and sabotage by the mafia, who feels threatened.

The Kingpin Falls

After years of chasing meager leads, Roberts finally gets a significant break when one of Lucas’ disgruntled associates agrees to wear a wire. When the recorded evidence leads to a raid on Lucas’ home, it culminates in his arrest. Lucas’ wife evades charges by turning over the drug profits.

The Ballad of Frank Lucas

Although sentenced to 70 years in prison, Lucas’ information leads to many more convictions. He was released in 1981 for his cooperation. His dramatic rise and eventual takedown became a legend in the streets of Harlem.

The Cast of American Gangster

The famous crime drama American Gangster featured powerful performances from its talented cast. Following are the main cast members of the movie:

  • Denzel Washington gives one of his most ferocious performances as the cunning heroin kingpin Frank Lucas. Washington’s illustrious career includes films like Training Day, Malcolm X, and Glory.
  • Russell Crowe stars as the dedicated Detective Richie Roberts committed to bringing down Lucas. Crowe is a Hollywood heavyweight known for films like Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and L.A. Confidential.
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Huey Lucas, Frank’s brother and trusted lieutenant. Ejiofor earned acclaim for 12 Years a Slave and Doctor Strange.
  • Josh Brolin portrays a corrupt cop on the take from Lucas. Brolin is a versatile actor known recently for No Country for Old Men and Avengers: Endgame.
  • Amanda Seyfried appears as Frank’s wife, who must confront the violent realities behind her comfortable lifestyle. Seyfried broke out in Mean Girls and Mamma Mia!

Can I Watch American Gangster with a Free VPN?

While free VPNs seem appealing, their major security and functionality limitations make them too risky for most users. These free services lack the strong encryption and protection of paid options, leaving you vulnerable to hackers accessing personal information.

They also impose very restrictive data limits, like 500MB with TunnelBear. This is far too little data for even streaming one movie like American Gangster on Netflix. With such tiny data allowances, free VPNs fail to provide the service and usability people need.

For robust security, unlimited data, and real peace of mind, a reasonably priced premium VPN like ExpressVPN is highly advisable. The small fee gets you bank-level encryption and unlimited data that reliably safeguard your sensitive data.

Ultimately, paid VPNs deliver the essential security and functionality missing from free alternatives. Investing a few dollars each month in a premium VPN is prudent to secure your information and access the internet freely and properly.

Why is ExpressVPN the best to watch American Gangster on Netflix?

Our research showed ExpressVPN’s amazingly fast speeds, reaching up to 91Mbps for downloads and 84Mbps for uploads, even on a standard 100Mbps connection. This enables smooth, uninterrupted access to restricted content and buffer-free Netflix streaming of shows like Black Adam or Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle from anywhere. Their dedicated Australian servers provide excellent Netflix movie streaming abroad.

A single ExpressVPN subscription allows usage on up to 5 devices at once, making sharing connections with family and friends straightforward. ExpressVPN offers user-friendly apps for diverse platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, and Xbox. Their Lightway protocol guarantees rapid speeds with robust encryption, permitting unrestrained website access and seamless streaming.

ExpressVPN has a 15-month plan discounted by 49% to just $6.67/month, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. Their 24/7 customer support provides prompt help when required. With its unrivaled speed, discounted pricing, and stellar service, ExpressVPN is a fantastic choice globally for private, convenient internet access.

What else can you watch on Netflix?

Netflix has some of the best movies and tv shows. Harry Potter was released on Netflix in Australian regions. We all are eagerly waiting for John Wick 4 to release on Netflix.

Until that happens, here are a few popular movies and tv shows.

American Gangster is now streaming on Netflix but in limited countries. We recommend getting an ExpressVPN subscription and accessing the Canadian Netflix library to watch American Gangster on Netflix from USA, UK or Australia.

Unfortunately, American Gangster is not streaming on Hulu or Disney Plus in the USA. The best option you have is to watch it on HBO Max if you have an HBO subscription or watch American Gangster on Netflix with the above-mentioned steps.

Yes, you can. American Gangster is streaming on Prime Video in Canada. You can change your IP address to a Canadian IP to watch American Gangster on Prime.

American Gangster was filmed in different parts and states of the United States. Here are the details.

  • Most of the movie was filmed in New York City, where the true story occurred. Specific locations included Harlem, Washington Heights, and Brooklyn.
  • Iconic New York City landmarks like the Apollo Theater, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan Bridge were used for establishing shots and backdrops.
  • The production took over the Black Hand bar in Ridgewood, Queens, for scenes depicting Frank Lucas' illegal drug operations.
  • Other key locations in New York included the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx and the Liberty Theater in Harlem.
  • Some scenes were filmed across the river in Paterson and Newark, New Jersey. This included exterior shots of Frank Lucas’ home and parts of the Newark Airport.
  • Additional filming took place in the Dominican Republic for the scenes depicting Frank Lucas smuggling drugs into the U.S. from Southeast Asia.
  • The armory scenes were filmed at the American Legion Hall in the Brooklyn East New York neighborhood.

American Gangster was primarily shot on location throughout New York City, with some additional filming in New Jersey and the Dominican Republic. The urban landscape of New York played an important role in bringing the true crime story to life.

There is no word on American Gangster's Netflix release date at the moment. You can stream the movie with a Canadian IP address with a workable VPN.

American Gangster was made with a budget of $100 million. The movie was well received by viewers and critics and is one of the finest Denzel Washington performances to date. The movie became an instant sensation and collected $266 million globally.

Roger Ebert really liked American Gangster. His review for the Chicago Sun-Times gave it a perfect four-star rating. He said the story was very interesting and well-told. Ebert also said Crowe's acting was phenomenal.

Paul Byrnes also enjoyed the movie a lot. In his review for The Sydney Morning Herald, he called American Gangster one of the smartest gangster movies in years. He said the movie has big important themes and two big, larger-than-life characters played by two of the best actors. Byrnes also gave the film four out of four stars.

Overall, both critics thought American Gangster was an excellent and smart gangster film with great acting and an engaging story. They gave it top ratings and praised Crowe's standout performance.

Wrap Up

American Gangster is a well-made and interesting film based on a fascinating true story. The film is beautifully shot and features some excellent performances, particularly from Washington and Crowe.

We have tested ExpressVPN to watch American Gangster on Netflix, and it worked perfectly in changing our Netflix library. Therefore we highly recommend it to all our readers.

Written by Jessica Lynch

With over a decade in entertainment writing, Jessica Lynch expertly navigates film, TV, and streaming content. Her insightful writing tips and guides are loved by industry peers and audiences.