American Gangster

The series is a fact‑based crime drama set in the 1970s, focusing on drug lord Frank Lucas and the police officer determined to dismantle his operation despite widespread corruption within the force. It explores the clash between the kingpin’s empire and the efforts of law enforcement.

American Gangster is a film‑type programme presented as a fact‑based crime drama. It centres on the true‑to‑life story of 1970s drug magnate Frank Lucas and the police officer who set out to bring him to justice, all while confronting entrenched police corruption. The production features Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the lead roles. The narrative follows Lucas as he builds a powerful heroin empire in the 1970s, and it tracks the determined cop who seeks to dismantle that empire. Their opposing missions unfold against a backdrop of systemic corruption within the police force, creating a tense cat‑and‑mouse dynamic that drives the story forward. Set squarely in the turbulent decade of the 1970s, the programme draws on real events to portray both the criminal enterprise and the challenges faced by law‑enforcement officials. By grounding the drama in factual circumstances, it offers a glimpse into the complexities of the drug trade and the obstacles that arise when those tasked with upholding the law are themselves compromised. With Washington and Crowe portraying the central figures, the film balances the perspectives of the drug kingpin and the officer striving to stop him. Their performances anchor the story, highlighting the clash between ambition and duty in an era marked by widespread corruption and illicit activity.