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Director Spike Lee and Denzel Washington behind-the-scenes of “Highest 2 Lowest,” in theaters now and on Apple TV+ September 5, 2025. Photo Credit Apple TV+

Few actor–director collaborations have left a deeper mark on film than Denzel Washington and Spike Lee. Across decades, they’ve shared a legacy of powerful, culture-shaping movies. Now, that creative bond continues with Highest 2 Lowest, a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s classic High and Low, now streaming on Apple TV+. This marks their fifth collaboration, and their first since Inside Man (2006).

Denzel Washington Brings New York City to Life in This Crime Thriller

From Do the Right Thing to Inside Man, Spike Lee has always...

A big slate of films is about to rotate off Netflix between Monday, 9/1 and Sunday, 9/7, with one last title departing on Monday, 9/8. Below you’ll find each movie’s essentials—what it’s about, who’s in it, and who made it—plus the exact date it leaves so you can plan your queue.

The lineup ranges from studio epics and acclaimed thrillers to animated favorites and anime specials. Skim the list, mark your priorities, and press play before these titles cycle out.

‘Sicario’ (2015) Lionsgate

An FBI agent is seconded to a cross-border task force targeting a cartel boss, drawing her into operations led by a quietly formidable fixer. Emily Blunt...

Widely regarded as one of the finest performances of the 21st century, Denzel Washington's turn as the mean-spirited Detective Alonzo Harris in Training Day is a masterclass in acting, one that many budding young performers simply must watch. Starring alongside Ethan Hawke in the 2001 crime thriller, Washington verbally berates and threatens his way to an Oscar for his trouble,cementing his performance as one of the greatest to be heralded by the Academy.

Now, 24 years later, you can catch this awe-inspiring performance on a brand-new streamer. As of September 1, 2025, Training Day will be available to stream on Starz in the U.S., joining a number of exciting new arrivals on the platform.

As September rolls in, Netflix is shaking up its library, making room for new titles by saying goodbye to some familiar ones. This means a bunch of movies you might have on your watchlist are about to disappear, so it’s time to plan your movie nights before they’re gone.

From action-packed thrillers to heartfelt romances and animated adventures, the list of departures is packed with variety. Below, we’ve rounded up every movie leaving Netflix in September 2025, with details on the plot, cast, and when you need to catch them by.

‘V for Vendetta’ (2005) Warner Bros. Productions

Set in a dystopian future where a totalitarian regime rules Britain,...

As September rolls in, Netflix is shaking up its library, which means some movies are hitting the road. This month, you’ve got a mix of classics, modern hits, and hidden gems leaving the platform, so it’s time to check your watchlist and catch these films before they’re gone.

From action-packed thrillers to heartfelt romances and animated adventures, the lineup of departing titles has something for everyone. Here’s the full rundown of every movie leaving Netflix in September, with details on what they’re about, who’s in them, and when you need to watch by.

‘One Piece: Episode of Skypiea’ (2018) Toei Animation

This anime special follows Monkey D.

Russell Crowe’s next movie is gearing up to begin filming any day now, but before he and Henry Cavill discover that there can only be one, another of Crowe’s recent films has become a streaming sensation. Crowe stars alongside Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) and RZA (American Gangster) in Poker Face, the 2023 psychological thriller following a tech billionaire who hosts a poker evening that goes sour when dark secrets come out and thieves break in. Poker Face is currently streaming on Hulu in America and Prime Video globally, where it’s become one of the most popular movies in countries such as France and Japan.

Poker Face was...

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It always seems like Netflix has an unending library of great movies and TV shows, but at the same time, it is also quite difficult to figure out what you actually want to watch. So, we thought, why not let Netflix make it easy for you, as it removes movies and TV shows from its library every month, and we decided to pick the best of the best films and TV shows you should watch before you can’t anymore.

Airport (September 1) Credit – Universal Pictures

Airport is a disaster drama film written and directed by George Seaton. Based...

While Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe are best known for their work together on the beloved sword-and-sandal epic, Gladiator, the award-winning Hollywood legends left their mark with an acclaimed gangster epic that resonates with fans nearly two decades later. Their hit crime thriller, American Gangster, remains a fixture on Netflix, but not for too much longer.

Netflix is set to release several movies on Sept. 1, with American Gangster being among the titles leaving the popular streaming platform. The film initially joined Netflix last September and became a streaming hit. It's not the only Scott and Crowe classic to depart Netflix this summer, as Gladiator also left the service at the start of August.

American Gangster will be leaving Netflix at the end of the month. Denzel Washington will star in the upcoming police procedural film Highest 2 Lowest, from Spike Lee. Ridley Scott directed American Gangster and has a history of iconic sci-fi films.

One of Russell Crowe’s most iconic movies that saw him team up with a two-time Oscar-winning star just got the streaming update that fans have been dreading. 18 years ago, Crowe starred alongside Denzel Washington (Training Day), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Doctor Strange) in American Gangster, the biopic detailing the life of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas. American Gangster has found a home on Netflix, but the streamer has confirmed that the last day to watch the film will be at the end of the month on August 31. The film earned a Certified Fresh 81% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and even a 90% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter,...

Denzel Washington’s next movie with Spike Lee is gearing up to begin its theatrical run, but ahead of its arrival in theaters, one of Washington’s films, which is more than 10 years old, has become a streaming success. Washington stars alongside Mark Wahlberg in2 Guns, the buddy cop film following two hardened criminals who get into trouble with border patrol after meeting with a Mexican drug lord.2 Guns is currently streaming on Tubi in America and on Starz globally, where it’s become one of the top 10 movies for the streamer in recent days. The film earned average scores of 64% from critics and 66% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it grossed $131 million at the global box office against a reported budget of $61 million, making it a solid financial success.

Based on the popular Boom! Studios comic book from Steven Grant, Blake Masters wrote the script for 2 Guns, and Baltasar Kormákur directed the film.

Six years after Denzel Washington gave his second Oscar-winning performance in Training Day, he teamed up with Russell Crowe for a gritty crime thriller that’s dominating streaming charts. The pair star alongside Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor in American Gangster, the 2007 true crime docudrama following an outcast New York cop tasked with bringing down Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas.American Gangster is streaming on Netflix in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most popular movies globally on Rakuten TV, charting in countries such as Slovenia. American Gangster earned a “certified fresh” 81% score from critics and a 90% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The film also grossed $269 million at the box office, managing to turn a profit of its whopping $100 million budget.

American Gangster is based on the article The Return of Superfly, a New York Magazine piece written by Mark Jacobson, and Steven Zaillian wrote the script for the film,...

Denzel Washington has starred in many hit films throughout his decades-long Hollywood career, but his latest big-screen entry is surprisingly his biggest box-office smash. The star-studded historical epic Gladiator II has become a huge hit Paramount+ -- and that's not the first time it's enjoyed streaming success.

Per FlixPatrol, Gladiator II is the top-ranked film on Paramount+'s global Top 10 films chart, outdoing the Tom Cruise-led Top Gun: Maverick for the No. 1 spot. It's the second time since Gladiator II's release that it topped the streaming charts, having taken over Prime Video's Top 10 movies chart immediately in April 2025.

Gladiator II was the follow-up to Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, which won five Academy Awards -- including Best Picture and Best Actor for leading man Russell Crowe. Washington previously worked with Scott on the acclaimed 2007 crime drama American Gangster, in which he played notorious crime boss Frank Lucas. The...

The scourge of heroin use by Black Americans in cities like New York in the 1970s sparked Richard Nixon’s War of Drugs. The goal was to “associate the hippies with marijuana and Blacks with heroin” and to “disrupt those communities” by “criminalizing both heavily,” Nixon’s domestic policy chief John Ehrlichman said in 2016.

Legs McNeil uses that quote in his documentary, Pusherman: Frank Lucas & The True Story of American Gangster, distributed by Mvd Entertainment, which arrives on streaming service Tubi today (June 24). “I’d never heard it before,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought it was a fantastic quote. It made sense because they would raid you, they’d target you. I was targeted as a kid for going to antiwar demonstrations.”

McNeil’s movie focuses on Frank Lucas, the Harlem dope pusher made famous in Ridley Scott’s 2007 druggy saga American Gangster, which was based on a...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for the Season 4 finale of “Godfather of Harlem,” now streaming on MGM+.

In the Season 4 finale of “Godfather of Harlem,” gangster Elsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (Forest Whitaker) finds himself right back where he started, partnering with the Italian mob to run heroin and cocaine through the streets of Harlem. Throughout Season 4, Bumpy attempts to become a legitimate businessman to honor the wishes of his late friend, activist Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvel). Unfortunately, the numbers runner and crime boss learns the hard way that you cannot be half a gangster.

It’s 1966, and Harlem is changing rapidly. Without his drug business, Bumpy no longer has the overhead nor the power to prevent the Italians from encroaching on his territory and stripping opportunities from Black Harlemites. Despite his best efforts, his thriving new nightclub, Club St. Clair, was ripped from underneath him in a shady deal...

Godfather of Harlem Season 4 is coming to an end tonight at 9 p.m. Et.

In the fourth season of the MGM+ TV show, Bumpy battles the Italian Mafia for Harlem while facing a new rival, Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s death, he struggles with Elise’s ties to the Black Panthers.

In the Season 4 finale, an attack on Bumpy’s family forces him to team up with unlikely allies to retaliate against Joe Colombo.

Of course, fans are already eagerly awaiting news about a potential Season 5.

Keep reading to find out more…

Godfather of Harlem has not been renewed for Season 5, nor has it been cancelled.

The showrunner recently spoke to THR about the fate of the series, and provided a positive update.

The outlet noted that in real life, Bumpy lived only about three more years after Malcolm X’s death, and the co-creator was asked how many...

Barry Levinson’s The Alto Knights (2025) is a sprawling crime drama that resurrects the gritty legacy of classic mafia storytelling. Set in the volatile mid-century underworld, the film centers around the bitter fallout between Frank Costello (played by Robert De Niro) and Vito Genovese—once childhood friends, now mortal enemies. Co-starring Debra Messing, Cosmo Jarvis, and Kathrine Narducci, the film is a slow-burning epic filled with betrayal, ego, and shifting loyalties. With Levinson’s assured direction and Nicholas Pileggi’s screenplay (based on real-life events), the movie captures the cost of power and the tragic beauty of brotherhood turned sour.

If you’re drawn to movies like The Alto Knights—stories that dive deep into the psychology of gangsters, the structure of organized crime, and the humanity behind the violence—here are six gripping films that belong in your watchlist.

1. The Irishman (2019)

The Irishman is perhaps the closest spiritual companion to The Alto Knights.

The champ has entered the building for this week's episode of Godfather of Harlem Season 4, and he's here to talk some sense into Jerome Greene (Elijah Wright). Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at Episode 8 of the MGM+ crime drama, titled "If We Must Die," which sees Mayme Johnson (Ilfenesh Hadera) leverage none other than The Greatest himself, Muhammad Ali, embodied once again by The Rookie and All American star Deric Augustine, to get through to the young man before he makes a life-changing decision. Delia's (Roslyn Ruff) son is drafted to fight in Vietnam like many others, but the Black Panthers aren't about to sit idly by. The hope is that the legendary boxer, who himself took a stand against the war, will be able to find some common ground with him.

In the brief sneak peek, Jerome and Delia are seated for lunch at the diner...

Exclusive: Production is currently underway on the indie feature Otra in Atlanta and Puerto Rico with Rome Flynn, María Gabriela de Faría (The Moodys), Flor Delis Alicea and Aria Celeste Castillo leading the cast.

From longtime Tyler Perry collaborator Armani Ortiz in his solo directorial debut, Otra is an emotionally charged new-age Latino musical that redefines the boundaries of the genre, shot entirely in a single, continuous take.

“I’ve been dreaming and planning for this project for the better part of five years, and for it to be my first solo debut feature film feels like fate,” Ortiz shared in a statement to Deadline. “From a filmmaking perspective, I really wanted to do something that the audience has never seen before—the first-ever one-shot musical in cinema history. And if there happens...

Image Source: Universal Picture Home Entertainment In the tense 2007 bio-crime American Gangster, two Academy Award giants, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, battled once again in a cinematic showdown of heavyweight talent. Their electrifying on-screen chemistry, first sparked in the futuristic action of 1995’s Virtuosity, found fresh, visceral intensity in the raw and violent streets of 1970s Harlem. Under the masterful direction of Oscar winner Ridley Scott, American Gangster immerses viewers into a gripping battle of wills. With an uncompromising New York City cop on a relentless quest to dismantle the burgeoning empire of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, the premise crackles with tension. This wasn’t just fiction; Lucas’s daring real-life narrative provided the strong inspiration for this fascinating, partly biographical film. Denzel Washington delivers a performance of magnetic intensity as Frank Lucas, a character study in chilling ambition and surprising charisma. To inhabit this complex role, Washington immersed himself in Lucas’s world.

Rome Flynn, who portrayed Derrick Gibson in NBC's Chicago Fire, recently spoke with Cbr about playing a real-life gangster. Flynn plays Frank Lucas in Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem.

Speaking with Cbr's Brittany Frederick, Flynn acknowledged how different playing Frank Lucas is compared to his Chicago Fire character. "Very different approaches, both equally challenging in [their] own way," he said of the shift from being a hero to an antagonist. "But this is a lot different. Procedural is a lot more technical, a lot more by the book. For this show, it's about the details, but a lot of it's unpredictable, and it's written in that way too. So very different forms."

While playing Frank Lucas is challenging, Flynn also shared how much he learned from his time on Chicago Fire. "I've found a heavy level of appreciation for our essential workers," he revealed. "They're heroes of our communities, and...

MGM+ has announced the titles coming to the premium linear channel and streaming service in May. The MGM Plus May 2025 lineup includes new episodes of Godfather of Harlem Season 4 and the film Better Man.

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on demand, online, and across devices.

MGM Plus May 2025 Schedule

Series

Godfather of Harlem Season 4

The fourth season continues on Sundays

Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

Taron Egerton as arson investigator Dave Gudsen in ‘Smoke’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Apple TV+’s Smoke starring Taron Egerton and Prime Video’s We Were Liars with Emily Alyn Lind will have their world premiere screenings during the 2025 Tribeca Festival. This year’s festival will run June 4-15 in New York City.

“Television is one of the most powerful storytelling mediums of our time, and Tribeca is proud to be a home for the visionaries who are redefining it,” stated Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming Cara Cusumano. “Tribeca TV is a cornerstone of our festival—an essential platform where innovation, artistry, and audience converge. As the lines between film and television continue to blur, our commitment to championing exceptional stories in all forms remains steadfast.”

SundanceTV’s The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster and BritBox’s Outrageous will also have their world premieres during the 2025 Tribeca Festival,...

The Tribeca Festival has unveiled its 2025 TV slate of premieres and cast convos, with Apple TV+’s Smoke; HBO’s The Gilded Age; Prime Video’s We Were Liars; BritBox’s Outrageous and Paramount+’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Lena Dunham will talk on her new Netflix Series Too Much.

The festival, which set its feature film slate Wednesday, runs June 4-15 in New York City.

“Tribeca TV is a cornerstone of our festival — an essential platform where innovation, artistry, and audience converge. As the lines between film and television continue to blur, our commitment to championing exceptional stories in all forms remains steadfast,” said festival director and SVP Programming Cara Cusumano.

“TV lovers’ choices often seem overwhelmingly vast these days. We are excited to help our audience hone in on a selection of new series and returning favorites that they can experience at Tribeca in a truly exclusive way,...

The Tribeca Festival is looking uptown for a centerpiece TV premiere: Season 3 of fan-favorite series “The Gilded Age” will debut at the festival, along with a slew of other notable series.

The 2025 Tribeca Festival, presented by Okx, announced its lineup of television and original independent episodic series. The Festival will take place from June 4 to 15 in New York City, with the features already having been launched earlier this week.

Highlights of the TV program include the Season 3 premiere of Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” the season finale of “Godfather of Harlem,” and the world premiere of Apple TV+ drama “Smoke.” The Now section, which is dedicated to new independently created pilots and series, has Mandy Patinkin in “Seasoned,” as well as Lili Reinhart, Cooper Raiff, Betty Gilpin, and Mark Ruffalo in “Hal & Harper.” Lena Dunham is among the panelists as well, and will preview her Netflix series “Too Much...

The 2025 Sarasota Film Festival has announced its winners, and one film in particular will draw attention for having screened to much acclaim in this bright red county, ultimately winning the top documentary prize: Kim A. Snyder’s “The Librarians,” a film that’s sounding the alarm strongly about right-wing attacks on free speech, won Best Documentary Feature, after screening at New College, a university itself subjected to a right-wing takeover and attacks on free speech.

The win for “The Librarians” caps another edition of the festival known for its strong curation (largely due to senior programmer Brian Gordon), that brings to Florida’s Gulf Coast titles from Sundance, Cannes, Palm Springs, Mill Valley, and more.

The documentary jury, comprised of freelance journalist Addie Morfoot, Impact Partners co-founder Geralyn Dreyfous, and “Lovers” director Taylor McFadden also awarded a Special Jury Mention to Sasha Wortzel’s “River of Grass,” an environmentally-focused documentary about the Everglades.

The future of Harlem hangs in the balance in the new season of ‘Godfather of Harlem.’

The fourth season of “Godfather of Harlem” promises to present the most difficult challenges Bumpy Johnson has ever faced when it premieres on Sunday, April 13 at 9 p.m. Et on the MGM+ App and MGM+ linear channel. Bumpy must grapple with the same challenges that always confront his neighborhood; crime, outside influence, and social conflict — while at the same time dealing with issues at home. You can stream the new season of “Godfather of Harlem” with a subscription to the MGM+ App.

How to watch ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 4 When: Premieres Sunday, April 13 at 9 p.m. Et TV: MGM+, MGM+ App Stream: Watch with a seven-day free trial of MGM+. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know about ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 4

How to watch ‘Godfather of Harlem...

Harlem’s kingpin is back, and he’s not backing down. After three fire seasons packed with mob wars, political drama, and jaw-dropping power moves, Godfather of Harlem is finally returning for Season 4, and fans are more than ready. Forest Whitaker is back in boss mode as Bumpy Johnson, the legendary crime lord trying to keep control of Harlem while chaos closes in from all sides.

Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, with Brancato also pulling strings as showrunner, this series is a fictionalized take on the real-life Bumpy Johnson, a man who ran the streets of Harlem in the ’60s and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Malcolm X, mob bosses, and politicians alike. But this isn’t your average gangster show. Since its 2019 debut, Godfather of Harlem has mixed raw street energy with political depth, showing what happens when the fight for power and justice collide.

Forest...

Learn everything you need to know about the newest season of Forest Whitaker’s acclaimed series.

The battle for Harlem is going to get more desperate and dangerous than ever before. “Godfather of Harlem” debuts its fourth season on Sunday, April 13 on MGM+. We’ll fill you in on all the details you need to know about the new episodes so you’re completely ready for the season before it begins!

Everything you need to know about ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 4

When does Season 4 of ‘Godfather of Harlem’ premiere?

Watch a trailer for ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 4

What happened in Season 3 of ‘Godfather of Harlem’?

What will happen in Season 4 of ‘Godfather of Harlem’?

Who will star in ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Season 4?

Can you watch ‘Godfather of Harlem’ for free?

7-Day Free Trial $6.99+ / month via amazon.com When does Season 4 of ‘Godfather of Harlem’ premiere?

Season 4 of “Godfather of Harlem” will debut on MGM+ on Sunday,...

Denzel Washington stands as one of the most respected names in Hollywood. Spending decades mastering his craft, his talent is unique in so many ways. His name holds value, and a film automatically enters a new league if he is in it. With this, one cannot help but wonder what his highest-grossing film of all time is.

Although 2024’s Gladiator 2 changed this, grossing almost $500 million at the worldwide box office, a different project kept this title for seventeen years. While this sounds quite impressive, a more careful analysis showcases quite a disappointing pattern in Washington’s career.

Denzel Washington in a still from Gladiator II | Credits: Paramount Pictures Denzel Washington’s reigning champion wasn’t always Gladiator 2

In 2007, Denzel Washington starred in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster. The film very quickly became iconic and rose through the ranks in the most impressive ways possible. Not only was it nominated for two Academy Awards,...

The legacy of heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, whose story was dramatized in the 2007 narrative feature American Gangster, is the focus of a forthcoming documentary film.

Pusherman explores Lucas’ life through the lens of the lore surrounding Black gangsters and is set for DVD release from Mvd Entertainment Group on June 24. Documentarian and author Legs McNeil directs and narrates the movie.

The film features interviews with Mark Jacobson, the journalist whose New York magazine story initially shed light on Lucas’ operation. Other figures included in the project are crime writer Michael Daly, hip-hop historian Fab 5 Freddy and culture pundit Darius James. Pusherman will delve into how Lucas helped to redefine the drug trade, in addition to what his story said about New York City power structures and how he was embraced by the music community.

“Pusherman is the best Behind the Music episode ever done about a non-musical figure,” says Jacobson.

MGM+ has announced the titles coming to the premium linear channel and streaming service in April. The MGM Plus April 2025 lineup includes Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue, Godfather of Harlem Season 4, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on demand, online, and across devices.

Godfather of Harlem Season 4 MGM Plus April 2025 Schedule

Series

Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue

The series finale airs on Sunday, April 6

Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue is a strikingly original and taut thriller series with a jaw-dropping reveal waiting at the end. A light aircraft with nine passengers crashes in the Mexican jungle, and everyone survives.

But then, one after another, they begin to die in strange and violent ways.

Ridley Scott is a visionary director known for his striking and meticulously crafted films across numerous genres. While he’s widely recognized for sci-fi spectacles like Alien and Blade Runner, and historical epics like Gladiator, he's had a notable action-packed dip into cinematic crime. Scott's crime dramas often focus on tense power struggles, moral dilemmas, and the high-stakes world of illegal enterprises. His 2007 film American Gangster was nominated for two Oscars for its gripping biographical drama of Frank Lucas, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

The award-winning director also helmed The Counselor, a neo-noir crime thriller written by Cormac McCarthy, which explored the consequences of greed in the Mexican drug trade. Black Rain brought Scott’s stylish visuals to a Yakuza crime story set in Japan, while Body of Lies followed high-octane espionage in the Middle East with a tense, politically charged thriller. Across these stories, Ridley Scott’s movies...

MGM+ has released the trailer and key art for Season Four of Godfather of Harlem, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13, 2025.

From Chris Brancato, creator of Narcos and Hotel Cocaine, the fourth season stars Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik Laray Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco and Erik Palladino.

The new season introduces Frank Lucas, portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Rome Flynn. The first three seasons are currently available to stream on MGM+.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

Update 3/11: The trailer for the MGM+ original series Godfather of Harlem just dropped and Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn), “a country boy looking to make a name for himself,” according to Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) in the video, is already making waves in New York City.

Watch the trailer in full above.

Previous 01/23: Forest Whitaker returns as Bumpy Johnson in Season 4 of the MGM+ original series Godfather of Harlem on April 13. A teaser released on Thursday (above) reveals newcomer Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn) has arrived in New York City and there’s potential for a lot of drama.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

One of Ridley Scott and Denzel Washington's most notable 2000s films lands another streaming home 18 years after its theatrical premiere. The duo's acclaimed yet polarizing crime drama, American Gangster, is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

Prime Video recently confirmed American Gangster as one of their latest additions, allowing fans to catch up with the Universal Pictures thriller. The film's Prime Video debut comes after Netflix launched the film via its platform in September 2024, while Peacock added the movie to its streaming lineup in February. American Gangster chronicles the life of notorious North Carolina gangster and drug trader Frank Lucas (Washington).

Related'Still Breaks My Heart': Antoine Fuqua Recalls Losing Acclaimed Denzel Washington Film to Ridley Scott

Training Day and The Equalizer franchise director Antoine Fuqua reveals how he lost out on another film collaboration with Denzel Washington.

The story examines Frank's rise up the ranks in the heroine trade...

Revisiting Josh Brolin & Denzel Washington’s Intense Moment On American Gangster Set (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Denzel Washington’s commitment to method acting almost led to a fight with Josh Brolin while filming American Gangster. Brolin, unaware that Washington was in character, unknowingly stepped into a tense moment that could have escalated quickly. Looking back on the experience, Brolin made it clear that he and Washington are on great terms now. But on set? Different story.

“Yeah, we almost got into a fight… Denzel was a little late to set, and there was a whole thing there,” he recalled, per In Depth With Graham Bensinger. “I was trying to remember the structure, and then we rehearsed. It wasn’t that many lines, mostly mine. And I’m supposed to be Super confident. It’s Denzel Washington, man. It’s, like, not easy. You’re just some actor who they’re trying out,...

Denzel Washington, like the iconic trailblazer Sidney Poitier, mastered movie stardom which was long denied to African-American actors in Hollywood. Mr. Poitier emerged at a pivotal time in the history of Hollywood and showed whiteness doesn’t have to define the industry’s stardom. And it was in the year the American Civil Rights Movement gained greater momentum, i.e., in 1954, Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born. The man not only redefined stardom for black actors but also broke many standardized Hollywood representations of black characters. Most importantly, Denzel Washington is one of the best American actors of all time. The swagger and easy charm of the actor deserves a distinguishable adjective like Washingtonian.

Born to a beautician mom and a Pentecostal preacher dad, Denzel Washington grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. After finishing high school, he enrolled at Fordham University to study journalism. But Washington developed an interest...

This article discusses real-life crimes and criminals.

Movies based on or loosely inspired by real criminals are captivating for their gritty realism and the exploration of the dark sides of society. They offer audiences a glimpse into the lives of notorious criminals, showcasing their chaotic rise to power and eventual downfall. These movies' appeal lies in the fascinating true stories of the world's most infamous criminals.

Goodfellas is a quintessential example of a gangster film that mesmerizes audiences with its vivid depiction of the Mafia underworld. The Martin Scorsese film offers an intimate look at the inner workings of organized crime in New York City based on the true story of the mobster-turned-informant Henry Hill. However, plenty of other crime movies grip audiences with their compelling and almost unbelievable narratives.

Updated on February 6, 2025, by Robert Vaux: Gangster movies have a long and proud tradition in Hollywood, and the "ripped from...

Ridley Scott's critically acclaimed 2007 biographical crime film American Gangster is now streaming on Peacock. The film was loosely based on the life of real-life gangster Frank Lucas.

American Gangster starred Denzel Washington as Lucas, the gangster who smuggles heroin into the United States via service planes returning from the Vietnam War. The film follows Lucas's rise to power in the New York City criminal underworld as well as his eventual detention by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts (Russel Crowe). Other American Gangster cast members included Cuba Gooding Jr., Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, Armand Assante, Josh Ortiz, John Hawkes and RZA.

RelatedHulk Actor Joins Charlize Theron & Taron Egerton in Netflix Survival Thriller

Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton will be joined by a Hulk actor in an upcoming survival thriller from Netflix.

The Ridley Scott-directed film enjoyed positive reviews from critics, who called it a...

From 2015 to 2017, Rome Flynn played Zende Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful. He would go on to several other TV shows, including The Haves and Have Nots, Grey’s Anatomy, and Chicago Fire. Now, he’s got an exciting new role coming up that’s going to push his acting skills to the limit.

From Country Boy To City Boy

According to Deadline, Flynn is going to appear on Godfather of Harlem, on the MGM+ streaming service. In the 2007 film American Gangster, Denzel Washington played real life drug lord Frank Lucas. GoH is a prequel series, and Flynn will be playing a young Lucas during the time in his life when he went from being a kid from the country to Harlem.

Eventually, he encounters Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) and after the two butt heads, he “rises to become Bumpy’s fierce defender and right-hand man.” The outlet described the first scene Flynn appears in,...

The Godfather of Harlem has his work cut out for him with a new rival in the first teaser trailer for Season 4 of the MGM+ series (premiering Sunday, April 13, with weekly episodes).

Rome Flynn (Chicago Fire, How to Get Away With Murder) joins the cast as gangster Frank Lucas, who has his eye on owning Harlem.

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In the upcoming season, “Bumpy Johnson...

Today, premium network MGM+ released a first-look teaser for Godfather of Harlem Season 4, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13.

From Chris Brancato, creator of Narcos and Hotel Cocaine, the fourth season stars Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik Laray Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco and Erik Palladino.

The new season introduces Frank Lucas, portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Rome Flynn. The first three seasons are currently available to stream on MGM+.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

Denzel Washington not getting an Oscar nomination for Gladiator II would repeat history, as he also didn't receive a nomination for Ridley Scott's 2007 film American Gangster. Washington is one of the most celebrated actors of all time. Denzel Washington's best movies include Malcolm X, Training Day, Fences, and The Tragedy of Macbeth, all of which earned him nominations for an Academy Award. Washington's most recent performance was in Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel to Scott's 2000 movie. Washington joining the cast of Gladiator II made perfect sense, as he and Scott had worked together on American Gangster.

In Gladiator II, Washington plays Macrinus, an arms dealer and gladiator owner who is an extremely influential figure in Rome. Throughout the movie, Macrinus manipulates Emperors Geta and Caracalla, and eventually takes control of Rome himself. By the end of Gladiator II, Washington's Macrinus emerges as the true villain of the film. Washington...

Central Cee and 21 Savage are watching the price go all the way up on their new song, “Gbp.”

Over a beat of atmospheric synths and punchy drums, Central Cee leans into the transatlantic nature of the collaboration, using his verse and parts of the chorus to envision what his life would’ve been like if he hadn’t been born in London, but various places and times across the U.S.

“If I lived in Harlem, I would’ve been Mitch, them man would’ve been like Ace and snitched/If it was Oakland,...

It has been over two decades since Denzel Washington screamed ‘King Kong ain’t got sh*t on me’ in the legendary Training Day. The Antoine Fuqua directorial got Washington his second Oscar after he had previously won for Glory. The film was also a commercial success and the legendary combo was set to reunite for an epic gangster film again.

Alas, the workings of Hollywood do not always make way for dreams and Fuqua had to give up his dream of crafting his incredible gangster film with Washington again. The filmmaker mentioned how heartbroken he was after his version of American Gangster was shelved. The film ended up being made by Ridley Scott with Washington in the lead.

Antoine Fuqua lamented about his shelved version of American Gangster with Denzel Washington Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke in Training Day | Credits: Warner Bros.

Antoine Fuqua broke into the scene by directing music videos for Prince,...

Denzel Washington isn’t just an actor, he’s a walking masterclass in how to own the screen. When he steps into a role, it’s game over, because the guy doesn’t just act; he becomes the moment. The dialogue? Electrifying. The presence? Unmatched. Now, pair that kind of energy with Ridley Scott, the visionary behind epics like Gladiator, and you’ve got a cinematic duo that’s hard to beat. That’s exactly what happened with American Gangster.

Playing Frank Lucas, the smooth yet ruthless drug kingpin, Washington didn’t just deliver a performance; he created a legend. Every glance, every word dripped with confidence and danger, making everyone watching think, “This guy runs the world, hands down.”

Denzel Washington in a still from Gladiator II | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Meanwhile, Scott’s latest project, Gladiator 2, made waves with its jaw-dropping $310 million budget and epic ambitions. Sure, it...

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mother, Janice, would often throw wild parties at the future music mogul’s childhood home, where it wasn’t uncommon to walk into a room where adults were having sex, one of Combs’ longtime childhood friends claims in a new documentary.

“That’s what we were privy to; this is what we were fed,” hip-hop producer Tim “Dawg” Patterson says in Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which will premiere on Peacock on Tuesday. “Was it desensitizing us? I’m sure it was. Were we aware of it?...

Godfather of Harlem season 3 set up another intense outing, which means Godfather of Harlem season 4 is coming soon. Emerging as a potent blend of historical narrative and thrilling crime drama, the show depicts the life of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker).Set against the backdrop of 1960s Harlem, the series stands out for its intricate storytelling, combining real-life historical figures with fictionalized events, led by Whitaker's mesmerizing performance as Godfather of Harlem's best character. The critically acclaimed show gives a masterful portrayal of complex socio-political themes, weaving a rich tapestry of crime, power, and racial struggles.

The conclusion of Godfather of Harlem season 3 set up numerous possibilities for the next chapter, with significant plotlines left unresolved and character arcs reaching pivotal junctures. The season 3 finale sees Bumpy exit the drug business and leave a trail of bodies behind him, the tension between Bumpy's gang and the Italian mafia reaches an all-time high,...

First look images of Godfather of Harlem season 4 have finally been released, offering a glimpse at Forrest Whitaker’s return as the infamous Bumpy Johnson. Debuted in 2019 on Epix, and now streaming on MGM+, the acclaimed drama portrays Johnson’s efforts to reclaim control of Harlem during the 1960s. Godfather of Harlem season 4 promises to raise the stakes as Bumpy continues to wage war against the New York Mafia and faces a shifting power dynamic in the criminal underworld.

Via Collider, the newly revealed images show Bumpy Johnson alongside key returning cast members, including Ilfenesh Hadera, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Demi Singleton, and Jason Alan Carvell. Additionally, new cast member Rome Flynn joins the series as the infamous gangster Frank Lucas. Season 4, set for release nearly two years after season 3's release in Spring 2025, will continue exploring the turbulent intersection between crime and politics in the 1960s. Check out the new images,...

The upcoming fourth season of Godfather of Harlem is in the works!

MGM+ kicked off the new year by releasing a set of first look photos from the new episodes, as well as an estimated timeframe of when the drama series will return.

In the upcoming season, Bumpy Johnson continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival in newly arrived Black gangster Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s tragic death, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s involvement with the Black Panthers.

With the crime drama’s fourth season on the way, we’re taking a look at the cast of the show, including who will be returning and who is joining the cast.

Keep reading inside to get the details on the season four cast of Godfather of Harlem…...