Films About Drugs and Crime
The intersection of drugs and crime has long been a compelling subject in cinema, offering a gritty exploration of the human condition, moral ambiguity, and societal issues. These films often delve into the darker sides of life, showcasing the struggles of addiction, the consequences of criminal behavior, and the complex relationships that arise in the drug trade. From intense dramas to thrilling crime sagas, films about drugs and crime reveal the stark realities faced by individuals and communities while providing a lens through which audiences can examine broader societal themes.
“Scarface”, 1983
Director: Brian De Palma
This iconic film follows the rise and fall of Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who becomes a powerful drug lord in Miami. Known for its violence and memorable one-liners, it explores themes of ambition, greed, and the American Dream.
Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Ángel Salazar, Arnaldo Santana, Pepe Serna, Michael P. Moran, Al Israel, Dennis Holahan, Mark Margolis, Michael Alldredge, Ted Beniades, Richard Belzer, Paul Espel, John Brandon, Tony Perez, Garnett Smith, Loren Almaguer, Gil Barreto, Heather Benna, Sue Bowser, Tina Leigh Cameron, Victor Campos, Robert Hammer Cannerday, Rene Carrasco, Albert Carrier, John Carter, Richard Caselnova, Gary Carlos Cervantes, Carlos Cestero, Johnny Contardo, Roberto Contreras, Caesar Cordova, Gregory Norman Cruz, Dante D'Andre, Richard Delmonte, Wayne Doba, Michel François, Ben Frommer, Edward R. Frommer, John Gamble, Troy Isaacs, Ronald G. Joseph, Mario Machado;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama, crime, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 170 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Scarface” on the website imdb.com
“Trainspotting”, 1995
Director: Danny Boyle
A gritty yet darkly humorous portrayal of a group of heroin addicts in Edinburgh, this film follows Mark Renton as he navigates the highs and lows of addiction and the impact it has on his relationships and aspirations.
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald, Peter Mullan, James Cosmo, Eileen Nicholas, Susan Vidler, Pauline Lynch, Shirley Henderson, Stuart McQuarrie, Dale Winton, Keith Allen, Kevin Allen, Annie Louise Ross, Billy Riddoch, Fiona Bell, Vincent Friell, Hugh Ross, Victor Eadie, Kate Donnelly, Finlay Welsh, Eddie Nestor, Tom Delmar, Archie MacPherson, Stuart McGugan, Alastair Thomson Mills, Arnold Montey, Dirk Robertson;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 93 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Trainspotting” on the website imdb.com
“The Godfather”, 1972
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
While primarily a mafia film, drug trade and its implications play a crucial role in this epic saga. The Corleone family's rise to power is intertwined with the illicit drug business, showcasing the moral complexities of crime and family loyalty.
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Richard S. Castellano, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Al Lettieri, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Abe Vigoda, Gianni Russo, Rudy Bond, Al Martino, Morgana King, Lenny Montana, John Martino, Salvatore Corsitto, Richard Bright, Alex Rocco, Tony Giorgio, Vito Scotti, Tere Livrano, Victor Rendina, Jeannie Linero, Julie Gregg, Ardell Sheridan, Simonetta Stefanelli, Angelo Infanti, Corrado Gaipa, Franco Citti, Saro Urzì, Frank Albanese, Chris Anastasio, Norm Bacchiocchi, John Blower, Max Brandt, Tybee Brascia, Garrett Cassell, Carmine Coppola, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Italia Coppola, Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Don Costello, Robert Dahdah, Richard Fass;
Production year: 1972;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 175 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9,2;
More information about the film “The Godfather” on the website imdb.com
“Requiem for a Dream”, 2000
Director: Darren Aronofsky
This harrowing film presents a stark depiction of addiction through the lives of four characters whose dreams are shattered by drug use. Its intense visuals and haunting score illustrate the devastating effects of substance abuse.
Starring: Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Jennifer Connelly, Ellen Burstyn, Christopher McDonald, Louise Lasser, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Janet Sarno, Suzanne Shepherd, Joanne Gordon, Charlotte Aronofsky, Mark Margolis, Michael Kaycheck, Jack O'Connell, Chas Mastin, Ajay Naidu, Sean Gullette, Samia Shoaib, Peter Maloney, Abraham Abraham, Aliya Campbell, Te'ron A. O'Neal, Denise Dowse, Bryan Chattoo, Eddie De Harp, Scott Franklin, Peter Cheyenne, Brian Costello, Abraham Aronofsky, James Chinlund, Olga Merediz, Allison Furman, Robert Dylan Cohen, Ben Shenkman, Keith David, Dylan Baker, Shaun O'Hagan, Leland Gantt, Bill Buell, Jimmie Ray Weeks, Gregg Bello, Henry Stram, Heather Litteer, Jenny Decker, Ami Goodheart, Nina Zavarin, Stanley Herman, Scott Bader, Jim Centofanti, Scott Chait;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Requiem for a Dream” on the website imdb.com
“Narcos”, 2015
Director: Andrés Baiz, Josef Kubota Wladyka, Fernando Coimbra, Gerardo Naranjo
Though technically a series, “Narcos” delves into the rise and fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel. It blends historical events with dramatized storytelling, highlighting the impact of the drug trade on society.
Starring: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Joanna Christie, Maurice Compte, André Mattos, Roberto Urbina, Diego Cataño, Jorge A. Jimenez, Paulina Gaitan, Paulina García, Stephanie Sigman, Bruno Bichir, Raúl Méndez, Manolo Cardona, Alberto Ammann, Juan Murcia, Jorge Monterrosa, Damián Alcázar, Francisco Denis, Juan Sebastián Calero, Brett Cullen, Julián Díaz, María José Sanchez Real, Matias Varela, Arturo Castro, Andrea Londo, Leynar Gomez, Juan Pablo Raba, Richard T. Jones, Taliana Vargas, Mauricio Cujar, Jasón Chad, Pêpê Rapazote, Michael Stahl-David, Matt Whelan, Eric Lange, Danielle Kennedy, Carrell Lasso, Roberto Cano, Juan Pablo Shuk, Juana Álvarez, Cristina Umaña, Patrick St. Esprit, Konstantin Melikhov, Ariel Sierra, Mauricio Mejía, Gustavo Angarita Jr., Germán Jaramillo, Florencia Lozano;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: crime, drama;
Age: 18+;
Rating: IMDB: 8,8;
More information about the film “Narcos” on the website imdb.com
“Blow”, 2001
Director: Ted Demme
Based on the true story of George Jung, a drug dealer who played a significant role in the cocaine trade in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. The film explores Jung's rise to fame and the personal costs of his illegal lifestyle.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Franka Potente, Rachel Griffiths, Paul Reubens, Jordi Mollà, Cliff Curtis, Miguel Sandoval, Ethan Suplee, Ray Liotta, Kevin Gage, Max Perlich, Jesse James, Miguel Pérez, Dan Ferro, Tony Amendola, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael Tucci, Monet Mazur, Lola Glaudini, Jennifer Gimenez, Emma Roberts, Jaime King, Charles Noland, Pamela Abdy, John Harrington Bland, Jimmy Burke, Brantley Bush, Kevin Chapman, The Dawk, Crystal Erickson, Daniel Escobar, Tracy Falco, Jean-Carlos Felix, Lazaro Galarraga, Brian Goodman, Vanessa Grayson, Elif Guertin, Josh Herman, Faith Hoover, Brad Hunt, Patrick Husted, Kristina Jung, Ralph Kampshoff, Ajgie Kirkland, Skip O'Brien, Richard LaGravenese, Roberto Lopez, Lydell M. Cheshier;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: crime, biography, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Blow” on the website imdb.com
“City of God”, 2011
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery
Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, this film chronicles the rise of organized crime and drug trafficking in the area, following the lives of several characters as they navigate a world filled with violence and poverty.
Starring: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Rajeev Pillai, Jagadish, Anil Murali, Sreehari, Arun Narayan, Kishore Satya, Sudheer Karamana, Shaju K.S., Jayashankar, Nandu, Achankunju, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sumesh, Rajesh Hebbar, Abraham Koshy, Payas, Das, Santhosh, Shweta Menon, Rima Kallingal, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rohini, Valsala Menon, Renjusha Menon, Shobha Singh, Sudha Nair;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama;
Duration: 145 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “City of God” on the website imdb.com
“American Gangster”, 2007
Director: Ridley Scott
This film tells the story of Frank Lucas, a heroin dealer in Harlem during the 1970s, who rises to prominence by smuggling drugs from Vietnam. It examines the corruption within law enforcement and the moral dilemmas of crime.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lymari Nadal, Josh Brolin, Armand Assante, Roger Guenveur Smith, Ruby Dee, John Ortiz, Ted Levine, John Hawkes, Yul Vazquez, RZA, Malcolm Goodwin, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Carla Gugino, Skyler Fortgang, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kathleen Garrett, Joe Morton, Ritchie Coster, Bari K. Willerford, Idris Elba, Common, Warner Miller, Albert Jones, J. Kyle Manzay, Tip «T.I.» Harris, Melissia Hill, Quisha Saunders, Kevin Corrigan, Robert Funaro, Jon Polito, Tom O'Rourke, Robert C. Kirk, Tom Stearns, KaDee Strickland, Jon DeVries, Jim R. Coleman, Lee Shepard, Gavin Grazer, Linda Powell, Roxanne Amandez, Norman Reedus, Pierra Francesca, Eddie Rouse, Maryann Urbano, Cedric Sanders, Jason Veasey, Roosevelt Davis;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 157 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “American Gangster” on the website imdb.com
“The Wolf of Wall Street”, 2013
Director: Martin Scorsese
While focused on financial crime, this film also portrays the rampant drug use and excess associated with the high-stakes world of Wall Street in the 1990s, centering on the life of stockbroker Jordan Belfort.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, P.J. Byrne, Jon Bernthal, Cristin Milioti, Jean Dujardin, Matthew McConaughey, Kenneth Choi, Jon Favreau, Joanna Lumley, Christine Ebersole, Shea Whigham, Katarina Cas, Brian Sacca, Henry Zebrowski, Ethan Suplee, Barry Rothbart, Jake Hoffman, MacKenzie Meehan, Bo Dietl, Jon Spinogatti, Aya Cash, Rizwan Manji, Stephanie Kurtzuba, J.C. MacKenzie, Ashlie Atkinson, Thomas Middleditch, Stephen Kunken, Edward Herrmann, Ted Griffin, Fran Lebowitz, Robert Clohessy, Natasha Newman-Thomas, Sandra Nelson, Johnnie Mae, Christina Jeffs, Sabina Maschi, Zana Markelson, Welker White, Dan Flaherty, Carla Corvo, Dustin Kerns, Ashley Blankenship, Madison McKinley, Dierdre Reimold, Kerry Malloy;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, crime, biography, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 180 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Pulp Fiction”, 1994
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino's classic weaves together multiple narratives involving hitmen, a boxer, and a couple of robbers, all intersecting in a world filled with drugs and crime, showcasing the absurdity and violence of the criminal underworld.
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, Peter Greene, Amanda Plummer, Maria de Medeiros, Laura Lovelace, Phil LaMarr, Frank Whaley, Burr Steers, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Jerome Patrick Hoban, Michael Gilden, Gary Shorelle, Susan Griffiths, Eric Clark, Joseph Pilato, Brad Parker, Steve Buscemi, Lorelei Leslie, Emil Sitka, Brenda Hillhouse, Christopher Walken, Chandler Lindauer, Sy Sher, Robert Ruth, Rich Turner, Angela Jones, Don Blakely, Carl Allen, Karen Maruyama, Kathy Griffin, Venessia Valentino, Linda Kaye, Duane Whitaker, Stephen Hibbert, Alexis Arquette, Julia Sweeney, Cie Allman, Rene Beard, Rhys Kirkman;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: crime, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 154 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,9;
More information about the film “Pulp Fiction” on the website imdb.com
These films provide a diverse and thought-provoking examination of the complex relationship between drugs and crime, each contributing uniquely to the conversation surrounding these pressing issues.
In conclusion, films about drugs and crime serve as a powerful lens through which we can examine the complexities of human behavior, societal issues, and moral ambiguity. They not only entertain but also provoke critical thought about the consequences of addiction, the allure of the underworld, and the often blurred lines between right and wrong. From the gritty realism of “Trainspotting” to the stylish excess of “Scarface,” these films capture the raw intensity of the human experience, inviting audiences to reflect on the darker facets of life while also shedding light on the resilience and struggles of those caught in the throes of addiction and criminality. Ultimately, they remind us that the narratives woven through this genre, while often harrowing, are essential to understanding the human condition in an increasingly complex world.
