Collider reports that Ridley Scott’s 2007 crime drama American Gangster is due to leave Netflix in July 2026, framing the removal as the end of an era for one of Scott’s most acclaimed collaborations with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The article argues that the film stands out in Scott’s run of mid-2000s projects with Crowe because it delivered the strongest mix of ambition, prestige and memorable performances, and remains a notable gangster epic often compared with classics such as The Godfather. Its departure matters mainly for streaming audiences, as it reduces easy access to a film widely seen as one of the director’s most significant modern works.

The piece places the film in the wider context of Scott’s working relationships with his stars and his more recent output. It notes that Scott and Crowe collaborated repeatedly after Gladiator, but none of those films matched that earlier success, and that their partnership ended after Robin Hood in 2010. It also contrasts American Gangster with Gladiator II, released in 2024, which reportedly grossed over $460 million worldwide against a budget of $310 million and fell short of an estimated break-even point above $600 million, although Denzel Washington was praised for his performance.