Movies like Once Upon a Time in America
If you like "Once Upon a Time in America" you are looking for melancholic, epic and ambiguous ending movies about / with gangsters, organized crime, friendship, mafia, prohibition, gunfight and rape themes of Crime and Drama genre shot in Italy or USA.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps:
1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
2. Look for them in the presented list.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
357K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 229 min.
Story:
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Style:
melancholic, epic, ambiguous ending, atmospheric, breathtaking, cerebral, captivating, rough, visually appealing, realistic ...
Audience:
boys' night, kids
Plot:
gangsters, organized crime, friendship, mafia, prohibition, gunfight, rape, betrayal, childhood friend, criminal heroes, corruption, flashback, murder, rise and fall, pig, memory, mob hit, jewish, money, crime boss, police corruption, criminal syndicate, coming of age, sexual favor, regret ...
Time:
1930s, 60s, 1920s, year 1984, 20th century, year 1968, 1960s ...
Place:
new york, usa, italy, miami, florida, united states of america
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to Once Upon a Time in America
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, serious, talky and stylized films with plots about corruption, gangsters, murder, violent, mafia, violence and brutality mostly in Crime, Drama and Thriller genres. Some movies like Once Upon a Time in America: The Godfather (1972), Goodfellas (1990), The Untouchables (1987), The Godfather Part II (1974), The Irishman (2019). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
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1.9M
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 175 min.
Story:
Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the ...
Style:
serious, epic, atmospheric, dramatic, captivating ...
Audience:
boys' night, chick flick
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, gangsters, greed, revenge, betrayal, crime family, pride and honor, corruption, murder, wedding, gang war ...
Time:
1940s, 50s, 20th century, post world war two
Place:
italy, new york, bronx new york city, europe, sicily ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
93%
1.2M
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min.
Story:
The true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighbourhood gangsters at an early age and climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under the guidance of Jimmy Conway.
Style:
rough, realistic, epic, brutal, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, gangsters, rise and fall, criminal heroes, mentor, drugs, suspense, friends, cosa nostra, drug traffic, gang ...
Time:
70s, 50s, year 1970, 80s, year 1963 ...
Place:
new york, brooklyn new york city, italy, florida, usa ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
82%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Young Treasury Agent Elliot Ness arrives in Chicago and is determined to take down Al Capone, but it's not going to be easy because Capone has the police in his pocket. Ness meets Jimmy Malone, a veteran patrolman and probably the most ...
Style:
stylized, suspenseful, clever, tense, exciting ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly
Plot:
mafia, gangsters, organized crime, corruption, smuggling, tough cop, tough law enforcer, gunfight, suspense, prohibition, tax evasion, prohibition era ...
Time:
1930s, 1920s, 20th century
Place:
chicago illinois, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 202 min.
Story:
In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
Style:
epic, captivating, serious, visually appealing, dramatic ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly
Plot:
mafia, gangsters, organized crime, revenge, ambition, melancholy, cosa nostra, immigrants, corruption, corrupt politician, murder, crime boss ...
Time:
50s, 1940s, 20th century, 1920s, 60s ...
Place:
new york, cuba, italy, las vegas, sicily ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
397K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 209 min.
Story:
A mob hit man recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.
Style:
captivating, exciting, tense, inspirational, thought provoking ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, italian mafia, labor union, murder, gangsters, killer as protagonist, high society, prison, arrest, hitman, old man ...
Time:
1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 20th century ...
Place:
ireland, chicago illinois, philadelphia, pennsylvania, cuba ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Also search:
Movies like The Godfather
112K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
A small-time hood must choose from among love, friendship and the chance to rise within the mob.
Style:
tense, realistic, atmospheric, bleak, neo noir ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, organized crime, friendship, character study, gang, money, urban ghetto life, life philosophy, friends, street gang, exotic dancer ...
Time:
70s, 20th century
Place:
new york, new jersey, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
528K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA, France
Duration: 178 min.
Story:
The life of the gambling paradise – Las Vegas – and its dark mafia underbelly.
Style:
realistic, clever, rough, captivating, stylized ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
organized crime, mafia, casino, gangsters, rise and fall, gambling, greed, criminal heroes, betrayal, suspense, fbi, money ...
Time:
70s, 80s, 20th century, year 1973, year 1980 ...
Place:
las vegas, usa, midwest, kansas city, costa rica ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
75%
12K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
In 1934, the second most lucrative business in New York City was running "the numbers". When, Madam Queen, the powerful woman who runs the scam in Harlem, is arrested. Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson takes over the business and must ...
Style:
stylized, intense, melancholic, factual, splatter ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, organized crime, african american, gunfight, violence, betrayal, corruption, death, destiny, prison, greed ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, 70s
Place:
new york, harlem, california, illinois, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Movie in collections
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 167 min.
Story:
It's 1863. America was born in the streets. Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points of America to seek vengeance against the psychotic gangland kingpin, Bill the Butcher, who murdered his father years earlier. With an eager pickpocket by ...
Style:
tense, stylized, epic, rough, atmospheric ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
revenge, gang, gangsters, vengeance, organized crime, street gang, violent, crime boss, betrayal, courage, racism, gang war ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, edwardian era, 50s, 1840s ...
Place:
new york, usa, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
67%
222K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min.
Story:
A Puerto-Rican ex-con, just released from prison, pledges to stay away from drugs and violence despite the pressure around him and lead on to a better life outside of NYC.
Style:
neo noir, atmospheric, suspenseful, tense, melancholic ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, organized crime, nightclub, suspense, tragic hero, drug dealing, drugs, gang, gunfight, prison, violence ...
Time:
70s, 90s, 20th century, year 1975
Place:
new york, usa, grand central station manhattan new york city, harlem, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Also search:
Scarface related movies
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 55 min.
TV show
Story:
Boardwalk Empire is a period drama focusing on Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson), a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition period of the ...
Style:
serious, captivating, suspenseful, atmospheric, tense ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
mafia, gangsters, mob boss, organized crime, prohibition, criminal heroes, corruption, smuggling, businessman, americana, ambitious, elimination ...
Time:
1920s, 20th century
Place:
new jersey, usa, atlantic city, new york, chicago illinois ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. Sullivan views Rooney as a father figure, however after his son is witness to a killing, Mike Sullivan finds himself on the run in attempt to save the life of his son and at the same time ...
Style:
atmospheric, harsh, bleak, tense, emotional ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, vengeance, organized crime, criminal's revenge, bank robbery, hitman, murder, revenge, on the run, coming of age, violence ...
Time:
1930s, 20th century, year 1931
Place:
illinois, usa, chicago illinois, michigan
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two thugs who tried to break into/steal his truck. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader ...
Style:
rough, emotional, serious, cerebral, dramatic ...
Audience:
boys' night, teens, date night
Plot:
prison, racism, skinhead, gang, racial slur, character change, rape, juvenile delinquency, neo nazi, racial prejudice, violent, murder ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, usa, california, venice beach california
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
764K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Brazil, France, Germany
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Cidade de Deus is a shantytown that started during the 1960s and became one of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous places in the beginning of the 1980s. To tell the story of this place, the movie describes the life of various characters, all seen by ...
Style:
disturbing, rough, bleak, stylized, dark ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
gang, society, coming of age, organized crime, journalism, gang war, juvenile delinquency, life is a bitch, photographer, police corruption, gangsters, drug dealing ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, 80s, 60s
Place:
rio de janeiro, latin america, brazil, south america, africa
⇓ similarity ⇓
60%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.
Style:
neo noir, atmospheric, tense, stylized, cynical ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, organized crime, mafia, corruption, irish mob, blackmail, love triangle, violence, gang, betrayal, twists and turns, mayor ...
Time:
1930s, 1920s, 20th century
Place:
usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
67%
Also search:
TV series similar to The Sopranos
228K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 147 min.
Story:
Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.
Style:
disturbing, sadistic, suspenseful, harsh, serious ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
lawyer, child abuse, childhood, vengeance, rape, courtroom drama, sexual abuse, haunted by the past, pedophilia, friendship, revenge, murder trial ...
Time:
60s, 20th century, 80s
Place:
new york, usa, madison square garden manhattan new york city, new york yankees, manhattan new york city
⇓ similarity ⇓
60%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege under his wing.
Style:
epic, visually appealing, serious, stylized, sad ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
mafia, gangsters, organized crime, revenge, violence, guilt, murder, assassination, father daughter relationship, father son relationship, catholic church, psychology ...
Time:
70s, 80s, 60s, 20th century, year 1979 ...
Place:
italy, new york, palermo italy, sicily, atlantic city new jersey ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
The story of a group of friends in turn of the century New York, from their early days as street hoods to their rise in the world of organized crime...
Style:
intense, talky, suspenseful, realistic, rough ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, organized crime, mafia, friendship, betrayal, vengeance, gang, greed, suspense, murder, criminal heroes, tough heroes ...
Time:
1920s, 1910s, 1930s, year 1917
Place:
new york, las vegas, usa, coney island brooklyn new york city, manhattan new york city ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Movie in collections
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 157 min.
Story:
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he ...
Style:
serious, tense, realistic, harsh, clever ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
mafia, organized crime, gangsters, heroin, mob boss, drug lord, police, drugs, gang, crime boss, drug traffic, criminal ...
Time:
60s, 70s, 20th century, year 1968, year 1970 ...
Place:
new york, new jersey, bronx new york city, harlem, usa ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
855K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 170 min.
Story:
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the ...
Style:
serious, exciting, rough, harsh, psychological ...
Audience:
date night, manly, boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, organized crime, gunfight, drug lord, drug cartel, mob boss, cocaine, ambition, drug dealing, drug abuse, violence ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 1980
Place:
miami, miami beach, cuba, florida, bolivia ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
20%
Also search:
Heat similar movies
50K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
An inside look at Italy's modern-day crime families, the Camorra in Naples and Caserta. Based on a book by Roberto Saviano. Power, money and blood: these are the "values" that the residents of the Province of Naples and Caserta have ...
Style:
disturbing, tense, harsh, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
juvenile delinquency, organized crime, gang war, mafia, gang, camorra, character study, power, debt, social decay, death, life is a bitch ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
italy, rio de janeiro, europe, naples italy, manhattan new york city ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
67%
1.3M
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
Style:
thought provoking, atmospheric, bleak, psychological, cynical ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
mental illness, villain, suspense, mental disorder, social problems, loneliness, psychological trauma, psycho, revenge, character change, insanity, psychopath ...
Time:
80s, 2010s, year 1981, 20th century
Place:
new york, new jersey, los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
665K
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 170 min.
Story:
Obsessive master thief, Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective, Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the ...
Style:
tense, neo noir, suspenseful, intense, exciting ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
robbery, heist, gunfight, bank robbery, master criminal, suspense, group of criminals, chase, obsession, police detective, thief, police ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
35%
Movie in collections
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Over the summer of 1976, thirty-six bombs detonate in the heart of Cleveland while a turf war raged between Irish mobster Danny Greene and the Italian mafia. Based on a true story, kill the Irishman chronicles Greene's heroic rise from a tough ...
Style:
tense, brutal, talky, thought provoking, intense ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, mob boss, gang, gang war, irish, criminal, corruption, organized crime, murder, hitman, caper ...
Time:
70s, 60s, 20th century, year 1960, year 1975 ...
Place:
usa, ireland, boston, ohio, new york ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
34%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: France, Germany, USA, Japan
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of old finds himself targeted for death by the mob.
Style:
atmospheric, thought provoking, art house, stylized, captivating ...
Plot:
loneliness, gangsters, mafia, hip hop, african american, samurai, loner, hitman, racial slur, professional killer, friendship, vengeance ...
Time:
future, 90s, 20th century
Place:
new york, usa, new jersey, africa, brooklyn new york city ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
34%
Also search:
Pulp Fiction related movies
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 167 min.
Story:
New York City detective Daniel Ciello agrees to help the United States Department of Justice help eliminate corruption in the police department, as long as he will not have to turn in any close friends. In doing so, Ciello uncovers a conspiracy ...
Style:
tense, neo noir, realistic, bleak, intense ...
Plot:
police, corruption, gangsters, drug addiction, lawyer, police corruption, city, whistleblower, fighting the system, redemption, betrayal, police investigation ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, 80s
Place:
new york, new jersey, usa, washington d.c., virginia
⇓ similarity ⇓
33%
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
Wayne Dobie is a shy cop whose low-key demeanor has earned him the affectionate nickname "Mad Dog." After Mad Dog saves the life of Frank Milo, a crime boss and aspiring stand-up comedian, he's offered the company of an attractive ...
Style:
neo noir, sweet, humorous, clever, sexy ...
Plot:
gangsters, mafia, organized crime, nude, sarcasm, violence, violent, runaway, robbery, relationships, redemption, suspense ...
Time:
20th century, 90s
Place:
usa, chicago illinois
⇓ similarity ⇓
33%
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
Terry Noonan returns home to New York's Hells Kitchen after a ten year absence. He soon hooks up with childhood pal Jackie who is involved in the Irish mob run by his brother Frankie. Terry also rekindles an old flame with Jackie's sister ...
Style:
neo noir, tense, psychological, atmospheric, intense ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
organized crime, mafia, gang, betrayal, irish, undercover, suspense, homecoming, friendship, gangsters, gunfight, moral ambiguity ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
new york, ireland, boston, manhattan new york city, usa ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
33%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A cop clashes with his priest brother while investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute
Style:
neo noir, talky, suspenseful, psychological, intense ...
Plot:
murder, catholic priest, priest, politics, serial killer, redemption, political corruption, police corruption, desert, catholic, church, manipulation ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, 50s
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
33%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.
Style:
neo noir, suspenseful, brutal, tense, intense ...
Audience:
teens, boys' night
Plot:
gangsters, robbery, gambling, mafia, organized crime, hitman, heist, murder, brutality, crime gone awry, gang, violence ...
Time:
2000s, year 2008, 70s, 21st century
Place:
new orleans, louisiana, usa, florida, orlando florida
⇓ similarity ⇓
33%
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