Maps of Movies

American Gangster (2007)

Where American Gangster says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Filmed in over 180 locations, a record, and finished in Thailand

Scenes and places

Frank Lucas, Bumpy Johnson's driver

Frank drives and guards Harlem's crime boss Bumpy Johnson. When Johnson dies, Frank is left to build something of his own.

Set in Harlem, New York — Where Frank Lucas works as chauffeur, collector and bodyguard for the neighbourhood's mob boss. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Manhattan neighbourhood north of Central Park.

Filmed at Harlem, Manhattan — Fifty to sixty of the film's locations were in Harlem; no single scene is tied to a spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Buying heroin straight from the producers

Frank goes to the source and buys heroin directly from the producers. Cutting out the middlemen is what lets him undercut everyone.

Set in Thailand (heroin producers) — Frank buys heroin directly from producers in Thailand, skipping the middlemen.

The Thai city where the production finished shooting; the story names only the country.

Filmed at Chiang Mai, Thailand — Filming for the Thai scenes wrapped in Chiang Mai in December 2006; the exact scene location is not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Lucas's headquarters on 116th Street

Frank sells his Blue Magic brand, whose price and purity push out much of the competition.

Set in 116th Street, Harlem — The street where Frank runs his operation.

A Harlem cross street; the film's set was 20 blocks away.

The estate Frank buys for his family

Frank buys a mansion for his mother and brings his five brothers into the business as his lieutenants.

Set in Lucas family farm and estate — The farm and the mansion Frank buys for his mother.

A village in Westchester County, upstate of New York City.

Filmed at Briarcliff Manor, New York — Both the Lucas farm and the estate Lucas buys for his family were shot in Briarcliff Manor; the village centre is given, not the houses. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The Fight of the Century

Frank takes Eva to the big fight in better seats than the Italian mobsters. Detective Roberts notices, and starts looking into him.

Set in Madison Square Garden — Frank attends the Fight of the Century with his wife Eva. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Manhattan arena; the sources give no filming location for this scene.

The last shipment after the fall of Saigon

Roberts's team learns through an informant's wire that Frank has set up one last shipment. They go after the plane carrying it.

Set in Vietnam, after the fall of Saigon — Frank negotiates one final heroin shipment after the fall of Saigon.

The story names the country only; no filming location is given.

Newark: following the drugs

Roberts's task force traces the drugs into Newark's projects and gets a warrant to raid the processing facility.

Set in Newark, New Jersey — Roberts's home ground, where the task force follows the drugs into the projects and gets a warrant for the processing facility. Google Maps · Apple Maps

New Jersey's largest city, across the Hudson from Manhattan.

Frank Lucas on trial

Frank's trial puts him and Roberts face to face once more.

Set in The courthouse of Frank's trial — The courtroom where Frank's trial takes place.

The film does not name the courthouse; the production did shoot at the Brooklyn Supreme Courthouse, but no source ties that to this scene.

Filmed at George Washington Bridge — Filmed for the movie; the scene is not given Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Brooklyn Navy Yard — Filmed for the movie; the scene is not given Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Old Westbury Gardens — Filmed for the movie; the scene is not given Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum — Filmed for the movie; the scene is not given Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Frank Lucas — Harlem driver who builds his own heroin empire.
• Richie Roberts — Newark detective who heads a task force against drug suppliers.