What’s Hot on Netflix This April
If you're scanning Netflix for something to watch, April has brought a wave of buzzworthy releases. On the series front, the psychological thriller Unchosen has reportedly broken records—claiming the number one spot not only in France but worldwide in under 24 hours. The offbeat comedy Recalé, featuring Alexandre Kominek, quickly became the number two favorite, surpassing the French thriller Bandi as well as series like The Staircase and The Cleaning Lady.
The Movie Top 10: Drama, Comedy, and Catastrophe
This month’s film chart is led by the thriller 180. The popular French comedy Le sens de la fête (2017) is second, just ahead of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Other comedies like Roommates, La dégustation, and Sous écrous also feature in the Top 10. Disaster movies are trending too, with titles including Godzilla Minus One and Nature Prédatrice finding a sizable audience.
Amid all these, American Gangster has recently arrived on Netflix. It might not be in the current Top 10, but its high fan rating—4.1 out of 5 from hundreds of thousands of users in France—marks it as a lasting favorite.
American Gangster: A Timeless Crime Drama
Directed by Ridley Scott, American Gangster first hit theaters in 2007. The film was added to Netflix on April 18, 2026. It’s listed under categories like “crime,” “inspired by true events,” “violent,” “drama,” and “drug lords.”
Viewers are transported to 1970s Harlem. Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, rises from driver to drug kingpin after the death of Bumpy Johnson—his close mentor—who suffers a heart attack. Lucas goes on to build his own criminal network, rapidly expanding his empire by reportedly importing large quantities of heroin on military planes. He amasses a massive fortune, but his run attracts the attention of NYPD detective Roberts (portrayed by Russell Crowe), setting up a tense cat-and-mouse game. This thriller runs two hours and 36 minutes and is not recommended for viewers under 16 due to violence, drug use, and suicide themes.
Still Winning Over Viewers
American Gangster has generated a remarkable number of reviews across sites like Allociné, IMDb, Amazon, and La Fnac. Nearly 500,000 viewers have rated it—mostly with high marks. Allociné alone shows a 4.1/5 score.
One reviewer awarding full marks wrote: “American Gangster is one of Ridley Scott’s best films, and unfortunately not necessarily his most well-known.”
Another commented: “A truly great gangster film from Ridley Scott. A real, strong, tough, and dark story; masterful direction; and brilliant actors.”
Other fans say: “An excellent gangster film from one of the greatest masters of cinema: Ridley Scott!” “A colossal film, as subversive, powerful, and exhilarating,” and “American Gangster, yet another smash hit from Ridley Scott. Incredible direction for a rock-solid script with an absolutely breathtaking cast!”
So, will you be (re)discovering this acclaimed crime epic streaming this weekend?
