Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in Harlem. He does so by buying heroin directly from a source in South East Asia, and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. As a result, his product is superior to what is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position. Richie Roberts is a dedicated and honest policeman who heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government and is determined to bring down Lucas' drug empire. Based on a true story.

Theatrical version: MPAA rating: R; for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality. Extended version - Unrated.

Includes dubbed French (rated only); subtitles in SDH, French or Spanish.

Based on the article "The return of Superfly," by Mark Jacobson.

DVD release of the 2007 motion picture.

Special features: Disc 1: commentary with director Ridley Scott and writer Steven Zailian (theatrical version only) ; Disc 2: deleted scenes (includes alternate opening and interior wedding ceremony); "Falling empire: making American gangster" (includes TruBlue: the real story, Killer threads: costumes, crime war, Production: into the arena, Ali vs. Frazier, Rhythm of the Street: sound, music and editing); case files (includes script meeting, Heroin test show & Tell: setting up and takedown).

Director of photography, Harris Savides ; editor, Pietro Scalia ; music, Marc Streitenfeld ; costume designer, Janty Yates ; production designer, Arthur Max.

Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Ted Levine, Roger Guenveur Smith, John Hawkes, RZA.

DVD ; Region 1 ; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

Extended version (174 min.)

Theatrical version (158 min.).