Once Upon a Time in America

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Once Upon a Time in America

R

1984

2h 19m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In 1968, the elderly David "Noodles" Aaronson (Robert De Niro) returns to New York, where he had a career in the criminal underground in the '20s and '30s. Most of his old friends, like longtime partner Max (James Woods), are long gone, yet he feels his past is unresolved. Told in flashbacks, the film follows Noodles from a tough kid in a Jewish slum in New York's Lower East Side, through his rise to bootlegger and then Mafia boss -- a journey marked by violence, betrayal and remorse.

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Critics Consensus

Sergio Leone's epic crime drama is visually stunning, stylistically bold, and emotionally haunting, and filled with great performances from the likes of Robert De Niro and James Woods.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 13, 2023

It isn’t just the echoing moments that keep you absorbed. It’s those reverberant dreamland settings and Leone’s majestic, billowing sense of film movement; the images seem to come at you in waves of feeling.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 4, 2018

The movie's four hours long, but no one had the time to write a single real character.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

May 5, 2017

This would-be epic schlep, dragging almost 50 years of chronology over a sluggish 140 minutes, is far too slight of text and ponderous of presentation to sustain more than nodding-off dramatic interest.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Sep 6, 2026

epic crime film and it takes you through so many different eras with these characters

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Mike Studley

Liverpool Echo

Dec 8, 2025

A remarkable movie, superbly photographed, and one that keeps you totally involved despite its long running time.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jul 12, 2024

A bad movie at any length, swimming in the syrup of Morricone's score. But hey, some call it a masterpiece.

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Shaun J

@RT47433839 Aug 13, 2026

An all-time classic, up there with The Godfather and Goodfellas. Everyone should see this movie at least once in their life.

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Khai M

@Khaimang Jul 12, 2026

This is one of my top 5 favorite movies in any genre, Sergio Leone's masterpiece, I've seen it multiple times, and it continues to entertain. That's what masterpieces tend to do.

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Roman C.

@RT90070682 Jun 18, 2026

Great movie even to the last minute, the soundtrack and cinematography are the cherry on top. Very long but enjoyable movie I’d have to recommend to anybody who enjoys any sort of mob films. The movie does have grotesque sciences which may steer people away from it but that’s to show how these characters truly are. It’s just a phenomal film which should be appreciated by more.

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JOAN PAU R

@JoanPR Jun 12, 2026

This is a great film. Sergio Leone as usual takes his time, letting the music and the images do their work slowly and bringing together the different timelines so that all the scenes acquire depth and significance. The Jewish crime world of New York is portrayed with sympahty in its changing social context. Robert de Niro is good, convincingly acting as a younguer and an older man. As for the plot, it is compelling, with the powerful forces of hidden jealousy and misplaced loyalty ensuring a tragic outcome for all the characters. The length of the film is I believe fully justified, not so two rape scenes that are genuinely disturbing and could have been handled with more subtlety. At some points, Leone seems to convey the terrible idea that some women enjoy being forced, at other points the message is more dignified but need not have been portrayed at such length. This this may be this film's only real flaw.

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Cme H.

@ComoHQT May 24, 2026

Perfect, down to the last minute detail

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Frans B

@FransB Apr 18, 2026

Feels like it is not worthy of the hype? Might just be one big opium induced dream, huh? Very likely ... But well written, stellar cast all convincing in character, writing does seem lazy at times, even confusing. But a masterpiece nonetheless, if you say so

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Sergio Leone

Director

Robert De Niro

David 'Noodles' Aaronson

James Woods

Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz

Elizabeth McGovern

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Synopsis

In 1968, the elderly David "Noodles" Aaronson (Robert De Niro) returns to New York, where he had a career in the criminal underground in the '20s and '30s. Most of his old friends, like longtime partner Max (James Woods), are long gone, yet he feels his past is unresolved. Told in flashbacks, the film follows Noodles from a tough kid in a Jewish slum in New York's Lower East Side, through his rise to bootlegger and then Mafia boss -- a journey marked by violence, betrayal and remorse.

Director: Sergio Leone
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: Harry Grey, Piero De Bernardi, Leonardo Benvenuti, Enrico Medioli, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Embassy International Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Runtime: 2h 19m

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