Once Upon a Time in America

Name: Once Upon a Time in America
Director: Sergio Leone
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 1984-05-23
Rating: 8.4

May 23, 1984· 3h 49m

Drama Crime

Directed by

Sergio Leone

Cast

Robert De Niro James Woods Elizabeth McGovern Treat Williams Tuesday Weld Joe Pesci +76 more ↓

Cinemagraphs Score8.4

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.

Audience Sentiment

Overall8.4

1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece

Critics

8+ Great

6-8 Good

<6 Poor

3 reviews·Last updated 13d ago

Peak Moment

The betrayal unfolds

9.1at 2h 16m

Lowest Moment

Noodles imprisoned

7.9at 1h 11m

Biggest Swing

The film builds steadily from the prison separation to the criminal empire's peak, then maintains high tension through the betrayal and revelations

Critics consistently praised Leone's ambitious epic as a masterful character study that rewards its extended runtime with deep character development and emotional payoff. Despite initial commercial failure due to poor editing of the US release, reviewers recognized this as one of Leone's finest works, comparable to the greatest gangster films, with particular praise for its authentic period detail and De Niro's performance.

3 reviews analyzed|Sources: Tmdb