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Trailer+1 trailer

American Me

1992Movie2 h 5 minR

CrimeDrama
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic665.7Rotten Tomatoes73%89%

A brutally violent, tense crime movie about crime and everyday modern life.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.

During his 18 years in Folsom Prison, street-gang leader Santana rules over all the drug-and-murder activities behind bars. Upon his release, Santana goes back to his old neighborhood, intending to lead a peaceful, crime-free life. But his old gang buddies force him back into his old habits.

Feels like

  • Gang Violence
  • Prison Life
  • Social Decay
  • Crime Drama
  • Chicano Culture
  • Redemption
  • Bleak Realism
  • Character Study
  • Psychological Tension

Cast

24 of 29

Crew

Directed by
Edward James Olmos
Written by
Floyd Mutrux, Desmond Nakano
Produced by
Edward James Olmos, Robert M. Young, Sean Daniel
Music by
Dennis Lambert, Claude Gaudette

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 13, 1992 · 2 h 5 min · R

Released
March 13, 1992
Runtime
2 h 5 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish
Made in
United States
Budget
$16 million
Box office
$13 million
Available in
39 countries

Tropes

Laser-Guided Karma, Sex Is Violence, Disproportionate Retribution +9

  • Laser-Guided Karma
  • Sex Is Violence
  • Disproportionate Retribution
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech
  • Sinister Shiv
  • Red Herring
  • Interplay of Sex and Violence
  • Prison Changes People
  • Death Glare
  • Prison Rape
  • Villain Protagonist
  • Rape and Revenge

12 of 21 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream American Me?"

Questions about American Me

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream American Me?

In the United States, you can rent or buy American Me from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.

Is American Me worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 7.1, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 73%, and Metacritic 66).

Will I feel good after watching American Me?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was American Me a box office flop?

Budget$16 million
Box office$13 million

Yes: it cost about $16 million to make and earned $13 million worldwide, 82% of its budget.

What tropes does American Me use?

Laser-Guided KarmaSex Is ViolenceDisproportionate Retribution"The Reason You Suck" SpeechSinister ShivRed HerringInterplay of Sex and ViolencePrison Changes PeopleDeath GlarePrison RapeVillain ProtagonistRape and Revengeand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 tropes for it, including Laser-Guided Karma, Sex Is Violence, and Disproportionate Retribution.