Movies About Prison Gangs

From Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Rated R

City of God is a Brazilian crime drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. The film is set in the Cidade de Deus (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between the 1960s and 1980s, and follows the lives of several characters as they struggle to survive in the crime-ridden environment. The story is told in a non-linear narrative and contains elements of magical realism. The main character, Rocket, is a poor teenage boy who aspires to become a photographer. As he navigates the violent and chaotic world of the City of God, he becomes increasingly involved in the criminal underworld. The film follows Rocket's journey as he learns to survive the harsh conditions and eventually rises to power in the City of God. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles and must make tough decisions in order to achieve his goals. The film is a story of hope, showing that even in the most desperate of environments, people can still strive to make their dreams come true.

From Tony Kaye, starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien
Rated R

American History X is a 1998 drama film directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. It tells the story of two brothers, Derek and Danny Vinyard, who are caught up in the white supremacist movement in Venice, California. Derek, the older brother, is a charismatic leader in the movement, while Danny idolizes him. After a racially motivated murder committed by Derek, he is sent to prison and reforms his extremist views. Upon his release, Derek must confront the same anti-social forces that nearly destroyed him and must try to prevent Danny from going down the same destructive path. The film deals with complex issues of racism, family, loyalty, and redemption.

From Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero
Rated R

Amores Perros is a Mexican drama directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film follows three interweaving stories, all connected by a car crash in Mexico City. Octavio & Susana’s story follows the dangerous journey of two lovers on the run from Octavio’s brother-in-law, who is trying to kill Octavio for running away with his wife. Meanwhile, Daniel & Valeria’s story centers on their attempts to save their doomed marriage, and El Chivo & Maru’s story deals with El Chivo’s attempts to build a new life after a life of crime. Ultimately, the film is a story of love, loss, and redemption.

From Taylor Hackford, starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo
Rated R

Blood In, Blood Out is a 1993 crime drama directed by Taylor Hackford. Set in East Los Angeles, the film follows a trio of Mexican-American cousins—Miklo, Paco and Cruz—as they navigate the gang culture of their urban environment in the 1970s and 1980s. After Miklo, the eldest, is sent to prison for a violent crime, he becomes a target of a rival gang, and his brothers must choose between their family loyalty and their own safety. As the cousins battle for their lives, they must also grapple with issues of identity and the clash between their traditional heritage and the temptations of the street. Blood In, Blood Out is an intense and realistic portrait of gang life in the barrios of East Los Angeles.

From John Singleton, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Hudhail Al-Amir, Lloyd Avery II
Rated R

Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American drama film written and directed by John Singleton, and starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, and Morris Chestnut. Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film follows three young men – Tre Stiles (Gooding Jr.), Doughboy (Ice Cube), and Ricky Baker (Chestnut) – as they come of age amidst the dangers of the inner city. Through their different paths, the three boys encounter drugs, violence, and death, as they strive for a better life for themselves and those around them. With themes of friendship, responsibility, and perseverance, Boyz n the Hood is a powerful and timely film that resonates with viewers today.

From Jacques Audiard, starring Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb
Rated R

"A Prophet" (2009) is a French crime drama film directed by Jacques Audiard. The film follows the story of 19-year-old Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a French-Arabic criminal serving a six-year jail sentence in a French prison. Within the prison, Malik is taken under the wing of Corsican mobster César Luciani (Niels Arestrup), who initiates him into the Corsican crime syndicate. Initially a pawn in the syndicate's criminal activities, Malik ultimately uses his wits and cunning to become a powerful figure in the prison underworld and rise to the top of the syndicate. Along the way, Malik forms unlikely alliances, as well as making fateful enemies, and is forced to confront his own identity and sense of morality as he navigates his way through the criminal underworld.

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger
Rated R

Training Day is a crime thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Set in the gang-ridden neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the movie follows LAPD narcotics detective Alonzo Harris (Washington) as he mentors rookie cop Jake Hoyt (Hawke) for a 24-hour training day. Through their journey, Alonzo's questionable morality and methods come into question as Jake attempts to stay clean and learn the ropes of the street. As the day progresses, the two cops find themselves in an increasingly complex and dangerous situation, culminating in a violent and explosive showdown.

From Richard LaGravenese, starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn
Rated PG-13

Freedom Writers is a 2007 drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, and Imelda Staunton. The film is based on the true story of teacher Erin Gruwell (Swank), who works at a newly integrated Long Beach, California high school in 1994. Gruwell attempts to inspire her students, who come from various troubled backgrounds, by introducing them to literature and diaries from The Diary of Anne Frank, and teaching them to express their own thoughts and emotions in writing. Despite facing obstacles from her colleagues and her own insecurity, Gruwell succeeds in fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding in the classroom, and helping her students to realize their own potential. In the process, she discovers the power of the written word to change lives.

From Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand
Rated R

Fruitvale Station is the true story of Oscar Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old man living in the San Francisco Bay Area who was shot and killed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer on January 1, 2009. The film follows Oscar's last 24 hours as he interacts with his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz), daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal), and mother Wanda (Octavia Spencer). Throughout the film, we see Oscar struggle with his financial issues, coping with the loss of his job, and reconciling with his past. As the film builds to its climax, Oscar and his friends are involved in a chaotic confrontation with BART officers at the Fruitvale BART station which ends with Oscar being fatally shot. The film ultimately serves as a powerful reminder of the value of human life, and reminds us that no matter the circumstance, everyone deserves a fair chance.

From Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, June Kyoto Lu, Toshi Toda
Rated R

Menace II Society is a 1993 crime drama film directed by the Hughes brothers and starring Tyrin Turner, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Larenz Tate. The film follows Caine Lawson, a young African-American man living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Caine is caught between two worlds, one of crime and violence, and the other of solidarity and family. Throughout the film, Caine must choose between these two paths while being tempted by the criminal underworld. As violence and tragedy ensue, Caine must make some difficult choices in order to survive and find a better life. Menace II Society is a powerful and raw look at life in the inner city of Los Angeles and the struggles of growing up black in America.

From Hector Babenco, starring Enrique Diaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Rated R

Carandiru (2003) is a Brazilian drama directed by Hector Babenco, based on the book Estação Carandiru by Dráuzio Varella. The film focuses on the everyday life of the inmates of São Paulo's Carandiru prison, the largest prison in Latin America. The story follows a young doctor who is sent to the prison to work with the inmates and provide them with basic medical care. Through his interactions with the prisoners, he becomes intimately familiar with their stories and struggles as they attempt to survive in a harsh and oppressive environment. He also witnesses a tragedy when a deadly riot breaks out, resulting in the death of more than 100 inmates. In the end, the doctor is able to bring a sense of hope and humanity to the prisoners, while also demonstrating the power of understanding and compassion.

From Alan Parker, starring Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli
Rated R

"Midnight Express" is an Oscar-winning 1978 crime drama directed by Alan Parker and based on the true story of Billy Hayes. Billy, an American college student, is arrested and sentenced to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of the country. He must fight for survival in a harsh, violent prison system as he struggles to escape. Through courage, resourcefulness and sheer will, he eventually finds a way to break free.

From Lexi Alexander, starring Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Marc Warren
Rated R

From Ric Roman Waugh, starring Stephen Dorff, Marisol Nichols, Vincent Miller, Anne Archer
Rated R

From Thomas Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Rick Gonzalez, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown
Rated PG-13

From Ric Roman Waugh, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Omari Hardwick, Lake Bell, Jon Bernthal
Rated R

From David Mackenzie, starring Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend, Sam Spruell
Rated Not Rated

From Rick Rosenthal, starring Sean Penn, Reni Santoni, Jim Moody, Eric Gurry
Rated R

From Curtis Hanson, starring Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer
Rated R

From Edward James Olmos, starring Edward James Olmos, William Forsythe, Sal Lopez, Vira Montes
Rated R

From Ernest R. Dickerson, starring Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Jermaine Hopkins, Khalil Kain
Rated R

From Charles Stone III, starring Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, Chi McBride, Kevin Carroll
Rated R

From Kim Chapiron, starring Adam Butcher, Shane Kippel, Matthew Morales, Slim Twig
Rated Not Rated

From Phil Joanou, starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, Leon Rippy
Rated PG-13

From Abel Ferrara, starring Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo
Rated R