Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Once Upon a Time in America is an expansive, melancholic crime epic that follows the life of David “Noodles” Aaronson and his circle of childhood friends — Max, Cockeye and Patsy — as they rise from the gritty streets of the Lower East Side to become powerful figures in Prohibition-era New York, and then confront the consequences of their choices decades later. Told largely through elliptical flashbacks and flash-forwards, the film spans roughly four decades, moving from boyhood games and loyalty to the corrupting temptations of power, betrayal and tragic loss. Viewers will experience a slow-burning, richly textured character study more than a straight gangster thriller: lavish period detail, long, operatic sequences and a dreamlike, often painful meditation on memory, regret and the passage of time. The narrative deliberately withholds and then reveals key truths, so the film rewards careful attention and emotional investment — mysteries and moral ambiguities unfold in ways that can be both haunting and devastating. Expect to be immersed in an atmosphere of nostalgia and ruin, jolted by moments of violence and poignancy, and left with lingering questions about friendship, guilt and the price of ambition. This is a film for viewers who appreciate sprawling, ambitious storytelling and are prepared for a patient, emotionally intense experience.

Actors: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern

Director: Sergio Leone

Runtime: 229 min

Genres: Crime, Drama

8.3 /10 75 /100 8.3 /10 8.0 /10