Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Kernel Score: 91% · 5,923 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Crime
Released: 1984-05-23
Runtime: 229 minutes
Is Once Upon a Time in America worth watching?
Must-watch. An old gangster returns to New York and remembers his friends, his crimes and a lost love across decades. Sergio Leone's epic is long, sad and beautifully made, with Ennio Morricone's music doing a lot of the work.
Watch it if you
- love slow, sweeping gangster epics
- want a story about friendship and regret
- have time for a very long film
Skip it if you
- dislike long, nonlinear storytelling
- can't take scenes of sexual violence
Best for: Long weekend night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Once Upon a Time in America
- Stream: Prime Video
- Free with ads: Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
Once Upon a Time in America parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Once Upon a Time in America is a brutal gangster epic featuring graphic violence, a rape scene, and drug trafficking.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Graphic gangster violence, including murder and a disturbing rape scene, runs throughout this Prohibition-era epic.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — Contains an explicit and disturbing sexual assault scene along with other mature sexual content.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Moderate — Opium use and Prohibition-era alcohol trafficking are central to the plot.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Once Upon a Time in America
If you liked Once Upon a Time in America, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Godfather (1972) — 96%: The defining gangster family epic
- The Godfather Part II (1974) — 93%: Sprawling crime saga across time
- GoodFellas (1990) — 92%: Gangster life told with energy and tragedy
- Casino (1995) — 89%: Epic of ambition and betrayal on a grand scale
- Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) — 91%: Leone's other slow, majestic epic
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) — 93%: Leone's grand, stylish classic with a famous score
Director
Cast
- Robert De Niro as David 'Noodles' Aaronson
- James Woods as Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz
- Elizabeth McGovern as Deborah Gelly
- Treat Williams as James Conway O'Donnell
- Tuesday Weld as Carol
- Joe Pesci as Frankie Monaldi
- Burt Young as Joe
- James Hayden as Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg
- William Forsythe as Philip 'Cockeye' Stein
- Larry Rapp as 'Fat' Moe Gelly
Once Upon a Time in America FAQ
Is Once Upon a Time in America worth watching?
Must-watch. An old gangster returns to New York and remembers his friends, his crimes and a lost love across decades. Sergio Leone's epic is long, sad and beautifully made, with Ennio Morricone's music doing a lot of the work.
Where can I watch Once Upon a Time in America?
In the US you can stream Once Upon a Time in America on Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Once Upon a Time in America OK for kids?
Once Upon a Time in America is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Once Upon a Time in America is a brutal gangster epic featuring graphic violence, a rape scene, and drug trafficking.
What movies are like Once Upon a Time in America?
If you liked Once Upon a Time in America, try The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, GoodFellas and Casino.