Once Upon a Time in America (1984) is an epic crime drama directed by Sergio Leone, starring Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, and Joe Pesci. The film, based on the novel The Hoods by Harry Grey, tells the decades-spanning story of David “Noodles” Aaronson (De Niro) and his childhood friends as they rise from petty criminals in the Jewish ghettos of New York to powerful gangsters during Prohibition, only to be torn apart by betrayal and the passage of time.
Told through a nonlinear narrative, the film jumps between the 1920s, 1930s, and 1960s, as an older Noodles returns to New York after decades in hiding. He confronts the ghosts of his past, uncovering long-buried secrets and reflecting on love, ambition, loyalty, and the ultimate cost of power. Max (James Woods), Noodles’ closest friend and rival, plays a key role in the tragic downfall of their empire, leading to shocking revelations in the film’s final act.
Renowned for its breathtaking cinematography, masterful storytelling, and Ennio Morricone’s haunting score, Once Upon a Time in America is considered one of the greatest gangster films ever made. Despite initial controversy due to heavy cuts in its original U.S. release, the fully restored version is now widely recognized as Sergio Leone’s masterpiece, a melancholic and deeply emotional reflection on crime, memory, and lost time.