Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- stylized
- tense
- witty
- action movie night
- crime film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the film looks stylish and benefits from a talented cast and energetic action, but is undermined by weak writing, stock characters, uneven tone, and excessive violence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film presents 1949 Los Angeles, gang warfare, costumes, and shootouts through glossy, exaggerated genre stylization.
Chief Parker authorizes O'Mara's specially assembled unit to attack Cohen's organization by unconventional means.
Cohen has bought judges and police, making ordinary arrests and testimony ineffective.
O'Mara wants a peaceful life with his family but is drawn into the campaign against Cohen.
Films like Gangster Squad, and why
L.A. Confidential
stylized period crime action, organized-crime conflict, and morally compromised law enforcement
The Black Dahlia
1940s Los Angeles setting, gangster mythology, police corruption, and noir-inflected crime drama
The Untouchables
ensemble cops confronting organized crime through heightened violence and pulp period spectacle
Public Enemies
slick gangster drama built around charismatic criminals, corrupt institutions, and explosive action
Movie Details
- Director
- Ruben Fleischer
- Release Date
- 2013-01-09
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (4337)
Cast
- Josh Brolin
- Ryan Gosling
- Sean Penn
- Nick Nolte
- Emma Stone
- Anthony Mackie
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Robert Patrick
- Michael Peña
- Mireille Enos
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Gangster Squad about?
- A determined Los Angeles sergeant assembles an off-the-books police team to wage a flashy, violent campaign against a city-conquering crime boss.
- What is Gangster Squad like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gangster Squad as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gangster Squad violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Gangster Squad as brutal.
- What did critics think of Gangster Squad?
- Critics broadly agreed that the film looks stylish and benefits from a talented cast and energetic action, but is undermined by weak writing, stock characters, uneven tone, and excessive violence.
- Which films are like Gangster Squad?
- Films with a similar feel include L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, The Untouchables, and Public Enemies.
- How long is Gangster Squad?
- Gangster Squad runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Gangster Squad?
- In United States, Gangster Squad streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
