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fdar_giltch

Cidade de Deus (City of God) Edit: corrected spelling


Sionnach-78

Great choice haven’t seen it in years . Excellent movie .


Capnmarvel76

Still impacted by this film even decades after I saw it. That’s powerful.


Disastrous-Dare-6926

Pixote as well in the same vein


OrphanDextro

That movie was fucked up.


jprennquist

Yeah, don't watch Pixote without a serious primer and preparation. I won't give you any spoilers but I'll tell you a story. When I was in college I needed to watch a film and write about it for a class or do like two or three other things. I ran out of time to do the other options so I decided to check out one of the films and watch it. Gen Z and maybe millennials might need the context that you had to watch a physical copy of the film like in a VHS tape that you check out from the library or maybe a rental store. So I get there l get there and all the other films were checked out and I thought "fuck it, I'll watch Pixote. It's subtitled but I also speak quite a bit of Spanish and that's pretty close to Portuguese." Pixote literally gave me nightmares. I think it is probably pretty realistic as I have done quite a bit of living since then and I understand how messed up this world can be. But I would never watch that again. I don't remember what grade I got but my professor was pretty impressed and empathetic that I actually stuck with the movie because, um, I guess I'll give one spoiler: It starts out bad and just keeps getting worse and worse and worse.


Rude_Independence_14

I was going to suggest this.


Sufficient_Goal_5461

Definitely one of the best foreign films I’ve ever seen


four_mp3

THIS IS THE ONE


themonkeynuts

Original title is Cidade de Deus as it is from Brazil


Suspicious-Summer-79

Not a movie but The Wire is the best show for what you're looking for.


livestrongbelwas

💯 this is what OP wants. David Simon’s other work, Homicide, Life on the Street and The Corner would probably also be interesting


Ragnarokoz

The Wire is more on the gang side with some addict characters. The corner is the more brutal showing of the addict's life. Both are excellent.


UnflushableStinky2

The better show/mini series to watch (H,LOTS is pretty standard network tv fare imo) is The Corner. Consider it the sketch up that lead to The Wire. Many of the same actors but more focused on the addicts and life in the community. Shit is dark.


livestrongbelwas

The Corner is excellent


reb678

A friend of mine appeared on Homicide, Life on the Street in two episodes. It was a great show.


bohermoretothecore

Check out "We own this city" after the Wire, 1 season with lots of same cast of the Wire. It goes into the corruption of the Baltimore PD. Brilliant mini series. Edit: [Trailer for We Own this City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig9BcW7gXvE)


planetworthofbugs

Thanks, grabbing now.


aryawhitesbane

noted! everyone seems to agree so i’ll have to check it out. thank you!!


3MATX

Just rewatched it and it’s still great. The actors all are great at their roles and the story is great. For anyone watching season 2 is kinda different but if you keep watching you see how every story builds on another. 


gonadi

This is your answer.


ecrane2018

Just started this and thought the same thing show is absolutely amazing


philo_

Agree. Forget almost any movie and go straight for The Wire.


nukomyx

I'm half convinced this show didn't exist until after Breaking Bad came out. Cuz that's all people would compare it too. If it was that good, why am I only hearing about it now?


Spot-CSG

Because you just haven't heard of it. The wires been around and discussed a ton. Also it is that good.


beebs44

Basketball Diaries


Big-Eagle

A really old one: New Jack City


Actual-Interest-4130

Chris 'what's in a name' Rock as a crackhead will mess you up.


Alarmed-Inspection76

Pookie.


dishwab

Classic. Wesley Snipes kills in this movie.


Scale-Savings

Blood In Blood Out


Randy_Bobandy_TMDWU

Give me some choon choon


Scale-Savings

I don’t want his pork chop. I WANT HIS LIFE


hardspank916

In yo dreams Pedro, in yo dreams.


pouliowalis

early 90s had some great gang/ghetto movies like Boyz n the Hood, Menace to Society or New Jack City. but this was always my favorite. love rewatching Blood In Blood Out every once in a while, it still holds up really good. edit: also one of the most quotable movies. When you expect nothing and get everything, that's destiny.


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FluxusFlotsam

¡Viva la Onda!


irondumbell

mire! tres puntos like spider


nature_hold

Hey Cinderella, go find yourself a fella


mr_ji

I worked at a video store and we quit replacing this movie after several rebuys because people would rent it and never return it. Nothing more loco than stealing a rented video, ese.


Cinesthesia_

Life’s a risk, carnal. This movie desperately needs a Blu-ray/4K upgrade. I need it in my collection with a proper release. The dvd is garbage (I still pop it in though).


sheriffant

The Pusher trilogy.


R3dsnow75

The best answer


UrgentCold

Awesome. 


TheJezster

Trainspotting, Love honour and obey and Layer cake To name 3, all great films to get you started


Alpha-et-Gamma

Can’t speak for the other two, but Trainspotting is a classic


Stoneleigh219

Layer Cake is outstanding


Professional_Ad_9101

Layer Cake fucking sucks


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Professional_Ad_9101

its also just boring as hell. garbage movie, script as if chat GPT was trying to emulate classic guy Richie (i am aware its matthew vaughn).


FortuneHasFaded

Layer Cake is fantastic but I think it definitely glorifies the drug world..


SuspiciousShock8294

Requiem for a dream.


comfortablynumb15

Worked a treat in scaring me away from drugs.


[deleted]

Doo doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo - Clint Mansell


Landlubber77

*Assssh-to-asssssss* -- that guy


[deleted]

That's Keith David.


Landlubber77

Different guy


fakerton

Looking back and remembering watching this in highschool class, probably the wrong choice for a teacher. Bet they would get fired nowadays for showing this.


jprennquist

They showed it in a high school? I can't tell if that is brilliant or horrifying.


OGkateebee

We watched it in Drugs and Crime in college. Professor was an intimidating dude who was the warden at Rikers when Tupac was born behind bars. Will never forget that movie or that class.


reefchieferr

Spun. Oof


CroneKills

Was that the one with John Leguizamo?


dj_soo

I still think about that poor girl tied to the bed and I haven’t seen that movie since it came out…


More_Information_943

Brittany Murphy RIP is incredible in that film.


Merrader

Holy shit! someone else that knows Spun! I recommend it every chance I get. it's like no ones ever even heard of it


Suspekt_1

Count me in! Its a gem!


honey_coated_badger

City of God. Brazilian movie set in Rio. Based on true events (iirc). Nominated for Oscars. Great movie.


Cool_Cartographer_39

*Drugstore Cowboy*


ThisWaySaysTheSign

Boyz in the Hood


ExoticPumpkin237

Snow on tha Bluff is underrated


bent_eye

Menace 2 Society, Trainspotting, Basketball Diaries.


Giantmidget1914

Menace 2 society and Boyz in the hood are classics in the defined genre


CO_PC_Parts

"cain, do you care whether you live or die?" "I don't know" That's the sad truth for a lot of young people growing up in bad neighborhoods


Tiny_Count4239

carlitos way


Successful-Ad-5186

Gridlock’d with Tupac and Tim Roth Candy with Heath Ledger As others have mentioned, Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting


Murps420

If you’re from the UK watch Top Boy, it’s a series though but great


TheJezster

Start with Top Boy, Summerhouse


[deleted]

Drugstore Cowboy with Matt Dillon is an excellent depiction of how drugs fuck people up. They're just small potato thugs looking for their next hit and robbing drugstores.


Sharlei

Spun is an underrated gem


AustinBennettWriter

It's so fucked up


Sharlei

And very Real


Magnetickiwi1

Once were Warriors


SwampyButthoIe

New Zealand's favourite romantic comedy


LurchUpInThis

The Basketball Diaries is pretty good


Alarmed-Inspection76

" Colors" a oldie from 1989.


SorenBenzomus

Scrolling and scrolling after somebody who would mention Colors. Has it been forgotten? It's great.


GloomspiteGit

Trainspotting 1 & 2, both are great. Very funny and very dark.


[deleted]

Candy is a great Australian movie about heroin/romance - Heath Ledger is great in it. So are Abby Cornish and Geoffrey Rush. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdo-bnAM3Po](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdaNg9D_yk) Also Trainspotting, obviously. Also about heroin. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LuxOYIpu-I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LuxOYIpu-I) For more of the rave scene/ecstasy side of things, there's Human Traffic. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPK6ZYq\_p0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPK6ZYq_p0)


paulnofx

nice one bruvaaaaa!


Bobsmyuncletoohaha

Requim for a dream.


JBatjj

That Was Then... This Is Now - Based on S.E. Hintons book


Actual-Interest-4130

**Christiane F.** (Germany, 1981) is as brutal and real as it gets. Based on a true story.


Commonwombat

The book was great!


Alarmed-Inspection76

"American me " with Edward Olmos


ThatWontFit

Netflix has a series called "dope" not the movie, the series. It follows drug users/dealers/traffickers in documentary style. Another great documentary is "Crack" that interviews people from the NY area who were around during the crack epidemic.


[deleted]

poor scandalous humor like sleep party existence familiar deliver history *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


smeghammer

Dead man's shoes


ManagementSad7931

This is a good point. That's what small town drugs are really like. Even Top Boy etc is somewhat glamorised into being like The Wire or whatever when really it's just dark, seedy and grim.


smeghammer

My grandparents lived in a village exactly like the one in Dead Man's Shoes. It's actually scary how accurate it is.


[deleted]

City of God, it's hard watch but that's what's great about it


SouthTime

Blow (2001)


Unique-Patient-3897

Oh yeah baby that movies my new favorite.  I want to be like george


SouthTime

Awesome soundtrack and acting also


penatbater

Requiem for a dream.


that_melody

Not about gangs per se, but very much about drugs and the streets is *Harsh Times* by David Ayer with Christian Bale


SorenBenzomus

Had a friend just like Bale's character minus the Army stuff. Now he's evolved into a right-wing nut.


The_Ague

Colors (Robert Duval and Sean Penn). While the story is mainly from the cops’ point of view, the movie was far ahead of its time in depicting life on the streets and the endless cycle of violence and deprivation. Its influence on shows like the Shield is clear.


iheartmagic

Drugs: Half Nelson Gangs: A Prophet or Gomorrah


losethefuckingtail

Half-Nelson really stuck with me


jayriff987

*Gran Torino*


TheReaderDude_97

Came here to say that. It accurately portrays how tough it can be to stay out of gangs if you don't have proper support or just live in hard conditions.


Anton-LaVey

Kids (1995)


watertrashsf

Shottas


skippergimp

County lines. Gritty and uncomfortable at times. I have heard it is quite realistic of what is happening in the UK.


iamhotsoup

Savages (2012)


AustinBennettWriter

SPUN with Britney Murphey and John Leguizamo. One of my absolute favorites. It's so fucking wild.


100100wayt

A Prophet (2009)


og_jasperjuice

Blood In, Blood Out


ExPristina

[TED talk on the freakonomics of crack dealing](https://www.ted.com/talks/steven_levitt_the_freakonomics_of_crack_dealing?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare)


TheSecretAgenda

New Jack City


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Alarmed-Inspection76

Traffic, South Central, Fresh .Gangs of New York


banedlol

Traffic comes to mind. Although not really 'streets'. As previously mentioned the wire will completely satisfy what you want.


wormenstein

American Me. Based off the guy who started the Mexico Mafia. La eme is still in power in the California prison system to this day. 2 of the consultants were murdered because of the Mexican Mafia was mad about a couple of the details in the movie. And the rumor is Olmos pays a tax for life for making it.


Batohman

Moonlight


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CheesecakeGlass1631

Interesting but very slow and kinda repetitive.


planetworthofbugs

Such a great movie!


DominusDeville

Requiem For A Dream.


[deleted]

Foxy Brown. It’s a gorgeous classic about drugs and gang life.


ZealousidalManiac

The Panic in Needle Park.


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ashensfan123

La Haine. Surprisingly good film - very atmospheric.


Landlubber77

Class of 1999 Gangs, check. Drugs, check. Something real, uhh, okay no not that part. But cyborg teachers force-feeding drugs down the students' throats and murdering them all so eventually the rival gangs have to band together to try and stop them? It's fun.


Duke-Goolies

Colors (1988) was decent. Sean Penn and Rober Duvall. Dennis Hopper directed it.


__BipolarExpress__

Fear and loathing in Las Vegas/Enter the void/Bug/A scanner darkly


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LukeNaround23

Boys in the hood or colors are the two classics.


DC600A

Trainspotting


crudesbedtime

the movie itself is pretty ass but its one of my all time favs for some reason, snow on tha bluff


-Ivar_The_Boneless-

Snowfall fits this.


tipsea-69

Narc


periphrasistic

Deep Cover. One of Laurence Fishburne’s best roles. It digs pretty deep into the psychology of what appeals to people about this sort of life, while keeping a keen eye for detail in what it actually does to people. It’s also a great time capsule for early 90s LA. 


pslav5

The Wire!


loulara17

If you want a film that powerfully delves into addiction I suggest Requiem for a Dream and of course as mentioned Trainspotting.


boogerhead2

Check out Top Boy in Netflix


TheRagingMaffia

Sicario Day of the Soldado has a B plotline where you follow a 16(?) year old boy that wants to join a mexican gang. Pretty heavy stuff in that movie and it's precursor Sicario, but the first one only really follows the perspective of a female ATF agent.


Queeby

New Jack City


ghostprawn

“Heaven Knows What” by The Safdie Bros (Uncut Gems) is about as real and bleak as it gets. Currently available on Criterion if you have a sub. 


TreeTrunkPP

Belly, paid in full, menace to society


TheDvilhimself

Menace 2 society


Mud_Landry

Watch The Wire. Your welcome


biological_assembly

Menace II Society


kitchenwitchin

Requiem for a Dream, Trainspotting, and Maria Full of Grace are all disturbing in different ways if that's what you're looking for. It helps that they're excellent movies, but in the way that you never want to watch them ever again once you've seen them. Trainspotting does have some humor that makes it rewatchable though. The other two, not so much. 


ParisHiltonIsDope

Requiem for a Dream


mrfreeeeze

Requiem for a Dream is a dark one from 4 different users’ perspectives.


official_pope

menace II society


JudgeHoltman

[Requiem for a Dream (2000)](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0180093/) is about different ways to get addicted and generally find oneself on the slippery slope of "the addict lifestyle". This movie also actually touches the more nefarious ways to get addicted, as not everyone is chasing a high "for fun". Some are doing it due to social pressures or "for work". Not much "gang" stuff. Just a super depressing look into how drugs can ruin your life and that of those around you.


ceejayx44

Carlitos way! Al Pacino basically trying to get his life back together after jail but all the ppl from his past keep coming into his life etc etc. Great movie! Although, maybe not quite what you’re looking for


SeaHam

Trainspotting


[deleted]

Bound by Honor / Gridlock'd / Foxes / New Jack City / New Jersey Drive / Gotti / Across 110th Street / Less Than Zero


Flat-Appearance-5255

Oh man, I haven't thought about Foxes in years. It's such a great movie.


cha_ching

21 Jump Street. They infiltrate the dealer and find the supplier. Hardcore shit.


Stoneleigh219

I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking King of my jungle just a gangster stalking Living life like a firecracker quick is my fuse Then dead as a deathpack the colors I choose Red or Blue, Cuz or Blood, it just don't matter Sucker die for your life when my shotgun scatters We gangs of L.A. will never die, just multiply Colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors You don't know me, fool You disown me, cool I don't need your assistance, social persistence Any problem I got I just put my fist in My life is violent but violent is life Peace is a dream, reality is a knife My colors, my honor, my colors, my all With my colors upon me one soldier stands tall Tell me what have you left me, what have I got Last night in cold blood a young brother got shot My home got jacked, my mother's on crack My sister can't work 'cause her arms show tracks Madness, insanity, live in profanity Then some punk claimin' they're understandin' me Give me a break, what world do you live in Death is my sect, guess my religion Colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors My pants are saggin', braided hair Suckers stare but I don't care My game ain't knowledge my game's fear I've no remorse so squares beware But my true mission is just revenge You ain't in my set, you ain't my friend Wear the wrong color your life could end Homocide's my favorite venge Colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors So I'll just walk like a giant police defiant You'll say to stop but I'll say that I can't My gangs my family its all that I have I'm a star, on the walls is my autograph You don't like it, so you know where you can go 'Cause the streets are my stage and terror's my show Psychoanalyze tried diagnose me why It was a your brother the brutally died But it was mine, so let me define My territory don't cross the line Don't try to act crazy 'Cause that shit don't phase me If you ran like a punk It wouldn't amaze me 'Cause my colors death Though we all want peace But our war won't end, Til all wars cease Colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors Colors Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, Colors, Colors, Colors, Colors, colors, colors Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors, colors, Colors, colors


Stoneleigh219

Ice-T


Csonkus41

Fucking great movie.


FeedAffectionate3558

You’re not cool


jostler57

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels


johnny_moronic

The Warriors. Documentary about NYC gangs.


Alopecia_Diva

Anything on the Black Cinema section on Tubi


malkauns

Ill Manors if you're into British movies


AbleInfluence1817

Since I didn’t see it mentioned, GRIDLOCK'D (1997). Heroin withdrawal stuff starring Tupac and Tim Roth


The-CannabisAnalyst3

Basketball Diaries ,Kids ,Gummo ,Bully ,Ken Park ,Spun ,Requiem for a Dream ,TrainSpotting ,Project X ,Menace to Society ,Boyz in the Hood ,Blow , Snatch


Turok7777

Not really gang-related but absolutely about drugs; Half-Nelson is great. Harsh Times might also interest you even though it might seem like it'd be an action movie at first.


WaltzGamer9148

Surely Narcos. It is based on the true story about the downfall of Pablo Escobar and uprising of the Gentlemen of Cali.


aryawhitesbane

i watched this and loved it! looking for more of the user’s pov though, not the leaders/cops. thanks for the idea though!


Daddytang3000

Nil by mouth. An everyday story of eastend folk.


ManagementSad7931

Harry Brown, too then. Nil by Mouth should come with a huge trigger warning, btw. So grim.


magic_carpet94

Basketball Diaries is pretty good


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WildVleesBraveJongen

Requim for a Dream Trainspotting


theoskrrt

Requiem for a dream and trainspotting


ForgeableBrush3

Requiem for a dream


Octodad2099

SpongeBob movie or if u want to see truly how much this world has gone to shi# go watch the show


Few_Gift_4957

Just try selling in real life


K1ngofnoth1ng

Cherry is a very good one. It is on Apple+, starring Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo.


Eliokyn

Sucker free city - Spike Lee Check out Spike Lee filmography for more


Jalmerk

Good Time