Real-life drug baron Frank Lucas inspired the 2007 film American Gangster with his heroin business in the late 60s. Ridley Scott directed the crime drama, with Denzel Washington playing a semi-fictionalized version of Frank Lucas. The film follows Lucas' drug business, where he sold heroin as "blue magic" and was convicted in 1976 for drug trafficking with his methods including smuggling drugs into the country in the coffins of dead Vietnam soldiers. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison but became an informant and was placed in the Witness Protection Program with his family.

The drug-themed movie took some creative liberties, changing some of the story to make American Gangster more interesting. Frank Lucas himself has clarified that much of the movie was not accurate to what happened. The DEA even sued Universal, calling the agency's portrayal demoralizing. However, the film received mostly positive reviews and was nominated for two Academy Awards.