--- title: "Bugsy" year: 1991 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bugsy" fi1m_id: "bugsy" imdb_id: "tt0101516" tmdb_id: 10337 wikidata_id: "Q241085" fi1m_score: 76 critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 9 published: "2026-09-13" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:16.175422+00:00" region: "AE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bugsy (1991) Directed by Barry Levinson · 2h 16m · Crime, Drama, Mystery ## Identity Bugsy - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/bugsy - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** bugsy - **IMDb ID:** tt0101516 - **TMDB ID:** 10337 - **Wikidata ID:** Q241085 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101516/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10337, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q241085 **Fi1m score: 76** · Critics 74 from 9 reviews *In a sentence:* Warren Beatty makes a gangster look like someone we might foolishly lend money to > Barry Levinson’s gangster romance is entertaining, finely acted and too forgiving of its hero. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening make it worth seeing, even when the film mistakes ambition for decency. ## Synopsis Ben ‘Bugsy’ Siegel (Warren Beatty) is a gangster whose plans for Las Vegas become bound up with his ambitions and his affair with Virginia Hill (Annette Bening). Barry Levinson’s drama follows a man whose charm and self-confidence coexist with violence, placing his romance alongside his dream of what Las Vegas might become. Set against the glamour of the 1940s, the story brings together Siegel, Hill, Meyer Lansky (Ben Kingsley) and Mickey Cohen (Harvey Keitel). Elliott Gould plays Harry Greenberg, with Joe Mantegna as George Raft and Wendy Phillips as Esta Siegel. ## Review Barry Levinson’s *Bugsy* is good company for a film about a violent gangster, and that is both its pleasure and its problem. Warren Beatty makes Ben Siegel’s self-belief entertaining enough to carry long stretches, while James Toback’s screenplay finds room for wit within the threat. We recommend it for the performances and the period workmanship. The reservation is substantial: it sometimes seems to think that dreaming of Las Vegas makes Siegel a better man. Beatty is the right actor for someone who expects charm to settle matters before force becomes necessary. His confidence gives Siegel the air of a man who assumes that everyone else will eventually catch up with him. We found ourselves liking him, and were uncomfortable with how easily it happened. The attraction comes from Beatty’s assurance and humour; the unease comes from the violence attached to the same man. Levinson lets those qualities coexist without always pressing hard enough on the consequences. Annette Bening’s Virginia Hill gives Beatty a partner with enough presence to keep the affair from becoming another occasion for Siegel to admire himself. Their attraction makes the love story worth following even when his grand ambitions start to wear thin. Ben Kingsley, as Meyer Lansky, is especially welcome for the steadiness he brings to a film so taken with its leading man’s enthusiasms. Harvey Keitel’s Mickey Cohen has the force to register alongside Beatty without turning every exchange into a contest. Allen Daviau photographs the 1940s settings with a gloss that suits Siegel’s self-regard. Dennis Gassner’s production design and Albert Wolsky’s costumes make wealth and status immediately legible, without requiring Toback to explain them in dialogue. The clothes and surroundings are a considerable part of the pleasure, and they give Beatty’s confidence somewhere convincing to belong. The period detail supports the actors, while the polish helps establish why Siegel finds this life so attractive. Stu Linder’s editing gives the shifts between romance, crime and comedy a useful lightness, although the changes of mood sometimes leave the nastiness behind too quickly. At 136 minutes, the film also gives Siegel more time to fascinate us than he quite needs. Ennio Morricone’s music encourages us to take the romance seriously, lending conviction to feelings that the film otherwise risks treating as another of Siegel’s enthusiasms. It helps hold the love story together when the competing demands of the gangster drama threaten to crowd it out. Gangster films can let us enjoy bad company without pretending that the company is good, and *Bugsy* does not always keep that distinction clear. Toback and Levinson are persuasive when they show how charm and violence can belong to the same person. They are less convincing when Siegel’s dream for Las Vegas is allowed to make him seem admirable. Building something is not much of an answer to hurting people. See it for Beatty and Bening, but expect to supply some of the disapproval yourself. *Fi1m score 76, published 13 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics like Bugsy, and they like it for the same reasons: Warren Beatty’s performance and the 1940s gloss. The reviews describe a smooth, romantic gangster picture that is lighter on its feet than most big studio films, with Beatty cast as a charming, dangerous dreamer whose scheme for Las Vegas is treated as a fable of the American dream. Barry Levinson’s direction and James Toback’s script both draw praise, as does the supporting cast, with Ben Kingsley’s Meyer Lansky singled out more than once. The reservations cluster around how kindly the film treats a violent man. Time Out is sceptical of the sympathetic portrait, and The Independent, the one mixed notice, finds it gripping but an unsatisfactory mix of comedy, tragedy and love story. Variety thinks the central romance is the weak point, with Virginia Hill written as one-dimensional. The spread is narrow; nobody dislikes it, and the argument is about whether the polish flatters its subject too much. ## Straight answers **Is Bugsy worth watching?** *Bugsy* is worth watching for Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, and we scored it 76. Barry Levinson's gangster romance is entertaining and finely acted, with 1940s settings that make Ben Siegel's life look attractive. Our reservation is that the film is too forgiving of its hero, treating his dream of Las Vegas as if it made him a better man. **How long is Bugsy, and what is it rated?** *Bugsy* runs 2h 16m. It is a crime and drama film. **Where can I watch Bugsy in the UAE?** *Bugsy* is streaming on Netflix in the UAE. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Bugsy, and is it suitable for children?** *Bugsy* carries an 18 certificate in the UK and is not suitable for children. It is a gangster film about a violent man, and the violence sits alongside the charm rather than being softened by it, although the review notes that the mood often moves on from the nastiness quickly. It is not a frightening film in the horror sense; the discomfort comes from liking a killer. **How does Bugsy compare to The Long Good Friday?** *Bugsy* is the glossier and more forgiving of the two, while [*The Long Good Friday*](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday) is the tighter and harder film. Both follow gangsters who dream of property and overestimate their control of events, but John Mackenzie's London thriller keeps its hero's menace in view where Barry Levinson lets Ben Siegel's charm do too much of the work. Choose Beatty and Bening for romance and period polish, Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren for something funnier and more frightening. **What should I watch after Bugsy?** After *Bugsy*, try [*The Long Good Friday*](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday) (1980, Fi1m 88): Another gangster dreams of property development and overestimates his control of events. Then [*Bonnie and Clyde*](https://film.one/film/bonnie-and-clyde) (1967, Fi1m 88): Beatty’s charm complicates another criminal romance, with less comfortable room for admiration; and [*The Killing of a Chinese Bookie*](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie) (1976, Fi1m 78): A showman’s self-belief meets criminal pressure, with the glamour looking decidedly threadbare. ### Reviews we read (9) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (85/100, inferred): The film portrays Bugsy Siegel as a smooth, charming, and lovable figure despite his violent nature, focusing on his romantic vision for Las Vegas and his passionate affair. Ebert praises the 1940s production values, Beatty's perfect casting, and the movie's lightness and exuberance. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bugsy-1991) - **The New Yorker**, Terrence Rafferty (80/100, inferred): Barry Levinson’s opulent period gangster movie is lighter on its feet than other big studio films and showcases Warren Beatty’s star magnetism as the charming, mercurial psychopath Bugsy Siegel. Rafferty calls it smart, swanky fun that revives high-gloss studio entertainment. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1991/12/30/fear-of-flying) - **The AV Club**, Nathan Rabin (B): The critic views the extended cut of the 1991 biopic as a glossy but compelling character study of mobster Bugsy Siegel, noting its mix of epic bloat and gritty themes from the script. Beatty's starstruck, impeccably dressed performance as the metrosexual gangster is highlighted amid the tension between Toback's iconoclastic vision and Levinson's stylish direction. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/bugsy-extended-cut-1798202223) - **Empire**, Angie Errigo (75/100, inferred): The film is a grand, old-fashioned Big Hollywood Picture that will appeal to older audiences, with a compelling story taken as a fable of the American dream. It singles out Ben Kingsley's brilliant turn as Meyer Lansky for particular praise among the first-rate cast and elements. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bugsy-review/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (75/100, inferred): The film is a satisfying, stylish entertainment that delivers a full measure of appeal through its glossy 1940s look and human touches. Turan notes Beatty dominates as Bugsy, bringing brassy self-confidence to the role he understands from the inside out. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-20-ca-678-story.html) - **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (NYT Critic’s Pick): Bugsy is a smart, seductive portrait of the man and his monument to Las Vegas, presenting Siegel as a star-struck pragmatist and visionary. Maslin highlights Warren Beatty's career-defining performance as the sly, dangerous schemer. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/movies/review-film-sure-he-had-his-faults-but-the-man-had-vision.html) - **Time Out**, GA (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the witty script, classy direction and strong performances in this romanticized gangster biopic, noting Beatty's return to form after earlier films. Some scepticism is expressed about the sympathetic portrayal of the violent protagonist, but the film's virtues in character details and set pieces are highlighted. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bugsy) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (70/100, inferred): The critic views it as a melancholy and intimate gangster saga about a romantic dreamer with fatal flaws that emerges as a smooth, safe portrait of a volatile character. An absorbing narrative and colorful supporting players are undercut by an unsatisfactory central romance featuring a one-dimensional Virginia Hill. [Read](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/bugsy-1200428981/) - **The Independent**, John Lyttle (60/100, inferred): It is an unsatisfactory though gripping pick'n'mix of dark gangster-comic-tragedy-cum-love story that asks audiences to admire Siegel for his all-American dream of Las Vegas. It singles out the spot-on casting (including Bening, Keitel and Kingsley) and unsettling script for note. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/video-coming-soon-to-a-store-near-you-john-lyttle-casts-a-critical-eye-over-rental-and-sellthrough-titles-now-available-including-oliver-stone-s-jfk-and-barry-levinson-s-bugsy-1551995.html) ## Details - **Director:** Barry Levinson - **Director:** Barry Levinson - **Writer:** James Toback - **Cinematography:** Allen Daviau - **Editor:** Stu Linder - **Music:** Ennio Morricone - **Production design:** Dennis Gassner - **Costume design:** Albert Wolsky - **Producer:** Warren Beatty, Barry Levinson, Mark Johnson - **Cast:** Warren Beatty as Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel; Annette Bening as Virginia Hill; Harvey Keitel as Mickey Cohen; Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky; Elliott Gould as Harry Greenberg; Joe Mantegna as George Raft; Bebe Neuwirth as Countess di Frasso; Bill Graham as Charles "Lucky" Luciano - **Runtime:** 2h 16m - **First release (the US):** 10 December 1991 - **Genres:** Crime, Drama, Mystery - **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 1991); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Winner, 1991) - **Budget:** $30 million - **Box office:** $49 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btj7FNzT2j8 ## Where to watch in the UAE - Netflix: streaming *Checked 2026-09-13.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 1992: Best Actor (nominated); Best Cinematography (nominated); Best Director (nominated); Best Original Score (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated); Best Costume Design (won); Best Production Design (won) ## If you liked this - *The Long Good Friday* (1980), Fi1m 88: Another gangster dreams of property development and overestimates his control of events. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday.md) - *Bonnie and Clyde* (1967), Fi1m 88: Beatty’s charm complicates another criminal romance, with less comfortable room for admiration. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bonnie-and-clyde.md) - *Le Doulos* (1962): For criminal company whose good tailoring offers little reassurance about their intentions. - *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), Fi1m 78: A showman’s self-belief meets criminal pressure, with the glamour looking decidedly threadbare. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md) - *Ash Is Purest White* (2018): A gangster romance that gives the woman’s loyalty and disappointments proper weight. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/bugsy