The studio behind Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington’s hit movie American Gangster is "gratified" after a judge threw out a $60 million lawsuit against it.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon dismissed a case filed by a group of retired federal drug enforcement agents who attempted to sue Universal Pictures over claims they’re portrayed as bad guys in the film.

The suit alleged the movie, based on the real life battle to bring 1970s drug boss Frank Lucas to justice, defamed hundreds of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and police officers.

But McMahon dismissed the case, saying the movie failed to "show a single person who is identifiable as a DEA agent", and therefore failed to meet defamation law standards.

A spokesman for Universal Pictures says, "We are happy that this matter has been brought to a swift and decisive close."