Alfredo James Pacino, or as he is known globally, Al Pacino, is widely regarded by many to be one of the best actors the world has ever seen. The veteran actor has had the luxury of cementing his legacy in everybody’s heart and has always been dearly loved. Whether it be an ex-coach or a mafia boss, Al Pacino has been the first choice of many directors for influential roles, which has helped him enjoy his fair share of success in his rather lustrous career.
Right from his first role as an addict in The Panic in Needle Park to his role as a defense attorney in American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, Al Pacino has produced some of the biggest roles ever seen in the film industry, especially Tony Montana in Scarface and Michael Corleone in The Godfather series.
That led him to win major awards like an Oscar, several Golden Globe Awards, 2 Primetime Emmys, and one BAFTA Award. Here are some extravagant movies starring Al Pacino that will just blow everyone’s mind away with their quality.
Ocean’s Thirteen
Ocean’s Thirteen was directed by Steven Soderbergh and kickstarted the Ocean’s film trilogy. The movie was written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Ocean’s Thirteen was released in 2007 and instantly became a massive hit at the box office, grossing over $300 million at the cinemas.
The movie follows a group of professionals who must put everything on the table and protect one of their own members. The crew must pull off one of the most difficult heists they have ever done in order to save the ‘family member.’
Ocean’s Thirteen saw Al Pacino star as Willy Bank, a casino lord, and several others alongside him. The cast members include George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy García, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, and Elliott Gould. Ocean’s Thirteen was an entertaining heist film and is available for viewers to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Scarface
Who doesn’t want to be “Tony Montana”? Directed by Brian De Palma, Scarface saw Al Pacino don the role of Antonio Montana, the famous mafia lord, and arguably his greatest-ever role.
Scarface was released in 1983 and failed to appeal to the critics upon its arrival. But gradually, the audiences came to know about the masterpiece it was. The movie’s plot follows Antonio Montana, a Cuban refugee who overtakes a Miami drug cartel, and the crimes and ‘wars’ that follow.
The film starred Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Robert Loggia in other major roles alongside Al Pacino. Míriam Colón, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Ángel Salazar, Pepe Serna, Michael P. Moran, Al Israel, Dennis Holahan, and Mark Margolis are some of the many members of the supporting cast. Scarface is accessible to viewers on Netflix.
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice was directed by Michael Radford and was released in 2004. The movie’s plot follows the events of the popular play- “The Merchant of Venice,” which was written by the infamous William Shakespeare.
The leading roles in the movie were played by Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons, who played Shylock and Antonio, respectively. Supporting roles in The Merchant of Venice were played by Joseph Fiennes, Lynn Collins, Zuleikha Robinson Kris Marshall, Charlie Cox, Heather Goldenhersh, Mackenzie Crook, John Sessions, Gregor Fisher, Ron Cook, Allan Corduner, Anton Rodgers, David Harewood, Jules Werner.
The film depicted the popular play by Shakespeare very well and was praised for its screenplay. The Merchant of Venice is a great option for a family movie night and portrays Pacino’s love for Shakespeare.
Frankie and Johnny
Frankie and Johnny were directed by Garry Marshall and was released in 1991. The movie starred Al Pacino alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in the leading roles. Nathan Lane, Kate Nelligan, Hector Elizondo, Jane Morris, Greg Lewis, and Al Fann donned the roles of supporting characters, along with several others.
Frankie and Johnny followed the titular characters Johnny (Al Pacino) and Frankie (Michelle Pfeiffer) as Johnny, who works as a cook in a diner, falls in love with Frankie, a waitress.
The film described love in a unique way and was quite praised for it as well. Frankie and Johnny were adapted from a play titled Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, which was written by Terrence McNally and was released in 1987. Frankie and Johnny is a great choice for a rom-com lover as it is sure as hell a very entertaining ride for the entirety of its screenplay.
The Devil’s Advocate
The Devil’s Advocate was directed by Taylor Hackford and was released in 1997. The movie follows a young aspiring lawyer from Florida who gets a very outstanding offer from New York to work for a big-league law firm.
But that is not all that meets the eye, as it becomes clearly visible that the owner of the firm has some shady aura. The Devil’s Advocate starred Keanu Reeves as Kevin Lomax, the young lawyer from Florida, and Al Pacino as John Milton, the shady firm owner.
Charlie Theron played the role of Kevin’s wife, and Jeffrey Jones, Judith Ivey, Connie Nielsen, Craig T. Nelson, Heather Matarazzo, Tamara Tunie, Murphy Guyer, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Michael Lombard, Debra Monk, Vyto Ruginis, Laura Harrington, and Pamela Gray were the supporting characters along with various others.
The film enjoyed a very good stint at the box office, as it grossed over $153 million. The Devil’s Advocate was well praised for its entertainment value and the performance of the actors, especially Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. The Devil’s Advocate is available for viewers to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Sea of Love
Sea of Love was released in 1989 and was directed by Harold Becker. The movie was written by Richard Price and starred Al Pacino, John Goodman, and Ellen Barkin in the leading roles in the film.
The movie’s plot focuses on a detective who is trying his best to catch a serial killer in New York City. The killer takes a rather unorthodox approach as he finds his targets through a newspaper column featuring singles.
Sea of Love starred Michael Rooker, William Hickey, Richard Jenkins, John Spencer, Michael O’Neill, Larry Joshua, Patricia Barry, Rafael Báez, and Nancy Beatty in supporting roles alongside several others.
The film was a bombshell at the box office as it grossed over $110 million while being produced on a budget of only $19 million. Sea of Love is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and was released in 1990. The movie is the third installment in ‘The Godfather films, being the last entry of the trilogy.
The film follows Al Pacino as he retains his role as Michael Corleone. Michael comes to his senses in the movie and decides to end his family’s tyranny and end the criminal empire he ruled. Michael names his nephew to be the next in line as his successor.
Al Pacino starred in the leading role in the film, whereas Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy García, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, Bridget Fonda, George Hamilton, and Sofia Coppola starred in other major roles in the film.
The supporting members of the cast include Bridget Fonda, Sofia Coppola, Raf Vallone, Donal Donnelly, Richard Bright, Al Martino, Helmut Berger, Don Novello, John Savage, Franco Citti, and several others. The Godfather Part III was a major success at the box office, as it grossed over $135 million.
The movie was well-praised for its storyline also and was even nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Picture. The film is a perfect wrap-up for The Godfather trilogy and is recommended for a crime drama movie night.
Any Given Sunday
Directed by Oliver Stone, Any Given Sunday was released in 1999 and was a success at the box office, grossing over $100 million at the cinemas. The movie starred Al Pacino in the leading role, alongside Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, and several others in prominent roles. The film is based on a novel titled On Any Given Sunday, which was written by Pat Toomay and released in 1984.
Any Given Sunday follows a veteran American football coach who is coping with his team’s defeats and many egos in the dressing room. The name of the movie is taken from a quote by the coach Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino), that a team can win or lose on “any given Sunday.” A movie is a great option for anyone looking for a good sports drama film.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was directed by Quentin Tarantino and was released in 2019. The comedy-drama film was produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Visiona Romantica, and Heyday Films.
The film had a very big star cast with almost all the top-notch names in the film industry. The cast members were led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie.
Other members of the cast include Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Julia Butters, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Mike Moh, Luke Perry, Al Pacino, Rafal Zawierucha, Lorenza Izzo, Costa Ronin, Damon Herriman, Lena Dunham, and several others.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows an actor in his twilight years who must adapt to the changes in the film industry and pays tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The movie was well-praised for its screenplay and the performances of the actors and was also a big hit at the box office, grossing over $377 million. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is available for viewers to stream on Netflix.
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy was directed by Warren Beatty and was released in 1990. The movie follows a detective who takes on a mafia boss Caprice and his band of thugs. The movie starred Warren Beatty and Al Pacino in the major roles, and Madonna, Glenne Headly, Charlie Korsmo, and several others in supporting roles.
Dick Tracy was based on a character from a comic book series from the 1930s. The movie was well-praised for the performances of the actors and was a hit at the box office as it grossed over $160 million. The movie was also nominated for several Academy Awards and won three of them too. A movie is a great option for anyone looking for an action comedy.
… And Justice for All
… And Justice for All was directed by Norman Jewison and starred Al Pacino, Jack Warden, and John Forsythe in the leading roles. The movie was released in 1979 and was dearly loved by audiences worldwide.
The movie follows Arthur, a defense attorney who faces a dilemma over ethics when he is presented with the task of defending a judge in a rape case in which the judge could really be guilty.
The supporting cast in … And Justice for All includes Lee Strasberg, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Lahti, Craig T. Nelson, and Thomas Waites, along with several others. The legal comedy film is a good choice for anyone looking for an ethical work balance with a pinch of comedy.
Scarecrow
Scarecrow was released in 1973 and was directed by Jerry Schatzberg. The film starred Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in the leading roles and Eileen Brennan and Richard Lynch as other prominent characters.
The movie follows two men who are set on a journey to establish a business in Pittsburgh and the relationship shared by them. Scarecrow cast members include Dorothy Tristan, Ann Wedgeworth, Penelope Allen, Richard Hackman, and a few others in supporting roles. Scarecrow is a freewheeling masterpiece and is recommended 10/10 for anyone looking for an adventurous film.
Carlito’s Way
Carlito’s Way was directed by Brian De Palma and was released in 1993. The movie’s plot focuses on Carlito Brigante, a criminal who wishes to retire in heaven.
The movie stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and Viggo Mortensen in major roles. Carlito’s Way was based on two novels, “Carlito’s Way” and “After Hours,” which were written by Edwin Torres.
The film received good feedback from critics and viewers alike and immediately became a cult film. A sequel to the movie, titled Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power, was also released in 2005.
The Panic in Needle Park
The Panic in Needle Park was released in 1971 and was based on a 1966 novel by James Mills, which shared the same name. The film was directed by Jerry Schatzberg and was heartily loved by fans.
Al Pacino and Kitty Winn were the leading actors in the film, whereas the roles of supporting characters were played by Alan Vint, Richard Bright, Kiel Martin, Paul Sorvino, and several others.
The Panic in Needle Park follows the life of a group of heroin addicts who hang out together in ‘Needle Park,’ and the focus is primarily on Bobby and Helen, two lovebirds who face many challenges as time progresses.
Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco was based on Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, a book by Richard Woodley and Joseph D. Pistone released in 1998. The film was released in 1997 and was directed by Mike Newell and starred Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo, and Anne Heche.
The film follows an undercover agent who infiltrates a gruesome crime family in New York City, taking the alias ‘Donnie Brasco.’ The movie focuses on several challenges faced by Donnie as he takes on this journey and keeps getting interesting with every frame.
Donnie Brasco was a gem of a movie and was even nominated for an Academy Award. The movie was well-praised and is surely recommended for anyone and everyone.
Glengarry Glen Ross
Directed by James Foley, Glengarry Glen Ross was released in 1992 and was based on a play sharing the same name. The film’s plot focuses on the lives of four real estate salesmen who enter a race as they are told that only the top 2 performers will retain their job titles, and the remaining two will be fired by the company they work for.
The movie starred Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, and Jonathan Pryce, alongside a few others. Glengarry Glen Ross was critically acclaimed and is regarded by many to be one of the best movies of the 1990s.
Insomnia
Insomnia was directed by Christopher Nolan and was released in 2002. The film focuses on two detectives investigating a homicide in Alaska. The movie starred Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank in the leading roles, and Paul Dooley, Nicky Katt, Maura Tierney, and Martin Donovan, with various others in the supporting roles.
Insomnia was a bombshell at the box office, grossing over $113 million while being produced on a budget of $46 million, and was very well praised too. The film has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so we can guess how good the movie was. Insomnia is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a psychological crime thriller.
The scent of a Woman
Directed by Martin Brest, Scent of a Woman was released in 1992 and was a remake of an Italian movie titled Profumo di donna. The movie starred Al Pacino and Chris O’Donnell in the leading roles, whereas the supporting characters were played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Gabrielle Anwar, and James Rebhorn.
The scent of a Woman was a success at the box office and was well-praised for the performances of the actors, especially Al Pacino. The movie’s plot revolves around a school student who takes a job as an assistant to a blind retired lieutenant. The movie is a classic drama movie and is enjoyable right from the start till the last frame.
Heat
The heat was directed by Michael Mann and was released in 1995. The movie focuses on a conflict between a detective and a thief and the matters that follow due to the same. The movie starred Al Pacino, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Robert De Niro, and Jon Voight in prominent roles and various others, including Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Wes Studi, and several others in supporting roles.
The movie was a big hit at the box office as well, grossing over $185 million. The heat was critically acclaimed, and the screenplay of the movie was well-praised, along with the action sequences and the actors’ performances. Heat is available for viewers to enjoy on Amazon Prime Video.
The Irishman
The Irishman was directed by Martin Scorsese and was released in 2019. The movie starred Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in the leading roles alongside Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons, and Harvey Keitel in supporting roles.
The film’s story follows a truck driver who becomes a hitman and gets involved with a crime family. The epic gangster film received widespread critical acclaim and was even nominated for several awards at the Academy Awards. The Irishman is accessible on Netflix.
Serpico
Serpico was directed by Sidney Lumet and starred Al Pacino in the leading role. The movie was based on a book sharing the same title, which was written by Peter Maas.
The movie follows Serpico’s hardships as he wishes to take out corruption during his service years in the NYPD. The movie was very well praised by critics and received numerous nominations, including nominations for several awards at the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Awards.
The Insider
The Insider was released in 1999 and was critically acclaimed. The film was praised for its storyline and the performance of the actors. The movie was also nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Actor and Best Picture.
The movie follows a whistleblower in the tobacco industry who is forced to defend his company when a former employee exposes the monopolies and functioning in tobacco companies.
The Insider starred Al Pacino and Russell Crowe in the leading roles, alongside Bruce McGill, Diane Venora, Christopher Plummer, and Michael Gambon in supporting roles. The film has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is recommended 10/10 for a drama movie night.
The Godfather
The Godfather was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starred Al Pacino in the leading role alongside Marlon Brando. It kick-started the trilogy of ‘The Godfather’ and focused on Michael Corleone, who becomes a mafia boss.
The film starred James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton in other supporting roles and was a bomb at the box office. The Godfather grossed nearly $291 million at the box office.
The movie was critically acclaimed and was praised for its screenplay and the performances of the actors, especially Pacino’s. The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Dog Day Afternoon
Dog Day Afternoon was directed by Sidney Lumet and was released in 1975. The movie follows a man who plans to do a heist by robbing a local bank to pay for his partner’s surgery, but things go wrong as he is forced to change his plan and take hostages to complete the task.
The film starred Al Pacino, James Broderick, Charles Durning, John Cazale, and several others. Dog Day Afternoon has a massive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was a success both commercially and critically. The film is based on an article by P.F. Kluge, and to say that the movie is good would be an understatement of the masterpiece.
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and was released in 1974. The film is the sequel and a prequel to “The Godfather” and follows Michael Corleone as he has now become the mafia don of the Corleone family.
The movie saw Al Pacino retain his role as Michael Corleone and also starred Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Morgana King, John Cazale, Mariana Hill, and Lee Strasberg. The Godfather Part II is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Two for the Money
Two for the Money was released in 2005 and was directed by D.J. Caruso. The film starred Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, Carly Pope, and various others in supporting roles.
The movie focuses on gambling happening in the sports industry and shows the corruption in the industry. The movie is a great choice for anyone looking for a sports-drama film.
Two Bits
Two Bits was released in 1995 and was directed by James Foley. The movie’s plot revolves around a young boy who wishes to watch a new movie, but he must fulfill his grandfather’s last wish to earn the quarter.
The film starred Al Pacino, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Jerry Barone in the leading roles, whereas supporting roles were performed by Patrick Borriello, Andy Romero, Donna Mitchell, Joanna Merlin, and a few others. Two Bits is quite thrilling and is sure to keep the viewers entertained all the way till the credits roll.
The Recruit
The Recruit was released in 2003 and was directed by Roger Donaldson. The movie starred Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, and Bridget Moynahan in the major roles and several others in supporting roles.
The film’s story focuses on a rookie who is tasked by his CO to hunt down a sleeper agent and find the mole in the agency he works for. The movie is a classic spy thriller and was a success at the box office as well, grossing over $101 million dollars.
Phil Spector
Phil Spector was directed by David Mamet and was released in 2013. The film is based on the life events of Phil Spector, who is accused of murdering Lana Clarkson.
The film starred Al Pacino as the titular Phil Spector, Helen Mirren and Jeffrey Tambor in other leading roles, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Philip Martin, John Pirruccello, Clara Mamet, and several others as supporting members of the cast. Phil Spector is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar for viewers to enjoy.
Cruising
Cruising was directed by William Friedkin and was released in 1980. The film is based on a novel sharing the same title, which was written by Gerald Walker, and follows a serial killer who is targeting a particular community in society.
The movie starred Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, and Karen Allen in the leading roles alongside Richard Cox, Don Scardino, Joe Spinel, Randy Jurgensen, Barton Heyman, and several others as members of the supporting cast. The film is a good choice for crime thriller lovers.
Simone
Simone was directed by Andrew Niccol and was released in 2002. The movie starred Al Pacino, Evan Rachel Wood, Catherine Keener, Jay Mohr, Rachel Roberts, and Winona Ryder.
Simone is based on the life of a director who is keen on creating a virtual actress and cast her in his films without letting anyone know the truth about the actress. The science fiction is sure to entertain the viewers and keep them at the back of their seats for the entirety of its screenplay.
Manglehorn
Manglehorn starred Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine, and Chris Messina in the leading roles, alongside Marisa Varela and Skylar Gasper in supporting roles. The film focuses on A.J. Manglehorn, a lo-fi key-maker from Texas who faces a very big challenge as he seeks to start afresh and change his lifestyle.
The film was directed by David Gordon Green and was released in 2014. The movie is recommended for a thriller movie night.
City Hall
City Hall was released in 1996 and was directed by Harold Becker. The movie follows a shootout in which an innocent boy dies when a policeman and a mobster as they lock horns. The movie gets even darker when a few situations arise and some mistakes happen on the police department’s watch.
The film starred Al Pacino, John Cusack, Bridget Fonda, Danny Aiello, Martin Landau, and several others as well. City Hall offered a unique take on the corruption in various departments and the hardships faced by those who are made scapegoats. The movie is a great choice for a one-time watch.
The Pirates of Somalia
The Pirates of Somalia was released in 2017 and was directed by Bryan Buckley. The movie starred Evan Peters, Al Pacino, Melanie Griffith, and Barkhad Abdi in leading roles and several others as supporting characters.
The movie’s plot follows a journalist’s plan to uncover the truth about the lives of pirates and show the lifestyle they adopt. The Pirates of Somalia should be a good pick for anyone looking for a modern drama film.
Paterno
Paterno was directed by Barry Levinson and was released in 2018. The movie revolves around a coach who squanders his career due to a controversy. The film cast included Al Pacino, Riley Keough, Greg Grunberg, Annie Parisse, Kathy Baker, and numerous others.
The drama film has been well-praised for the performances of the actors, the storyline, and the overall screenplay of the movie. Paterno is available to be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
