The 8 Movies That Defined Al Pacino’s Career

The movies of Al Pacino have undeniably left a major impression on cinema as a whole, as he gained a reputation as a titan of the New Hollywood era. From his early success in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather right up to recent works with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese, even just the name Pacino has become synonymous with incredible acting as he’s remained an essential figure in Hollywood over the past five decades. With a constantly evolving style that’s become more bombastic and outrageous over the years, Pacino has pushed the boundaries of cinema into new and exciting territory.

The films that have defined this legendary actor’s career also included some of Pacino’s best movies, as his method acting style and intense commitment to his roles led to some transcendent performances. From gritty crime dramas like Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon to the introspective, art-driven directing work like Chinese Coffee, Pacino has always found ways to keep his career feeling fresh and interesting. With roles that captivated audiences worldwide, Pacino has earned his place as one of the greatest actors of all time.

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8 The Godfather (1973)

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone

Even if Al Pacino had never played another role, he would still go down in Hollywood history as one of the greats for his powerful performance as Michael Corleone. Although Pacino got his start as a stage actor in the 1960s, The Godfather made Pacino a worldwide star as he gained a reputation among the best actors of the New Hollywood era and proved he could stand toe-to-toe against other greats like Robert De Niro and Jack Nicolson. Michael was a deeply complex character whose reluctant role as mafia boss was the heart and soul of this gangster series.

Pacino was twice nominated for an Academy Award for playing Michael in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II and has been remembered as one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Having excelled under the direction of Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather opened the doors for Pacino to pursue any roles he wished and become one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. While Pacino was only at the beginning of his filmmaking career, every subsequent role he gained would forever be compared to The Godfather.

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Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would go on to become one of the most iconic crime films ever made. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather gives a tense and introspective look into the Corleone crime family of New York City.

Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date March 24, 1972 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount+ Writers Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola Cast Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall Runtime 175 minutes Franchise(s) The Godfather Sequel(s) The Godfather Part II , The Godfather Part III Budget $6 million Expand

7 Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik

With his roles in The Godfather and Serpico, Al Pacino continued to embrace the crime genre throughout the 1970s but never repeated himself and always pushed toward brave new territory. This was certainly the case for Dog Day Afternoon, a biographical crime drama with LGBTQ+ undertones that made it feel impressively progressive for its era. Pacino played Sonny Wortzik, a first-time crook robbing a bank in order to get enough money to pay for his transgender partner’s sex reassignment surgery.

While Dog Day Afternoon was a fantastic anti-establishment movie, its characterization was also trailblazing as it became one of the first mainstream films to feature a bisexual protagonist. Pacino would continually push the boundaries of what could be depicted in modern cinema in later releases like 1980’s Cruising, which depicted a serial killer targeting gay men. These subjects were highly taboo during the early part of Pacino’s career, and his willingness to address them head-on showcased him as an actor unwilling to be boxed in by the societal expectations of a 1970s male movie star.

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A man tries to rob a bank to pay for his lover’s operation, who ends up in a hostage situation besieged by the media.

Director Sidney Lumet Release Date December 25, 1975 Cast Al Pacino , John Cazale , Penelope Allen , Carol Kane , Marcia Jean Kurtz Main Genre Crime

6 Scarface (1983)

Al Pacino as Tony Montana

Al Pacino’s career has been filled with acclaimed gangster roles, but no part has become more iconic than Tony Montana from the remake of the 1932 gangster classic Scarface. Even the movie’s imagery has become a touchstone of popular culture, as posters of Pacino shooting his Colt AR-15 assault rifle have been plastered on the walls of gangster movie lovers all over the world. With excessive violence, profanity, drug use, and murder, Scarface has had an enduring legacy on cinema itself, and aesthetics have bled into everything from hip-hop culture to video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Scarface signaled Pacino’s changing acting style from the 1970s into the 1980s as he became more over-the-top and outrageous in his characterization. From iconic lines like “Say hello to my little friend” to basking in an incredible mountain of cocaine, it’s no surprise that Scarface has had such an enduring legacy and become a true cult classic. From director Brian de Palma, it took critics a while to warm to Scarface, but it later became one of the most acclaimed entries in his varied filmography.

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Brian De Palma’s iconic crime drama is loosely based on the 1929 novel of the same name and follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who begins a life of crime after arriving in Miami. It chronicles his rise from a penniless thug to one of the richest and most ruthless kingpins in the world, amassing a criminal empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Director Brian De Palma Release Date December 9, 1983 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Oliver Stone , Howard Hawks , Ben Hecht Cast Al Pacino , Michelle Pfeiffer , Robert Loggia , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Miriam Colon , F. Murray Abraham Runtime 170 minutes Budget $25 million Main Genre Crime Expand

5 Scent Of A Woman (1992)

Al Pacino as Lt. Col. Frank Slade

After eight nominations, Al Pacino finally took home the Academy Award for his charismatic performance in Scent of a Woman. As the story of a young man working for a blind, depressed, and irritable retired Army lieutenant colonel, Pacino fully embraced the more outrageous aspects of his unique acting style with a powerful showcase of why he’s become so revered over the past five decades. With a booming voice of incredible gravitas, Pacino somehow transformed a man whose catchphrase was “Hoo-ah!” into an Oscar-winning performance.

Scent of a Woman was a turning point for Pacino as he allowed his bombastic style to take over, and his roles became increasingly shouty and over-the-top. While this was not necessarily bad, and Pacino had plenty more incredible performances ahead of him, his role as Frank Slade definitively marked a before-and-after moment. With an Oscar under his belt and unassailable status as an acting legend, Pacino had nothing left to prove as a performer and began tackling his roles with an intensity and energy that certain audiences loved, while others decried that his glory days were behind him.

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Scent of a Woman is a drama directed by Martin Brest and stars Al Pacino as Frank Slade, a blind, retired army officer. Chris O’Donnell plays Charlie Simms, a preparatory school student who takes a weekend job assisting Slade. Over the course of an adventurous weekend, the two form an unexpected bond. Al Pacino’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Director Martin Brest Release Date December 23, 1992 Writers Bo Goldman Cast Al Pacino , Chris O’Donnell , James Rebhorn , Gabrielle Anwar , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Richard Venture , Bradley Whitford , Ron Eldard , Rochelle Oliver , Margaret Eginton , Tom Riis Farrell , Nicholas Sadler , Todd Louiso , Matt Smith , Gene Canfield , Frances Conroy , June Squibb , Sally Murphy , Michael Santoro , Anh Duong , Leonard Gaines , David Lansbury , Baxter Harris Character(s) Frank Slade , Charlie Simms , Mr. Trask , Donna , George Willis Jr. , W.R. Slade , Randy , Officer Gore , Gretchen , Gail , Garry , Harry Havemeyer , Trent Potter , Jimmy Jameson , Manny , Christine Downes , Mrs. Hunsaker , Karen Rossi , Donny Rossi , Sofia , Freddie Bisco , Michael , George Willis Sr. Main Genre Drama Expand

4 Heat (1995)

Al Pacino as Lieutenant Vincent Hanna

Although Al Pacino and Robert De Niro both starred in The Godfather Part II, due to the different timelines, they never shared any scenes with one another. That’s why these acting legends coming together for Michael Mann’s Heat was a definitive moment in both of their careers that proved these two titans of 1970s cinema still had plenty to offer. With Pacino as Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, Heat acted as a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse that showcased the symbiotic relationship between police and criminals.

This long overdue collaboration between Pacino and De Niro was all the more effective as Heat represented one of the best action movies of the 1990s. Full of rich psychological depth, Heat kept audiences on the edge of their seats as Pacino began honing in on De Niro as the career criminal Neil McCauley. With the legendary coffee shop meeting scene as one of cinema’s most iconic movie moments, Heat was an intelligent crime thriller led by two of the greatest actors who ever lived.

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Michael Mann’s classic crime thriller Heat was released in 1995 and stars Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as two men on opposite sides of the law whose live become tangled and destabilized in an intense game of cat-and-mouse. When one heist led by master thief Neil McCauley is compromised due to a clue left behind, LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna finds himself obsessed with pursuing them in an ever-escalating war – one that may cause significant collateral damage. 

Director Michael Mann Release Date December 15, 1995 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Michael Mann Cast Al Pacino , Robert De Niro , Val Kilmer , Jon Voight , Tom Sizemore , Diane Venora Runtime 170 minutes Budget $60 million Expand

Related The 8 Movies That Defined Robert De Niro’s Career

Robert De Niro has built up a reputation as among the greatest actors ever and has had an extraordinary career with several definitive performances.

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3 Chinese Coffee (2000)

Al Pacino as Harry Levine

Al Pacino proved his talents behind the camera with his feature film directional debut, Chinese Coffee, a little-known independent movie in which he starred as a struggling writer engaged in an intense conversion about art and creativity with his photographer friend (Jerry Orbach). Although Chinese Coffee was not as iconic as other Pacino works, it signaled a different dimension to his career and his passion for the incredible power of art. Originally based on an Ira Lewis play performed by Pacino in 1992, Chinese Coffee showcased Pacino’s interest in actively participating in the movie-making process outside of his acting work.

This other side of Pacino was also seen in his 1996 documentary Looking for Richard, which explored the relevance of William Shakespeare in modern popular culture, and later directional works like Wilde Salomé and Salomé, which were both based on Oscar Wilde’s 1891 play of the same name. Not only this, but Pacino has also acted as a producer for the Philip Roth adaptation The Humbling, which he starred in opposite Greta Gerwig, and looks set to produce the upcoming biographical drama Modì, based on the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.

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Chinese Coffee is an independent drama film directed by and starring Al Pacino. It focuses on the intense conversation between a struggling writer, played by Pacino, and his friend, portrayed by Jerry Orbach, as they delve into issues of friendship, ambition, and personal failure over the course of a night. The film is an adaptation of Ira Lewis’ play and provides a brooding snapshot of creative and personal turmoil.

Director Al Pacino Release Date April 25, 2000 Writers Ira Lewis Cast Al Pacino , Jerry Orbach , Susan Floyd , Ellen McElduff , Michel Moinot Character(s) Harry Levine , Jake Manheim , Joanna , Mavis , Maurice Main Genre Drama Expand

2 Danny Collins (2015)

Al Pacino as Danny Collins

The latter stage of Al Pacino’s career has been a mixed bag, as appearances in comedies like Adam Sander’s Jack and Jill and underwhelming thrillers like The Son of No One have proved, although high points like Danny Collins showcased that when he wants to, he can still deliver. Danny Collins highlighted Pacino’s skill as a comedian and ability to imbue larger-than-life characters with a real sense of humanity. As the aging rock star Danny Collins, Pacino gave a heartfelt performance that paralleled his own career in many ways.

Like Pacino himself, Danny Collins became a touchstone of popular culture as a 1970s icon, but as the years went on, he found himself pandering to the mainstream and unable to produce creative, fulfilling work. However, a previously unknown 40-year-old letter from John Lennon reignited Danny and sent him on a journey to reconnect with his son and get back in touch with his old, more fulfilling ways. With a spellbinding lead performance from Pacino, Danny Collins was a tale of redemption that let viewers know this acting legend still had a few more encores left in him.

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Danny Collins follows an aging rock star, played by Al Pacino, who discovers a long-lost letter from John Lennon that inspires him to change his wild lifestyle. Seeking redemption, he reconnects with his family and attempts to make meaningful changes as he faces his past mistakes. Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, and Bobby Cannavale co-star in this drama about second chances and the enduring impact of music and relationships.

Director Dan Fogelman Release Date March 20, 2015 Writers Dan Fogelman Cast Melissa Benoist , Al Pacino , Jennifer Garner , Christopher Plummer , Josh Peck , Bobby Cannavale Runtime 106 minutes Main Genre Drama Expand

1 The Irishman (2019)

Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa

After several decades of being the three biggest names audiences thought of regarding gangster movies, seeing Al Pacino and Robert De Niro together in a Martin Scorsese movie was a cinematic dream come true. The Irishman was an epic three-and-a-half-hour exploration of the real-life story of Frank Sheeran and his alleged assassination of his close friend Jimmy Hoffa that utilized de-aging technology to transform Pacino and De Niro into their younger selves. This trailblazing movie also brought Joe Pesci out of retirement for a star-studded gangster film the likes of which the world had never seen before.

The Irishman was a testament to Pacino’s legacy, and even after so long in showbusiness, he was still breaking new ground and working for the first time with iconic directors like Scorsese. Al Pacino’s performance as Hoffa was one of the most extraordinary aspects of The Irishman and stood as one of the best roles in his entire career. While some viewers criticized The Irishman for its extended runtime, having such a litany of legendary actors sharing the screen meant it was entirely justified.

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Based on the nonfiction book “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt, The Irishman follows Frank Sheeran and his time working for the Italian mafia. In recounting his past, the mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

Director Martin Scorsese Release Date November 27, 2019 Studio(s) Netflix Distributor(s) Netflix Writers Steven Zaillian Cast Bobby Cannavale , Jack Huston , Joe Pesci , Jesse Plemons , Sebastian Maniscalco , Al Pacino , Kathrine Narducci , Stephen Graham , Ray Romano , Aleksa Palladino , Anna Paquin , Robert De Niro , Harvey Keitel , Jake Hoffman Runtime 210 minutes Budget $200 million Expand

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