The Best and Worst of Al Pacino Movies: Ranking the Iconic Actor’s Filmography
Al Pacino is one of the greatest and most recognizable actors of all time. His career has spanned nearly 50 years, and his performances have earned him an Academy Award and seven Oscar nominations. He is renowned for his signature intensity and ability to deliver powerful and emotional performances. Throughout his illustrious career, Pacino has starred in a plethora of memorable films. As such, we thought it was high time to rank the best Al Pacino movies.
An Introduction to Al Pacino
Alfredo James
“Al” Pacino was born on April 25, 1940 in the Bronx, New York. The son of Italian-American immigrants, he readily experienced the struggles and rewards of his working-class upbringing. After performing in amateur theatricals while at school, Pacino decided to pursue his acting dreams and enrolled at the American Shakespeare Workshop in upstate New York. Upon graduating, he joined the legendary Actors Studio in New York, famously turning down an offer to join the Actors Theatre in San Francisco.
From that point onward, Pacino’s acting career has continued to blossom. He has appeared in over 50 films, established a successful television career and has even directed several documentaries and shorts. Thanks to his intensity, Pacino has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and a beloved icon.
The Best Movies of Al Pacino
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The Godfather (1972): Easily Pacino’s most recognizable performance and film, The Godfather is widely considered one of the greatest movies of all time. In it, Pacino stars as Michael Corleone, the son of a mafia don who after reluctantly taking up his father’s business, slowly and unwillingly descends into corruption. While the rest of the cast is uniformly excellent, Pacino truly shines with his heartbreaking performance.
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Scarface (1983): Although the movie didn’t perform well at the box-office at the time of its release, it has since become a cult classic. Pacino stars as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who immigrates to the United States, becomes a criminal kingpin, and is ultimately undone by his own hubris. Pacino delivers a powerful and intense performance, one of his best and most gripping of all time.
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Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Directed by Sidney Lumet and based on a true story, Pacino stars as Sonny Wortzik, an aimless Brooklynite who attempts to rob a bank. Not only is his attempt foiled, but it soon turns into an hours-long media circus. Pacino’s nuanced and captivating performance earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
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The Insider (1999): Michael Mann’s powerful drama stars Pacino as a former tobacco executive who exposes the industry’s crooked practices and dangerous products to the public. To say that this film is powerful and thought-provoking is an understatement. Pacino’s performance is incisive and soulful, and an apt representation of the real-life hero who took on the big tobacco industry.
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Scent of a Woman (1992): In this Frank Oz-directed remake of the classic 1974 Italian film of the same name, Pacino stars as Col. Frank Slade, an emotionally wounded military veteran accompanied by a young prep school student (Chris O’Donnell) on a journey of self-discovery. His performance earned him his first and long-overdue Academy Award.
The Worst Movies of Al Pacino
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Gigli (2003): While it’s true that no art form is perfect, some movies are closer to it than others. Unfortunately, Gigli falls into the latter category. Written and (misleadingly) directed by Martin Brest, it boasts a remarkable cast that includes Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, but it is notorious for its numerous plot holes, controversial production, and outright strange ending. The blame can’t rest solely on Pacino, who stars in a small role, but it still is a mark against his filmography.
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revolution (1985): Directed by Hugh Hudson, Revolution stars Pacino as a trapper in colonial America who sides with the British against his own people. The movie was panned by critics for its poor plot and wooden performances, and its box-office performance was equally dismal. Pacino’s own performance has been labeled as one of his weakest.
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Sea of Love (1989): While this movie still has a passionate cult following, Sea of Love is not one of Pacino’s better films. There’s no denying that his performance as a detective is decent, but it’s weighed down by an overly complex plot, mediocre dialogue, and wholly uninspired production.
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The Recruit (2003): While The Recruit is a serviceable thriller, it is definitely not one of Pacino’s best films. His villainous performance as a shady Central Intelligence Agent is nothing to write home about, and the movie centers more on what’s underneath than on the actual story itself. As such, The Recruit is an ultimately forgettable affair.
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People I Know (2002): People I Know stars Pacino as a burnt-out New York publicist who gets caught up in the city’s criminal dealings. The movie has its moments, but overall it’s largely forgettable. Pacino’s performance as the troubled protagonist is one-note, and the script fails to make the most of its potentially interesting premise.
Al Pacino is one of cinema’s most iconic actors, and it was a great pleasure to break down and rank his best (and worst) films. From his memorable and powerful performances in The Godfather, Scarface, and The Insider, to his lackluster ones in Gigli and Sea of Love, there’s no denying that Pacino has left an indelible imprint on modern cinema.
No matter which way you look at it, there’s no denying that Al Pacino is an acting legend. Here’s hoping that he continues to bring us dynamic, powerful and emotionally gripping performances, regardless of the projects he takes on.