Al Pacino is considered to be one of the greatest Italian American actors and the most iconic actors of all time. He is one of the few to achieve the “Triple Crown of Acting”, winning an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. With a vast catalog of at least 65 films playing unforgettable characters, America Domani has shortlisted seven films that should be in your queue for your next movie night.
The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974, 1990)
The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are widely regarded as cinematic masterpieces. Pacino plays the role of Michael Corleone, the youngest son of Don Vito Corleone, who joins the army to keep a distance from the family business and gets pulled back in to help his father. The trilogy follows Michael Corleone’s rise to power. In The Godfather, Pacino gave a stellar performance alongside Marlon Brando. The Godfather II proved to be a more intricate and complex storyline where Pacino shined and proved to the world his range of talent on screen.
Serpico (1973)
In this biographical crime drama following the life of a New York Police Department detective, Pacino takes up the titular role of Frank Serpico. Serpico attempts to navigate the corruption of the NYPD, becoming a whistleblower for the Knapp Commission. The film follows Serpico as he attempts to be a good guy in the face of corruption. While the movie was a box office success that received rave reviews, it was met with criticism from police officers.
Scarface (1983)
Known as one of Pacino’s most memorable roles, Scarface became a cult classic film. Pacino takes on the role of Cuban Immigrant, Tony Montana, who made his way to the United States to make a name for himself. His rise as a drug kingpin leads to his own demise. Pacino gave one of his most intense performances in Scarface and gave the world the infamous Hollywood line, “Say hello to my little friend!”
Scent of a Woman (1992)
While Pacino has been praised for his roles as mobsters and gangsters, it was his performance in Scent of a Woman that earned him his first and only Oscar. Pacino plays a blind Vietnam veteran named Frank Slade, who becomes friendly with a young Charlie Simms. Simms is tasked with taking care of Mr. Slade over the Thanksgiving holiday. The movie follows the tumultuous bond between the two characters, culminating in the final scenes with Pacino giving a memorable monologue and giving birth to the famous line “I’ll show you out of order!”
Carlito’s Way (1993)
Following a career criminal, Pacino plays Carlito Brigante who vows to turn his life around and leave his criminal past behind. He becomes consumed with an array of problems as he tries to co-own a nightclub while saving money to move to the Caribbean. The story follows Carlito’s tragic tale that ends in heartbreak and sorrow.
Heat (1995)
Often considered one of the greatest crime heist films ever made, this star-studded cast included actors like Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Natalie Portman, and Tom Sizemore. Heat is the first time Pacino and De Niro appeared in the same scene on screen and worked together since The Godfather Part II. The film follows Pacino and De Niro as the two try to outwit each other. Pacino plays Lt. Hanna, who is in charge of tracking down De Niro’s character, Neil McCauley, a seasoned LA thief. While Hanna plans to retire, McCauley wants to commit one last heist before calling it quits.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Any Given Sunday is a harrowing sports tale of an aging coach for a formerly talented football team, Coach D’Amato must deal with his problematic quarterback and an aging star, played by Dennis Quad, and a young hotshot played by Jamie Foxx. D’amato faces the challenge of combating new team ownership. Pacino delivers another powerful monologue, one of the best in sports movie history.
AJ Forrisi
Assistant Editor for America Domani, AJ Forrisi is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer. His work focuses on food, travel, sports, landscapes, and urban scenes. You can find him on Instagram @aj.photo.works.