10 best Al Pacino movies
From his breakthrough in the early 1970s to his later work on stage and screen, Al Pacino built a career around emotionally charged performances that often blurred the line between restraint and explosive passion. His unmistakable voice, commanding presence, and willingness to take creative risks have made him one of cinema's most recognizable figures.
Pacino's filmography is filled with characters who refuse to be forgotten. Whether portraying ambitious mob bosses, determined detectives, conflicted whistleblowers, or deeply flawed outsiders, he has consistently gravitated toward roles that explore power, morality, and human ambition. Along the way, he earned an Academy Award, multiple Golden Globes, and a place among the most influential actors of his generation.
Stacker ranked Al Pacino's highest-rated movies using IMDb user ratings, with Metascores serving as a tiebreaker. The ranking highlights the performances that have defined his remarkable career, from the classics that established him as a leading man to later films that reinforced his enduring legacy in Hollywood.
#10. Donnie Brasco (1997)
- Director: Mike Newell
- IMDb user rating: 7.7
- Metascore: 77
- Runtime: 127 minutes
Rather than playing the powerful crime boss audiences had come to expect, Pacino takes on the role of Lefty Ruggiero, a low-ranking mobster whose loyalty has never been rewarded. His growing bond with Johnny Depp's undercover FBI agent gives the crime drama its emotional core, making the inevitable betrayal all the more heartbreaking.
#9. The Insider (1999)
- Director: Michael Mann
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- Metascore: 84
- Runtime: 157 minutes
Based on true events, "The Insider" follows the battle to expose the tobacco industry's secrets through investigative journalism. Pacino stars as veteran "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman, whose determination to protect a whistleblower drives the story. Instead of relying on explosive outbursts, he delivers a restrained performance built on conviction and moral resolve.
#8. The Irishman (2019)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- Metascore: 94
- Runtime: 209 minutes
More than four decades after "The Godfather Part II," Pacino and Robert De Niro reunited in Martin Scorsese's sprawling crime epic. Playing union leader Jimmy Hoffa, Pacino fills the screen with charisma, humor, and stubborn confidence while gradually revealing the character's tragic flaws. His acclaimed performance earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
#7. Carlito's Way (1993)
- Director: Brian De Palma
- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- Metascore: 66
- Runtime: 144 minutes
Redemption, not revenge, lies at the heart of "Carlito's Way." Fresh out of prison, Carlito Brigante dreams of leaving his criminal past behind, but every decision pulls him closer to the life he desperately wants to escape. Pacino gives the former gangster a hard-won dignity that makes his inevitable downfall especially devastating.
#6. Scent of a Woman (1992)
- Director: Martin Brest
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Metascore: 57
- Runtime: 156 minutes
Audiences watched Pacino shift effortlessly between explosive humor and genuine vulnerability as the blind, retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade. The performance is filled with unforgettable moments, from the famous tango scene to his passionate speech defending a student before a school disciplinary committee. It ultimately earned Pacino his first and only Academy Award for Best Actor.
#5. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- IMDb user rating: 8.0
- Metascore: 86
- Runtime: 125 minutes
What begins as a routine bank robbery quickly spirals into chaos in Sidney Lumet's gripping crime drama. Pacino anchors the increasingly unpredictable story as Sonny Wortzik, a desperate man whose motivations slowly emerge as the standoff unfolds. His emotionally raw performance transforms the real-life event into one of the defining character studies of the 1970s.
#4. Scarface (1983)
- Director: Brian De Palma
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Metascore: 65
- Runtime: 170 minutes
Few movie characters have become as deeply embedded in popular culture as Tony Montana. Pacino throws himself completely into the role of the ambitious Cuban immigrant whose ruthless pursuit of power turns him into Miami's most feared drug kingpin. Decades after its release, "Scarface" continues to influence films, music, and pop culture around the world.
#3. Heat (1995)
- Director: Michael Mann
- IMDb user rating: 8.3
- Metascore: 76
- Runtime: 170 minutes
Michael Mann finally brought together two acting legends when Pacino and Robert De Niro shared substantial screen time for the first time. Pacino's relentless detective Vincent Hanna pursues a master thief with obsessive determination, creating a rivalry built on mutual respect. Their iconic diner conversation remains one of the most celebrated scenes in modern crime cinema.
#2. The Godfather Part II (1974)
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- IMDb user rating: 9.0
- Metascore: 90
- Runtime: 202 minutes
Michael Corleone no longer hesitates to lead the family business in "The Godfather Part II." Instead, Pacino portrays a man consumed by suspicion, isolation, and the burden of absolute power. His subtle, controlled performance contrasts sharply with the character's emotional collapse, helping elevate the sequel into one of the rare follow-ups widely considered equal to the original.
#1. The Godfather (1972)
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- IMDb user rating: 9.2
- Metascore: 100
- Runtime: 175 minutes
Although Marlon Brando received top billing, the lasting transformation belongs to Pacino's Michael Corleone. Introduced as a reluctant outsider determined to avoid his family's criminal empire, he gradually embraces the role of mafia boss with chilling precision. The performance launched Pacino into stardom and established one of the greatest character arcs in film history.
