No need to soften the words: Al Pacino is an acting legend and one of the most famous movie stars. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s and has been a steady presence in the film world ever since, portraying both major and minor characters in various classic films. It’s safe to assume that most of the time, if Al Pacino appears in a movie, he ends up stealing the show and possibly even being the best character in the movie.

With over 50 years of fantastic roles in numerous great films, it’s hard to cover them all, and any attempt to appreciate his best qualities will always miss something. The following is intended to cover the very best films that Pacino has starred in and are ranked below, ranging from the very good to the all-time classics - perhaps masterpieces - starring the legendary American actor. V.

10 “Donnie Brasco” (1997)

Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco, 1997
Image via Sony Pictures

Al Pacino excels in just about every genre, but it’s fair to say that the actor feels right at home when he’s filming something that has to do with crime. He is one of the best ever when it comes to portraying gangsters and criminals in general, which he manages to do in Donnie Brascoplaying a mafia member.

He befriends an undercover FBI agent he plays Johnny Depp, where the film’s drama revolves around how this agent clashes over what to do after liking the mob lifestyle. It’s an entertaining and very well-made movie that’s fairly easy to dive into, but it also adds some extra interest thanks to the fact that it’s based on a true story.

9 “Insomnia” (2002)

Image via Warner Bros.

Insomnia one of Christopher Nolan less overpowering and/or intricate films, but remain extremely addictive, even without much time manipulation or anything sci-fi/superhero-related. However, this is a very psychological thriller revolving around two detectives sent to investigate a murder in a small town.

Al Pacino plays one of the detectives, and his character comes under increasing pressure from being unable to sleep, which understandably makes the task even more difficult. This is an amazingly great film that also contains one of the best dramatic performances ever. Robin Williams ever given, with the film’s distinctly cold air due to its setting, which also makes it memorable long after it’s over.

8 “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992)

Al Pacino as Richard Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross
Image via New Line Cinema

It is arguably considered one of the best scripted films of the 1990s. Glengarry Glen Ross It’s basically a movie about men yelling at each other for almost two hours, but in a way it’s addictive. It’s about the intense competition that starts between the various real estate sellers as they are told at the beginning of the film that all but two will be fired by the end of the week.

This film has an ensemble cast, which means that Al Pacino doesn’t stand out as much as he usually does, instead he fits in well with the dynamic range of the actors, each one working at full capacity. It’s one of the most gripping, dialogue-heavy films of the last few decades, and in the best way, it’s incredibly stressful for almost the entire time you’re watching.

7 “Insider” (1999)

Al Pacino and Russell Crowe in The Insider

Michael Mann best known for his action and crime films, but insider it’s a more subdued film from a director that still manages to be extremely gripping and gripping. It is based on a true story and revolves around 60 minutes report revealing some of the dramatic behind-the-scenes secrets of America’s tobacco industry.

It might seem a little dry on paper, and its premise plus the fact that it’s 158 minutes long can make it a little intimidating to watch. Still, it’s definitely worth a try, as the end result is a surprisingly gripping film, with great pace, strong direction, and impressive performances by characters like Pacino. Russell CroweAnd Christopher Plummeramong the others.

6 “The Irishman” (2019)

Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and two of his associates look at a sign in The Irishman.
Image via Netflix

It might be a bit slower and darker than something like Good guys or DepartedBut Irishman can still be included among the director’s greatest crime films Martin Scorsese. It tells the story of a hitman named Frank Sheeran (Performed Robert DeNiro), and focuses in particular on his involvement in the disappearance of a trade union leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Al Pacino plays Hoffa here with ardent dedication and received his latest Oscar nomination (and first since The scent of a woman back in 1992) for this role. He is a key reason why the film ends up having such a huge emotional impact, as his portrayal of Hoffa is instrumental in making the tragic nature of the story - especially in regards to how it ends - hit as hard as possible. .

5 ‘Heat’ (1995)

Heat - 1995 (2)
Image via Warner Bros.

Speaking of De Niro and Pacino, they also starred in the cult crime thriller. Heatreleased in 1995. This is a film that shows director Michael Mann at his best, with an ambitious story revolving around the clash between a seasoned thief (De Niro) and an aggressive detective (Pacino) as the former plans a highly ambitious project. robbery.

The action may not be frequent, but when it does, you feel every second as intensely as possible, with a sequence of robberies and shootouts for ages. Equally exciting is the diner scene where the two main characters are just talking to each other, and it’s as dramatic and tense as any of the film’s more explosive and action-packed sections.

4 “Dog Afternoon” (1975)

Dog Afternoon - 1975

Not many bank robbery movies can surpass HeatBut Dog Day, Noon it’s perhaps the rare movie revolving around that kind of action that could be even better. Here, Al Pacino plays a man on the other side of the law, and the bank robbery and hostage-taking premise goes completely wrong, leading to a tense standoff between the robbers and the police for much of the film.

This may seem like a bold statement, but Dog Day, Noon Truly one of the best crime films of all time. It’s a very personal, gripping, interesting and tragic film all in equal measure, and it’s on par with the 1973 film. Serpico was the result of a collaboration between Pacino and the director. Sidney Lumetthis 1975 film was even better.

3 “The Godfather: Part II” (1974)

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone from The Godfather Part 2
Image via Paramount Pictures

Undoubtedly, this is one of the greatest sequels in the history of cinema. The Godfather: Part II earned a reputation as a legendary crime epic. Like the above Irishman And HeatThis film also starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, although here they are decades apart: scenes with Pacino are played after the events of the first film, and scenes with De Niro are a series of extended flashbacks where he plays a younger version of the character Marlon Brando played in the first movie.

What is he doing The Godfather: Part II it’s technically both a sequel and something of a prequel, but however you define it, it’s a classic. Technically Brando was the star of the first movie, but The Godfather: Part II ultimately belongs to Pacino, who shines here in the title role. He takes his character, Michael Corleone, to dark but tragically believable places, making his acting here one of the best of his career.

2 “Scarface” (1983)

Al Pacino as Tony Montana sits and stares in Scarface
Image via Universal Pictures

Face with a scar screams 1980s but is inevitably charming, which ensures it becomes one of the best films of the decade in question. It’s an unabashedly straight-forward approach to a gangster story of ups and downs: Tony Montana emerges from nothing, fights his way to becoming a powerful gangster, and then loses it all due to his arrogance and other personal flaws.

This was the first film that Brian De Palma and Pacino made together and is far more over the top and over the top than their 1993 film. Carlito’s way. But it is precisely this inexorable devotion to excess and absurdity that gives Face with a scar its unforgettable character: it is the defining film of the 1980s and one of the very best gangster films of all time, and Pacino’s spectacular and pompous performance as Tony Montana remains a film for the ages.

1 “The Godfather” (1972)

The Godfather - 1972
Image via Paramount Pictures

Not only is the original film Godfather The trilogy is one of the best crime films of all time, but it’s also arguably the greatest family drama in film history. It features the Corleone family in a stunning way, with an aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) doing his best to look after the business side of his family and its criminal empire, as well as taking care of his various relatives.

Although it was released after Panic in Needle Park, Godfather This would have been the first film that many saw Pacino in, and it is still one of his finest performances. He is a key supporting character who becomes the head of the family by the end of the film, and although this is one of his older films, some of the scenes here still showcase his acting at its best. It’s an incredible film with amazing performances by Brando, Pacino and all, and is ultimately considered the greatest film in all of Pacino’s work.