The Best Al Pacino Movies Ranked and Where To Watch Them

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Al Pacino is often considered one of the best actors of all time. He has well over 50 acting credits to his name, as well as nine Oscar nominations and a staggering 19 Golden Globe nominations. After appearing in his third film, The Godfather, he sprung to international stardom and has continued producing award-winning performances. For those wishing to dive into his film career, this guide will demonstrate where to watch his 15 must-see roles.

Of course, ranking Pacino’s movies is difficult when he boasts over 50 performances, including numerous hidden gems and critically acclaimed films. However, there’s little debate that The Godfather stands apart as his very best. He nabbed the role of Michael Corleone when he was still an unknown actor in Hollywood and dazzled audiences with one of the best performances of a hero’s fall into villainy. Pacino and Marlon Brando contributed significantly to The Godfather’s status as a masterpiece.

Meanwhile, The Godfather II is a close second to the original movie. It became the first sequel to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and is sometimes even considered better than its predecessor due to the impeccable screenwriting and performances from Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Insider, and Scent of a Woman aren’t far behind. Serpico proved Pacino could play the good guy just as well as a mob boss, and the picture has remained strikingly relevant in recent times with its commentary on the police force. Meanwhile, Dog Day Afternoon and Scent of a Woman show Pacino’s acting range as he proves adept at two very different dramas. He earned his first and only Oscar win for starring opposite Chris O’Donnell in Scent of a Woman and perfectly portraying the retired and hopeless Lt. Col. Frank Slade.

There are also several lesser-known or underrated films that Pacino excelled in, such as …And Justice for All, Scarface, and Donnie Brasco. There is also The Devil’s Advocate, which he starred in alongside Keanu Reeves.

Discover more of Al Pacino’s movies with this list of his 15 best movies, ranked by his performance and the film’s quality.

Netflix
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Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV
Hulu
Crunchyroll
fuboTV
Max
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Epix Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
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Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Paramount Plus
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Starz Apple TV Channel
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Discovery+ Amazon Channel
AMC+ Amazon Channel
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AMC+ Roku Premium Channel
AMC+
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YouTube Premium
YouTube Free
The CW
Hoopla
Fandango At Home
Starz
VUDU Free
Criterion Channel
PBS
FXNow
JustWatchTV
Tubi TV
Kanopy
Microsoft Store
Sun Nxt
Crackle
AMC
AMC Theatres
Fandor
Curiosity Stream
NBC
MGM Plus
Freeform
History
A&E
Lifetime
Shudder
Screambox
Acorn TV
Sundance Now
GuideDoc
BritBox
MUBI
Netflix Kids
ALLBLK
History Vault
Yupp TV
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Spamflix
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VIX
Night Flight Plus
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Shout! Factory TV
Chai Flicks
OVID
Mhz Choice
Shudder Amazon Channel
Vice TV
MUBI Amazon Channel
AcornTV Amazon Channel
BritBox Amazon Channel
Fandor Amazon Channel
Screambox Amazon Channel
Sundance Now Amazon Channel
Adult Swim
USA Network
Fox
Bet+ Amazon Channel
FlixFling
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TNT
Food Network
BBC America
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AHCTV
TLC
DIY Network
HGTV
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Destination America
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Here TV
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DreamWorksTV Amazon Channel
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DOCSVILLE
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OXYGEN
Hi-YAH
tru TV
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ARROW
Plex
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Magellan TV
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The Oprah Winfrey Network
Filmzie
MovieSaints
True Story
Martha Stewart TV
DocAlliance Films
OnDemandKorea
FlixHouse
Hoichoi
iQIYI
Metrograph
Public Domain Movies
Freevee
Eventive
Cultpix
FilmBox+
aha
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Bet+
Takflix
Klassiki
Starz Amazon Channel
Netflix basic with Ads
Cohen Media Amazon Channel
Popflick
ViX Premium Amazon Channel
Runtime
Fandango
Telemundo
Discovery +
Reveel
Ovation TV
Angel Studios
Cineverse
AD tv
Midnight Pulp
FYI Network
Xumo Play
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DistroTV
myfilmfriend
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Outside Watch
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Full Moon Amazon Channel
Citytv
Univer Video
GlewedTV
Toon Goggles
A&E Crime Central Apple TV Channel
Acorn TV Apple TV
ALLBLK Apple TV channel
UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel
Tastemade Apple TV Channel
Sundance Now Apple TV Channel
Shudder Apple TV Channel
ScreenPix Apple TV Channel
OUTtv Apple TV Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV Channel
Hallmark Movies Now Apple TV Channel
Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel
CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel
Cinemax Apple TV Channel
BBC Select Apple Tv channel
BET+  Apple TV channel
Carnegie Hall+ Apple TV Channel
IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel
Carnegie Hall+ Amazon Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Amazon Channel
Film Movement Plus
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Troma NOW
Regal Cinemas
Harkins Theatres
B&B Theatres
Marcus Theatres
Kino Film Collection
Tubi TV Live
Pluto TV Live
Cineverse LiveTV
Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium Plus
ALLBLK Amazon channel
Apple TV Plus Amazon Channel
Motorvision TV Amazon Channel
Stingray Classica Amazon Channel
Stingray Djazz Amazon Channel
Stingray Karaoke Amazon Channel
TV1000 Russian Kino Amazon Channel
RetroCrush Amazon Channel
Filters
  1. The Godfather

    The Godfather

    1972

    #1

    Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.

  2. The Godfather Part II

    #2

    In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.

  3. Serpico

    Serpico

    1973

    #3

    Frank Serpico is an idealistic New York City cop who refuses to take bribes, unlike the rest of the force. Frank's actions get him shunned by the other officers, and often placed in dangerous situations by his partners. When his superiors ignore his accusations of corruption, Frank decides to go public with the allegations. Although this causes the Knapp Commission to investigate his claims, Frank has also placed a target on himself.

  4. Scent of a Woman

    Scent of a Woman

    1992

    #4

    Charlie Simms is a student at a private preparatory school who comes from a poor family. To earn the money for his flight home to Gresham, Oregon for Christmas, Charlie takes a job over Thanksgiving looking after retired U.S. Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a cantankerous middle-aged man who lives with his niece and her family.

  5. Dog Day Afternoon

    Dog Day Afternoon

    1975

    #5

    Based on the true story of would-be Brooklyn bank robbers John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Sonny and Sal attempt a bank heist which quickly turns sour and escalates into a hostage situation and stand-off with the police. As Sonny's motives for the robbery are slowly revealed and things become more complicated, the heist turns into a media circus.

  6. The Insider

    The Insider

    1999

    #6

    A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco.

  7. Donnie Brasco

    Donnie Brasco

    1997

    #7

    An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and identifies more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one.

  8. ...And Justice for All

    #8

    An ethical Baltimore defense lawyer disgusted with rampant legal corruption is forced to defend a judge he despises in a rape trial under the threat of being disbarred.

  9. Scarface

    Scarface

    1983

    #9

    After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.

  10. Glengarry Glen Ross

    Glengarry Glen Ross

    1992

    #10

    When an office full of Chicago real estate salesmen is given the news that all but the top two will be fired at the end of the week, the atmosphere begins to heat up. Shelley Levene, who has a sick daughter, does everything in his power to get better leads from his boss, John Williamson, but to no avail. When his coworker Dave Moss comes up with a plan to steal the leads, things get complicated for the tough-talking salesmen.

  11. Insomnia

    Insomnia

    2002

    #11

    Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

  12. The Devil's Advocate

    #12

    Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.

  13. Heat

    Heat

    1995

    #13

    Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.

  14. The Irishman

    The Irishman

    2019

    #14

    Pennsylvania, 1956. Frank Sheeran, a war veteran of Irish origin who works as a truck driver, accidentally meets mobster Russell Bufalino. Once Frank becomes his trusted man, Bufalino sends him to Chicago with the task of helping Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful union leader related to organized crime, with whom Frank will maintain a close friendship for nearly twenty years.

  15. Carlito's Way

    Carlito's Way

    1993

    #15

    A Puerto-Rican ex-con, just released from prison, pledges to stay away from drugs and violence despite the pressure around him, and lead a better life outside NYC.