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.