Our Top 12 Al Pacino Performances

      These Al Pacino performances will leave you amazed. Hoo-ah!

      **The Panic in Needle Park (1971)**

      Kitty Winn and Al Pacino star in The Panic in Needle Park, 20th Century Studios – Credit: C/O

      This film isn't for the faint-hearted, but if you can overlook the graphic depictions of heroin use, it’s worth it for Pacino's vibrant and appealing performance in his first major role.

      Directed by Jerry Schatzberg with an outstanding screenplay by Joan Didion and her late husband John Gregory Dunne, The Panic in Needle Park features Pacino as Bobby, a petty criminal navigating life in New York’s “Needle Park.” Upon meeting a naive homeless woman named Helen and introducing her to heroin, they enter into a passionate yet destructive relationship that quickly centers around their next fix.

      Additionally, without this film, Pacino might not have landed the role in The Godfather. Schatzberg allowed Francis Ford Coppola to use some pre-release footage to help persuade Paramount executives to cast the unknown Pacino as Michael Corleone, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

      **The Godfather (1972)**

      Al Pacino in The Godfather, Paramount – Credit: C/O

      In his defining role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Pacino delivers a chilling portrayal of a military veteran returning home who transforms into the ruthless leader of a New York crime family.

      Every moment in The Godfather is iconic, but one of the most unforgettable scenes is during the baptism of Connie’s baby when Michael becomes the godfather and vows to renounce Satan and all his works—while his henchmen simultaneously execute the brutal murders of the Corleone family's five main rivals.

      A key element of Pacino's effectiveness in this role is his composed and collected demeanor, which creates a striking contrast in the scenes when he manifests anger.

      **Scarecrow (1973)**

      Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in Scarecrow, Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      In his third feature film, Pacino teamed up once more with director Jerry Schatzberg in Scarecrow, a road drama where he stars alongside Gene Hackman.

      The two portray a pair of drifters: Hackman as Max, the ex-con, and Pacino as Lion, the former sailor. After forming an unlikely friendship, they traverse the country with plans to establish a car wash upon reaching Pittsburgh. However, they encounter grim and sobering experiences throughout their journey that deepen their bond.

      Pacino gives an outstanding performance in this quirky and somewhat childish role, demonstrating both range and depth.

      **Serpico (1973)**

      Al Pacino in Serpico, Paramount – Credit: C/O

      Directed by the renowned Sidney Lumet, this 1973 film showcases Pacino as the real-life cop Frank Serpico.

      This biographical crime drama tells the true story of Serpico’s battle against corruption within the New York City Police Department, leading to his whistleblower role in the Knapp Commission investigation of 1970.

      Pacino's portrayal of Serpico is electrifying, emphasizing one of his hallmark acting abilities: transitioning from calm to explosive in an instant. It’s also one of the few instances where he is seen with a full beard.

      **The Godfather Part II (1974)**

      Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II, Paramount Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Returning to the role of Michael Corleone two years after the success of the first installment, Pacino delivers another incredibly powerful performance in The Godfather Part II. It’s a rare occasion where fans' adoration for a sequel matches that of the original.

      In this sequel, the youthful, softer Michael Corleone is replaced by an older, wiser, and more hardened version, whose every thought is consumed with preserving the family’s power and outmaneuvering his adversaries.

      In the iconic ballroom scene in Cuba, Pacino grips his on-screen brother John Cazale's face and memorably states: “I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.”

      **Dog Day Afternoon (1975)**

      Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon, Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      In 1975, Pacino rejoined Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon — this time as criminal partners rather than siblings. He also collaborated again with Serpico director Sidney Lumet for this biographical crime drama based on the real story of a 1972 bank robbery that turned into a hostage situation at a Chase Manhattan Bank in Brooklyn, executed by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile.

      Pacino portrays the mastermind behind the operation, Sonny Wortzik (inspired by Wojtowicz), opposite Cazale as his bumbling accomplice, Sal.

      Pacino’s intense gaze is prominently featured as his character botches the bank heist while also becoming a working-class hero.