6 Best Pacino Gangster Movies, Ranked: Three Stories of Crime and Change

Crime Roles and Gangster Films

Pacino won an Oscar for Scent of a Woman, a film unrelated to organized crime. Still, crime stories are among the roles most associated with his career. Heat centers on stopping a bank robbery, while Dog Day Afternoon follows an attempt to carry one out. Both are described as crime films rather than gangster movies.

Carlito Seeks Redemption

In Carlito’s Way, Pacino plays an ex-gangster trying to change after leaving prison. The film takes a more restrained approach than another Brian De Palma movie made more than a decade earlier.

Its focus on readjusting to society gives it an anti-gangster quality, while its criminal ties keep it connected to the genre. The story can also be seen as a look at life after gangsterism.

Undercover Among Mobsters

Donnie Brasco follows an FBI agent, played by Johnny Depp, who goes undercover to befriend and expose mob members. Pacino plays the mobster he comes to know best.

The agent’s growing conflict and the pair’s relationship drive the film. Pacino’s character is portrayed as compelling and endearing, even if he can be viewed as a villain.

The Irishman and Time

Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman considers mortality, regret and the passage of time. Its long runtime and older actors playing younger characters are noted as potential drawbacks. Robert De Niro plays Frank Sheeran, and Joe Pesci appears as a character who calls him “kid.” Pacino portrays Jimmy Hoffa, whose connection to gangsters is central even though he is not a traditional gangster.