Dog Day Afternoon

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Max Awesome movie, probably Al Pacino’s best performance. This was my first time seeing the movie and it holds up 50 years later Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/04/25 Full Review Shannon P By turns funny and heartbreaking based on the true story of a bank robbery gone very wrong. Al Pacino was amazing two thumbs way up from me! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/04/25 Full Review Benjamin H Well-written, tightly crafted and featured a good dosage of tension, Dog Day Afternoon does have some scenes that either drag a bit or are a bit exaggerated, but it remains an absorbing picture, mostly thanks to Al Pacino's wonderful performance and Sidney Lumet's top-notch direction. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/04/25 Full Review Alexis B. One of the worst I’ve ever seen Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/22/25 Full Review Hao Ian L It can lean into the absurd, but also never loses sight of its tension through the course of its narrative. It's also arguably one of Al Pacino's best performances ever, presented in an interesting character study that, while still very much relevant, is one of those films that will not receive the same reception if recreated today. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review BadNews R Dog Day Afternoon is one of those golden-age Al Pacino films that truly shows why he became such a legendary actor. At its core, it’s a bank robbery story, but it’s not just action — it blends in comedy, tension, and drama in a way that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Al Pacino is absolutely magnetic here. Every time he’s on the screen, he commands it. This was during his prime, and you can feel it in every line, every expression, and every frantic move he makes. He brings both intensity and humor, and it makes the whole situation feel like it could spiral out of control at any second. The direction is just as strong. Sidney Lumet did an incredible job capturing the grit, chaos, and raw emotion of a New York summer gone wrong. He knows when to lean into the tension of the robbery and when to let the absurd comedy of the situation shine through. The film almost feels like you’re trapped in the bank with them, sweating alongside the characters as things keep escalating. That said, I’ll admit — some of the supporting cast didn’t work for me. A couple of the bank tellers had voices that were so squeaky and over-the-top, it felt like nails on a chalkboard and briefly pulled me out of the scene. Some of the side characters also came across as a little too goofy or exaggerated compared to the grounded realism Pacino brought. But ultimately, none of that takes away from the fact that this is a classic. Pacino ties everything together and reminds you why this movie has stood the test of time. The robbery itself constantly feels like it’s on the brink of disaster — and whether it actually goes bad or not, you’ll have to watch and find out. The coolest part? It’s coming back to theaters for one day only tomorrow, and that’s exactly why I revisited it today. If you’ve never seen Dog Day Afternoon, now is the perfect chance to experience it on the big screen. It’s intense, funny, unpredictable, and pure Pacino at his peak. Highly recommended. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Dog Day Afternoon

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