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Donnie Brasco

Play trailer 2:12 Poster for Donnie Brasco R Released Feb 28, 1997 2h 6m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. He develops a relationship with mob hit man Benjamin Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) in order to get deeper under cover, but ends up developing a real friendship with the Mafioso. As their relationship develops, Pistone must decide whether or not to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.
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Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco

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Critics Consensus

A stark, nuanced portrait of life in organized crime, bolstered by strong performances from Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek This is Depp's coming-of-age role, and he's terrific. Pacino, who's shown more flash than substance recently, reminds us how great he can be when he loses himself inside a character. Feb 28, 2018 Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety Although perhaps familiar in its outer trappings, Pacino's fine work is the key to the film succeeding to the extent that it does. Nov 20, 2008 Full Review Time Out A tense, sharp and compelling character study, Newell's film is a worthy addition to the Mob-movie canon. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine A fine film, though not quite a classic, mostly because it didn't break any ground, or show us a new way of telling this type of story (25th anniversary) Rated: 4/5 Mar 4, 2022 Full Review PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro A clever insight into the everyday, professional banalities of life as a low to mid-level gangster. Rated: 3/5 Feb 22, 2019 Full Review Maitland McDonagh TV Guide Depp's tight, guarded performance is almost painful to watch, and Newell seems to have reined in the flamboyant Pacino, whose portrait of the mobster as a grumpy old man may be his best work in years. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 20, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Matt W This movie takes me back just what a good old film is ment to do. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/18/25 Full Review Rolla G Newell and Attanasio pay as much attention to emotional details as to the clockwork details of mob life. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/16/25 Full Review Sabra P Donnie Brasco manages to sidestep the obvious and dwell on the intriguing. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Ronny J A tense, sharp and compelling character study, Newell's film is a worthy addition to the Mob-movie canon. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/25 Full Review Don V Although perhaps familiar in its outer trappings, Pacino's fine work is the key to the film succeeding to the extent that it does. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/01/25 Full Review Lobo T Depp's tight, guarded performance is almost painful to watch, and Newell seems to have reined in the flamboyant Pacino, whose portrait of the mobster as a grumpy old man may be his best work in years Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/24/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Donnie Brasco

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Cast & Crew

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Mike Newell

Director

Al Pacino

Lefty

Johnny Depp

Donnie

Michael Madsen

Sonny

Bruno Kirby

Nicky

James Russo

Paulie

Movie Clips

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Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Lefty Gets a Lion Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Lefty Gets a Lion 1:55 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I'm Glad It Was Him Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I'm Glad It Was Him 2:12 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Am Them Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Am Them 1:58 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Know You Know! Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Know You Know! 2:08 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Ambush and Overthrow Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Ambush and Overthrow 2:05 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - This is Life and Death Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - This is Life and Death 1:39 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - A Close Call Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - A Close Call 1:29 View more videos

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Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco: Trailer 1 Donnie Brasco: Trailer 1 2:12 Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - If You're a Rat... Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - If You're a Rat... 2:09 View more videos
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Donnie Brasco

A scene from "Donnie Brasco." A scene from "Donnie Brasco." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. He develops a relationship with mob hit man Benjamin Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) in order to get deeper under cover, but ends up developing a real friendship with the Mafioso. As their relationship develops, Pistone must decide whether or not to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.
Director
Mike Newell
Producer
Barry Levinson, Mark Johnson, Louis DiGiaimo, Gail Mutrux
Screenwriter
Joseph D. Pistone, Richard Woodley, Paul Attanasio
Distributor
TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Mandalay Entertainment, Baltimore Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 28, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$42.0M
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround, SDDS
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