Donnie Brasco

Play trailer

2:12

Donnie Brasco

R

Released Feb 28, 1997

2h 6m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

58 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Simon Rose

Daily Mirror (UK)

A superb movie with a brilliant performance by Pacino and some of the best movie dialogue for a long time.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2025

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

Read all reviews

Maria Q

A classy piece of work that may disappoint those looking for something more conventional.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

Full Review

Julie D

A blue collar gangster movie that succeeds on all attempted levels, particularly acting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

Full Review

John B

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

09/27/25

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Mike Newell

Director

Al Pacino

Lefty

Johnny Depp

Donnie

Michael Madsen

Sonny

Bruno Kirby

Nicky

James Russo

Paulie

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Lefty Gets a Lion

1:55

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I'm Glad It Was Him

2:12

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Am Them

1:58

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Know You Know!

2:08

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Ambush and Overthrow

2:05

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - This is Life and Death

1:39

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - A Close Call

1:29

View more videos

Devil in a Blue Dress

92%

71%

Devil in a Blue Dress

Watchlist

Cop Land

75%

67%

Cop Land

Watchlist

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

35%

72%

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

Watchlist

Jackie Brown

88%

85%

Jackie Brown

Watchlist

The Negotiator

74%

79%

The Negotiator

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Now Streaming: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Foxcatcher and More

The Weekly Ketchup: "Spider-Man 3" Teasers, "Pirates 3" Pics And Rumors, "Transformers" Images, And More!

Character Actor Bruno Kirby, Dead at 57

Donnie Brasco: Trailer 1

2:12

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - If You're a Rat...

2:09

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now