Donnie Brasco

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2:12

Donnie Brasco

R

Released Feb 28, 1997

2h 6m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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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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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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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

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

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

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

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Mate P

***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** Donnie Brasco is very intriguing, because of its characters and the cast. It's not considered to be a classic like some very similar movies, but it's certainly not far from them. The characters are well-written, interesting and the main duo's dynamics are just awesome. The dialogues are mostly amazig, but sometimes it felt forced to me that they tried to take some lines through the whole film. The story is intriguing and the ending is realistic. The directing, cinematography and editing are obviously good, because this film is well-crafted, but it's not considered to be a classic due to the fact that none of these elements are outstanding or perfect. The score is absolutely great, the casting is perfect. The cameos from Tim Blake Nelson and Paul Giamatti were completely unexpected. The performances, the charisma and the chemistry between the leads is magnificent. It basically elevates the movie to a different level. Donnie Brasco is an amazing film that doesn't get talked about enough.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Adam Y

In almost every respect, Donnie Brasco is an original, the unexpected rebirth of an old and oft-told tale.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

John C

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

06/21/25

Full Review

Vik D

An amazing true story with a lot of heart

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

Full Review

Sharang L

Good old-fashioned character-driven crime drama.. the sort that are hardly made anymore.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/03/24

Full Review

Johannes S

I just love Al Pacino. An amazing mafia movie in the shadows of Goodfellas and the Godfather.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

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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

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Donnie Brasco: Trailer 1

2:12

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

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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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