Serpico

R

Released Dec 5, 1973

2h 9m

Crime

Drama

Biography

List

93%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is an idealistic New York City cop who refuses to take bribes, unlike the rest of the force. His actions get Frank shunned by the other officers, and often placed in dangerous situations by his partners. When his superiors ignore Frank's accusations of corruption, he decides to go public with the allegations. Although this causes the Knapp Commission to investigate his claims, Frank has also placed a target on himself. The film is based on a true story.

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Critics Consensus

An engrossing, immediate depiction of early '70s New York, Serpico is elevated by Al Pacino's ferocious performance.

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Ed Potton

Times (UK)

... One of Hollywood’s most wince-inducing explorations of police corruption.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 18, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Sweat and grit and fear pulse off it like waves; and there are dynamic streetscape scenes.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 16, 2023

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Sidney Lumet directs with his customary verve and grit.

Jun 28, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Though Pacino delivers an iconic performance, the pacing here is largely off, as it builds, mostly suspense-free, to an ending that is already known - thanks to the opening moments.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

In the end the strengths of Lumet’s direction, Pacino’s performance, and Arthur J. Ornitz’s gritty cinematography are more than enough to get past the film’s handful of stumbles.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 24, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Lumet's film is a shaggy 130-minute biopic that seldom feels like a thriller, but whose unhurried pacing never feels slack, either.

Jun 12, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

Found it hard to get on board with. Pacino is awesome though. 2 hours and 10 minutes is pushing it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/06/23

Full Review

Will S

Brilliant movie, but very redundant. You could cut 30 minutes without it affecting the story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

Very decent film about a clean cop working in the early 70s NY police force. A time when the police didn't exist to clean up crime, so much as to take their cut of the crime. Bought this one on DVD a while back.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/23

Full Review

Michael C

"Serpico" is no doubt one of the best movies of the 1970s. It ranks up there with another one of Academy Award winner Al Pacino's triumphs "The Godfather". Pacino gives one of the best performances of his career as the one honest police officer in a sea of corruption. The movie also has the benefit of a well written script. Seeing how the rampant police corruption Frank Serpico witnesses every day on the job effects his personal life and his well being is very well played out. Another thing that impressed me is the terrific cast in this movie. I was very surprised to see the likes of Judd Hirsch, F. Murray Abraham, M. Emmet Walsh and Tony Roberts as the movie played on. Though some of the aforementioned actors screen time is rather short, their appearances help make "Serpico" all the more enjoyable. I was never bored from start to finish. Once again I will say "Serpico" is one of the best movies of the 1970s. Another highlight in the very impressive career of one of Hollywood's best actors.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/23

Full Review

Elijah C

Kind of a hard watch if you get bored easy but the costume design, acting, writing, and character driven plot give way for a compelling and complex story. Al Pacino as always shines in the spotlight and the performances from either of his little lovers are not to be overlooked.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

Full Review

Jack O

To look at how young Al Pacino is, this is the one I have in mind. Serpico is about an NYPD officer Frank Serpico played by the really young Al Pacino, who went undercover to expose corruption in the police force. It's based on an actual person, Frank Serpico and it's based on an biographical book by Peter Maas. Al Pacino did a really good job portraying Frank Serpico, even the story is faithful to the original material. I would say more about Serpico but I just can't because there's really nothing more to talk about it. It's a brilliant good old biographical crime film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Al Pacino

Serpico

John Randolph

Chief Sidney Green

Jack Kehoe

Tom Keough

Biff McGuire

Capt. Insp. McClain

Barbara Eda-Young

Laurie

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Serpico: Official Clip - Police Brutality

2:13

Serpico: Official Clip - Bleeding to Death

2:11

Serpico: Official Clip - You're Firing Without Looking?

2:13

Serpico: Official Clip - A Marked Man

2:01

Serpico: Official Clip - I Love You, Paco!

1:35

Serpico: Official Clip - Get Dead Cards

2:06

Serpico: Official Clip - The Knapp Commission

2:01

Serpico: Official Clip - The Last Drug Raid

2:12

Serpico: Official Clip - Where's the Money?!

2:13

Serpico: Official Clip - What Kind of Shakedown Is This?

2:13

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Synopsis

Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is an idealistic New York City cop who refuses to take bribes, unlike the rest of the force. His actions get Frank shunned by the other officers, and often placed in dangerous situations by his partners. When his superiors ignore Frank's accusations of corruption, he decides to go public with the allegations. Although this causes the Knapp Commission to investigate his claims, Frank has also placed a target on himself. The film is based on a true story.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Waldo Salt, Norman Wexler
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Produzion De Laurentis
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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