Serpico

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Serpico

R

Released Dec 5, 1973

2h 9m

Crime

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

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

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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

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Sams K

Legendary Al Pacino, a true icon. This one is great.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/23/24

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Mike P

Classic 70s docudrama about a real cop facing down corruption in his own precinct....and the horrific aftermath. Based on a true story... This feels like a combination of French Connections 1 and 2 with its quintessential gritty antihero aesthetic; (remember this was the 70s when the crime drama was at it's zenith; i.e. The Godfather, The French Connection, Dog Day Afternoon, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, etc...). And also On The Waterfront, with it's searing portrayal of corruption...But at it's core it's a good old fashioned heroes story...And Pacino has never been more brilliant, moving or sincere. Overall: Highly recommended

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/24

Full Review

James B

one of al pacinos best performance great police drama movie great acting

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/26/24

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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

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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

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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: Martin Bregman
Screenwriter: Waldo Salt, Norman Wexler
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Artists Entertainment Complex, Produzion De Laurentis
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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