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Serpico

Play trailer Poster for Serpico R 1973 2h 9m Crime Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Serpico

Serpico

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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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Critics Reviews

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Ed Potton The Times (UK) 08/18/2023
4/5
... One of Hollywood’s most wince-inducing explorations of police corruption. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 08/16/2023
5/5
Sweat and grit and fear pulse off it like waves; and there are dynamic streetscape scenes. Go to Full Review
Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 06/28/2023
Sidney Lumet directs with his customary verve and grit. Go to Full Review
Sebastian Zavala Kahn Loud and Clear Reviews Jul 2
5/5
If the film still works, it’s because it depicts a version of New York City that feels both different and similar to the one that exists today. [...] More than fifty years might have passed, but the movie has lost none of its considerable potency. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/09/2023
6/10
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. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 07/24/2023
3.5/5
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Daniel S Dec 2 Honest Cop, Dishonest Entertainment Serpico gets hyped as a gritty, must-see classic, but honestly, it feels way more overrated than iconic. Yes, it’s raw and realistic, and Al Pacino goes full intensity, but that energy doesn’t save the movie from being incredibly slow and oddly empty. Most of the runtime focuses on building up Serpico as this honest cop stuck in a corrupt system, which sounds interesting on paper. In reality, you end up watching a bunch of random subplots that lead nowhere. One minute he’s dealing with girl drama, the next he’s hanging out with pets, doing strange ballet-like moves in the precinct, raging for no clear reason. Instead of making him complex, it just makes him feel flat, confusing, and kind of unlikeable by the end. The supporting characters aren’t much better. Some seem promising at first, but they disappear just as fast, with zero real development. It’s hard to care about anyone or anything when the movie doesn’t even seem committed to them. And if you’re expecting action, don’t. There are barely any real action scenes at all. One of the few attempts, the fire-escape moment, is not intense, it’s straight-up unbelievable and awkwardly directed. Most of the "action" just comes from Pacino yelling. The pacing drags so hard that boredom becomes a main theme. Then, just when you’d expect a powerful payoff for all that struggle and "tenacity," the ending comes off as bizarre and disappointing, almost like the story gives up on itself. After everything, Serpico basically taps out, and it feels like the entire journey loses its meaning. Bottom line, Serpico has grit, but grit alone isn’t enough. With slow pacing, scattered storytelling, and a main character who never truly clicks, it ends up feeling more like a chore than a classic. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 20 A little boring, but good classic with a young Pacino. See more andras gaspar p Oct 11 This is one of the best crime movies. See more Claire M Oct 6 This is Al Pacino's best performance in my opinion. He truly is one of the world's greatest actors. His run of films from The Panic in Needle Park to The Godfather Trilogy to Dog Day Afternoon to Serpico to Scarface to Scent of a Woman to Insomnia and beyond is tremendous. Serpico is another collaboration with the late Director, Sidney Lumet, and it's a match made in Heaven. See more Jerod S Sep 19 70s New York City is rampant with crime. Young Al Pacino destroys this crime drama. See more Kyle M Aug 21 A growing breakthrough for Al Pacino’s dedicative conviction humanely embodies the factual significance through aesthetically pedestrian plotting and realistic gradual form of police corruption. (B) See more Read all reviews
Serpico

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Serpico

Serpico: Official Clip - Police Brutality Serpico: Official Clip - Police Brutality 2:13 Serpico: Official Clip - Bleeding to Death Serpico: Official Clip - Bleeding to Death 2:11 Serpico: Official Clip - You're Firing Without Looking? Serpico: Official Clip - You're Firing Without Looking? 2:13 Serpico: Official Clip - A Marked Man Serpico: Official Clip - A Marked Man 2:01 Serpico: Official Clip - I Love You, Paco! Serpico: Official Clip - I Love You, Paco! 1:35 Serpico: Official Clip - Get Dead Cards Serpico: Official Clip - Get Dead Cards 2:06 Serpico: Official Clip - The Knapp Commission Serpico: Official Clip - The Knapp Commission 2:01 Serpico: Official Clip - The Last Drug Raid Serpico: Official Clip - The Last Drug Raid 2:12 Serpico: Official Clip - Where's the Money?! Serpico: Official Clip - Where's the Money?! 2:13 Serpico: Official Clip - What Kind of Shakedown Is This? Serpico: Official Clip - What Kind of Shakedown Is This? 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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