From The Godfather to Scarface: 7 Al Pacino roles that are unforgettable to date

As fans say, Al Pacino isn’t just an actor, he’s a mood. The legendary star's voice alone could probably convince you to rob a bank or confess your sins, or maybe both. He’s been stomping around the silver screen for decades, chewing scenery and spitting out lines that stick in your brain forever.

Al Pacino doesn’t just play characters — whether he’s a mafia kingpin, a loudmouthed blind vet, or some cop with a serious attitude problem — he transforms into them. And so, it is time to rewind and check out seven of Pacino’s wildest, most iconic roles that make him an unforgettable tour de force onscreen.

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7 unforgettable Al Pacino roles

1. Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone demonstrates a wild transformation. At first, Corleone is this soft-spoken, sharp man who wants nothing to do with the family's criminal operations. But over time, you watch him evolve from an innocent war hero into a straight-up cold-blooded crime boss, and it’s freaky how smooth Pacino pulls off that shift.

Half the time, he barely talks, relying instead on intense, deliberate stares that tell you exactly what you need to know about what’s going on in his head. That restaurant scene? Where he shot the corrupt cop? Still gives people chills. It is no surprise Pacino's career skyrocketed after this.

2. Vincent Hanna in Heat (1995)

Al Pacino plays Detective Vincent Hanna in Michael Mann's Heat. This guy’s sharp, always running after bad guys, barely sleeping, probably living on black coffee and rage. And along with him, you’ve got De Niro as Neil McCauley, basically the smoothest criminal in LA.

Now, that coffee shop scene is legendary. You have two acting heavyweights finally sitting down, eyeballing each other over coffee. Viewers can practically feel the tension through the screen. It's the first time Pacino and De Niro share a scene and create something iconic.

Al Pacino’s Hanna is all over the place, one minute he’s screaming at some poor suspect, next he’s mumbling like he just woke up from a three-day bender, then he’s cracking jokes that almost make you forget he’s on the edge. The guy’s a mess, but in the best way possible. That’s why fans still throw Heat on their “top crime flicks” lists.

3. Frank Serpico in Serpico (1973)

In Serpico, Al Pacino plays the role of a police officer named Frank Serpico, who takes on the NYPD. Frank wasn’t just some goody two-shoes; the guy’s all about guts, zero chill, risking his neck 'cause he can’t stomach all the sleaze. Pacino nails that.

You can see the weight dragging at him, the loneliness sitting in his eyes. It’s not just an actor doing a cop cosplay. Al Pacino embodies Serpico, inside-out. And honestly, after this, anyone doubting Pacino’s chops as a leading man had to eat their words.

4. Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

This film is based on a true story about a man named Sonny who tries to rob a bank to pay for his partner’s surgery. But things go wrong, and the robbery turns into a media storm. Here, Pacino played a scared, confused, and desperate man who shouted, begged, and cried on screen.

What many fans remember from the film is the iconic scene where he yells “Attica! Attica!” to the crowd, referring to a prison riot. Pacino’s act in Dog Day Afternoon proves to us how deep he could go emotionally.

5. Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman (1992)

In Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino played a retired army officer named Frank Slade, who is blind, rude, loud, and angry at the world. But over time, we see that the actor has developed the character with layers, revealing his softer side. A young student, played by Chris O’Donnell, helps him reconnect with life.

Pacino had to act without using his eyes, which made this role even more challenging. But he made it seem effortless. His famous speech in the school courtroom scene is still noteworthy. It was for this role that Al Pacino finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1993.

6. Carlito Brigante in Carlito’s Way (1993)

Here, Al Pacino played the role of a former drug dealer named Carlito who wants to change his life and walk on a straight track. But it is not an easy feat since his past keeps pulling him back over and over again. Pacino imbued Carlito with charm, sadness, and hope all at the same time. He showed a man trying hard to stay out of trouble but losing the fight.

Unlike Tony Montana in Scarface, Carlito was more thoughtful and careful. The film was full of emotion, and Pacino’s performance was both smooth and touching. You could feel Carlito’s pain and his wish to escape the life he once lived. This is one of his underrated roles, but deeply loved by fans.

7. Tony Montana in Scarface (1983)

In Scarface, Al Pacino plays a Cuban immigrant, Tony Montana. He rolls up to straight-up drug kingpin. He does it with this wild, over-the-top swagger. Tony’s not exactly subtle — he’s loud, cocky, like he’s allergic to silence or something.

Pacino won hearts with the accent and that attitude; half the time, you forget you’re watching an actor. And that line, “Say hello to my little friend!”, you’ve probably heard it at least a dozen times, even if you’ve never watched the film.

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If you watch Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, you would believe he is a man who is all cold, calculating, barely blinking, and then you get Tony Montana, who’s a hurricane in a suit. Hence, honestly, he is truly versatile as an actor who convincingly and effortlessly played it all — mob bosses, sad cops, total lunatics, you name it.