10 Underrated Al Pacino Movies That Deserve More Credit

1. "Carlito's Way" (1993)
Meet Carlito Brigante, an ex-con granted early release on a technicality. Hopes of going straight don't last long. The underworld's gravitational pull is merciless.

Brian De Palma directs, and Pacino shines in a role that mixes charisma with vulnerability. Retiring from crime? Sounds like a dream, except for one slight issue: The past doesn't like being abandoned. Carlito's lawyer, Kleinfeld, owes mob debts. Guess who gets pulled back in?

No firefights at the OK Corral here, but you do get a subway chase and a nightclub showdown.

2. "Donnie Brasco" (1997)
Let's flip the coin. Instead of a mob boss, Pacino becomes the underdog: Lefty Ruggiero, a mobster past his prime. Undercover agent Donnie Brasco infiltrates the Mafia, adopting Lefty as his mentor.

The symbiotic relationship becomes a mousetrap. One move, and it could snap, fatal for both. Lefty teaches, Donnie observes. When the mob heist goes south, guess who stands trial? Lefty's fate is a foregone conclusion, sealed the moment he chose trust over suspicion.

3. "Insomnia" (2002)
Welcome to the Alaskan tundra, where detective Will Dormer (Pacino) finds himself chasing an elusive murderer. Trouble? The sun never sets. Insomnia isn't just a condition; it's a lens through which reality blurs and judgment falters.

Detective Dormer, experienced yet plagued by internal affairs scrutiny, shoots his own partner accidentally. But does he confess? No, he lets the local police pin it on the murderer they're chasing.

Moral gray areas: Alaska's got more than fifty shades. The killer figures out Dormer's secret and they end up in a cat-and-mouse tussle, making you wonder who's chasing whom.

4. "The Devil's Advocate" (1997)
What if your boss was Satan? Literally. Fresh from Florida, Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) joins a New York law firm headed by John Milton (Pacino).

High-profile cases, an upscale apartment, and what's the cost? Just some unsettlingly demonic occurrences and the slow disintegration of his moral compass. Milton is the devil incarnate, luring Kevin into a world of indulgence and unethical choices.

From defending guilty clients to neglecting his wife, Kevin spirals. Surprise! It's all a ploy for Satan to father a child with Kevin's wife, thereby ensuring his dominion.

5. "Scarecrow" (1973)
Two drifters, Max and Lionel, aim for Pittsburgh. One wants to open a car wash, the other to see his child. They couldn't be more different. Max, portrayed by Gene Hackman, is hardened and cynical. Pacino's Lionel is goofy and optimistic.

As they hitchhike across the American landscape, their friendship grows, but so do obstacles. Lionel's past abuse and Max's prison stint cast shadows. No riches await them. No monumental life-changing events.

6. "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992)
Shelley Levene, that's who Pacino is here—a real estate salesman down on his luck. It's not a superhero story; it's a yarn about desperation in an office that could be located in any city's nondescript building.

New leads are the golden eggs, and everyone wants them. An incentive is declared: top salesman gets a Cadillac, the worst loses the job. Shelley resorts to bribing the office clerk for prime leads. Finally, a big sale! Except it's a ruse by the buyers.

7. "Chinese Coffee" (2000)
The struggles of an unpublished writer. Pacino plays Harry Levine who borrows money from his friend Jake, an antiquarian bookstore owner. They clash on a stormy night over debts, loyalty, and mostly, life's disappointments.

No action scenes, no romantic interests—just an undecorated room. A single setting hosts rants, confessions, and the uncomfortable realization of unfulfilled dreams. The clock ticks louder with each passing moment, reminding Harry of his age, regrets, and a ticking timeline.

8. "Frankie and Johnny" (1991)
Frankie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a guarded waitress. Johnny (Pacino), an optimistic ex-con. He's the cook at the same diner. Sparks don't fly; they barely flicker. Johnny, however, is relentless. Even after a not-so-romantic night, he insists on breaking down Frankie's emotional barriers.

A slow-cooked romantic narrative where getting the girl isn't a quest but an exercise in patience.

9. "88 Minutes" (2007)
Tick-tock. Dr. Jack Gramm, a forensic psychiatrist and college professor, receives a death threat: 88 minutes to live. He must solve his own impending murder. Students, a troubled past, a serial killer he helped convict—every minute introduces a new suspect.

Pacino's Dr. Gramm navigates the labyrinthine plot like a man tiptoeing on a razor's edge.

10. "Two for the Money" (2005)
Brandon Lang, a former college quarterback with a ruined leg, becomes a success at predicting football game outcomes.

Walter Abrams (Pacino) brings him into the lucrative world of sports betting. At first, they're the perfect duo. But money is a fickle mistress. Brandon begins to lose, clients get angry, and Walter's supportive exterior crumbles.