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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 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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Faiz S @RT19049740 8h Serpico is a raw, realistic crime drama about a cop who refuses corruption and ends up completely isolated inside the system he works for. It’s not built for entertainment in a loud way. There’s very little action. Instead, it focuses on pressure, frustration, and loneliness. Al Pacino’s performance. He feels real, not heroic—just a guy slowly breaking down because he won’t compromise. The 1970s New York setting also feels gritty and believable, almost like a documentary. The pacing is slow and repetitive. It keeps hammering the same conflict—truth vs system—without much variety in structure, so some viewers may lose interest See more Jim S @JimS101 18h Fast paced slice of 60’s/70’s. Wonderful. actors. Great performances. A little jerky but that might be because it was a well-known story back then. See more Stefan J. @sjafari Mar 20 Incredible acting by Pacino, but sometimes felt as though the storyline felt a bit too repetitive for my taste. See more Breathe J @SilverScreenSweetheart Feb 26 As much hype as the Serpico movie has received, it failed to meet my expectations. It was a bit slow, cliche, and I was not impressed with the script. However, the story was really good and Al Pacino’s performance was breathtaking. He is absolutely incredible at transformative characters. Overall, Serpico is not a bad movie, yet it is far from a masterpiece. However, if you like police procedures and Al Pacino, then I would recommend watching this movie. Thank you for reading my review. And thank you to our courageous law enforcement officers who serve with dignity, respect, and integrity. God bless you. See more Daniel S @RT37151421 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 Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Frank Serpico 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