Carlito's Way

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2:46

Carlito's Way

R

1993

2h 24m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A free man after years in prison, Carlito Brigante intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld. Reconnecting with his dancer girlfriend, Gail, Carlito gets entangled in the shady dealings of his friend Dave Kleinfeld, who also serves as his lawyer. When Carlito and Kleinfeld run afoul of shifty gangster Benny Blanco, it sets them on a dangerous path.

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Critics Consensus

Carlito's Way reunites De Palma and Pacino for a more wistful take on the crime epic, delivering a stylish thriller with a beating heart beneath its pyrotechnic performances and set pieces.

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Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

Sep 26, 2023

Dreams can die but nightmares can flourish, an understanding brought about by the disillusionment that every De Palma hero experiences.

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Michael Sragow

The New Yorker

Mar 23, 2015

Penn, in curled hair and wire-rims, makes a brilliant, slippery high-end shyster; his modulated hysteria is amazing. So is Brian De Palma's direction.

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Zach Campbell

Slant Magazine

Sep 9, 2006

4/4

As with so many De Palma films, Carlito's Way soon manifests as an essay on its own forms.

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

Jul 2, 2025

4/5

The set pieces are among the most thrilling De Palma has ever filmed, while Pacino's restrained performance as the leather-clad, gently lisping Carlito allows plenty of scope for the supporting cast to chew the scenery.

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Don Shanahan

Film Obsessive

Jun 28, 2025

Carlito’s Way is a gripping tale of redemption, loyalty, and the struggle to break free from a life of crime.

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Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

Oct 18, 2024

3.5/5

The film proved that the director hadn't lost his touch, despite controversy that he had cast an Italian-American--and not for the first time--as a Latino character. Unsteady accent aside, Pacino's heartfelt performance helped to win over many skeptics

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Jonathan N

@Popculture1994 Aug 15, 2026

Carlito's Way is an awesome Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, and Brian De Palma gangster movie ever. I love that film a lot and it's one of my top five favorite gangster flicks (like Scarface also directed by Brian De Palma, Goodfellas, Casino, and the first Godfather movie also starring Al Pacino), along with 1993 (like Jurassic Park, The Fugitive, The Nightmare before Christmas, and Schindler's List), Al Pacino (like Scent of a Woman, Heat, and Donnie Brasco), Sean Penn (like Casualties of War also directed by Brian De Palma, Mystic River, Milk, and One Battle after Another), and Brian De Palma (like Carrie and The Untouchables for instance).

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Jason R

@JasonLovesMoviesForever Aug 6, 2026

Al Pachino shows that sometimes happy endings do not exist especially in the world of crime. Carlito's Way takes you on a thrilling-emotional ride wishing that things ended differently. A bittersweet movie with great acting!

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Steven C

@Fels41 Jul 13, 2026

Prefer this over Scarface. Probably because it’s more relatable in my opinion.

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Adam J

@adamjue Jun 22, 2026

Very good film that showed a unique perspective on how the pull of the old gangster's lives can take them back into that life again.

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Landert M

@RT66355112 Jun 13, 2026

Spectacular! This movie is one of my favorites. I love the camera work, the train scenes, the performances, especially Al Pacino and the lawyer (Sean). Simply professional. And the soundtrack is fantastic, Very much in keeping with the era. Its plot and script are superb, a great ending.

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Jun 1, 2026

A gritty yet emotional crime film with stellar performances from Pacino and Penn.

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Brian De Palma

Director

Al Pacino

Carlito Brigante

Sean Penn

David Kleinfeld

Penelope Ann Miller

Gail

Luis Guzmán

Pachanga

John Leguizamo

Benny Blanco

Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Shooting Pool and Wiseguys

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Shot in the Hospital

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - You Haven't Changed

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Cheesecake

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Getting Whacked

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Benny Blanco

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Wearing a Wire

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Escalator Shootout

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Killing the Mob Boss

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Carlito's Way: Official Clip - Hunted by the Mob

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Synopsis

A free man after years in prison, Carlito Brigante intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld. Reconnecting with his dancer girlfriend, Gail, Carlito gets entangled in the shady dealings of his friend Dave Kleinfeld, who also serves as his lawyer. When Carlito and Kleinfeld run afoul of shifty gangster Benny Blanco, it sets them on a dangerous path.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: Martin Bregman, Michael Scott Bregman, Willi Bär
Screenwriter: Edwin Torres, David Koepp
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Universal Pictures
Production Co: Epic Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.5M
Runtime: 2h 24m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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