Donnie Brasco

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2:12

Donnie Brasco

R

1997

2h 6m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. He develops a relationship with mob hitman Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino) in order to get deeper under cover, but ends up developing a real friendship with the Mafioso. As their relationship develops, Pistone must decide whether to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.

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Critics Consensus

A stark, nuanced portrait of life in organized crime, bolstered by strong performances from Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/28/2018

This is Depp's coming-of-age role, and he's terrific. Pacino, who's shown more flash than substance recently, reminds us how great he can be when he loses himself inside a character.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

11/20/2008

Although perhaps familiar in its outer trappings, Pacino's fine work is the key to the film succeeding to the extent that it does.

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Time Out

01/26/2006

A tense, sharp and compelling character study, Newell's film is a worthy addition to the Mob-movie canon.

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Simon Rose

Daily Mirror (UK)

Sep 22

4/5

A superb movie with a brilliant performance by Pacino and some of the best movie dialogue for a long time.

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

03/04/2022

4/5

A fine film, though not quite a classic, mostly because it didn't break any ground, or show us a new way of telling this type of story (25th anniversary)

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

02/22/2019

3/5

A clever insight into the everyday, professional banalities of life as a low to mid-level gangster.

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Bobby B

@Bobby301 4d

Great performances for everyone but the story moves way too fast in the relationship between Depp and Pacino. And Brascos decision to sink his heart into a guy who's killed 26 people over his own family is a little odd. Felt like an after school special with mafia violence.

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J H

@UpstateNYThriller Jul 22

8.1/10 Mid 90s mob movie with Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. Based on Donnie Brasco the undercover agent who infiltrated the Mob in the 70s.

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David H

@rivrocks Jul 9

Extraordinary performances. My few issues are with the screenplay.

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John F

@RT84127024 Jul 7

Good script and the two leads are great together, but for me I wish Anne Heche was involved more...she is absolutely stunning here.

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Faiz S

@RT19049740 Jun 13

Donnie Brasco doesn't feel like a mafia movie that tries to impress you. It feels like one that slowly pulls you in and then quietly traps you. No glamour, just routine betrayal, tired loyalty, and men who stopped dreaming long ago. The real weight of the film isn't in the crime, but in the friendship that shouldn't exist. Johny Depp doesn't act like a hero undercover agent, he slowly becomes someonewho forgets who he was supposed to be. Al pacino's leffty isn't powerful, he's just painfully human, surviving on respect that's already fading. What makes it hit differently ask you who was right or wrong. It just leaves you with a simple idea : sometimes the job doesn't just change your life, it replaces it.

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Bucky R

@Bucky3085 May 10

Great performances in a taut gangster drama.

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Mike Newell

Director

Al Pacino

Lefty

Johnny Depp

Donnie

Michael Madsen

Sonny

Bruno Kirby

Nicky

James Russo

Paulie

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Lefty Gets a Lion

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I'm Glad It Was Him

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Am Them

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Know You Know!

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Ambush and Overthrow

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - This is Life and Death

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - A Close Call

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Donnie Brasco: Trailer 1

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - If You're a Rat...

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Synopsis

Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name Donnie Brasco. He develops a relationship with mob hitman Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino) in order to get deeper under cover, but ends up developing a real friendship with the Mafioso. As their relationship develops, Pistone must decide whether to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.

Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Barry Levinson, Mark Johnson, Louis DiGiaimo, Gail Mutrux
Screenwriter: Joseph D. Pistone, Richard Woodley, Paul Attanasio
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Mandalay Entertainment, Baltimore Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 28, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $42.0M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, SDDS