Serpico

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Serpico

R

1973

2h 9m

Crime

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

54 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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Critics Consensus

An engrossing, immediate depiction of early '70s New York, Serpico is elevated by Al Pacino's ferocious performance.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Aug 18, 2023

4/5

... One of Hollywood’s most wince-inducing explorations of police corruption.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Aug 16, 2023

5/5

Sweat and grit and fear pulse off it like waves; and there are dynamic streetscape scenes.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Jun 28, 2023

Sidney Lumet directs with his customary verve and grit.

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 2, 2025

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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 9, 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.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Jul 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.

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Farah R

@Farah Oct 3, 2026

Al Pacino delivers a solid performance, as usual for this early period of his career when he was at his best. The movie’s message is hard-hitting and uncompromising, giving it real weight. Yet, the film is overly noisy and longer than necessary, which makes it somewhat exhausting despite its strengths.

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Ben D

@Benda1995 Sep 21, 2026

Whilst it wasn't as action packed as I thought it would be, the film's slow but steady build up builds tension and suspension that keeps you gripped as the film progresses. Pacino really makes the film (which is not unusual). His intense and strong on screen presence keeps you hooked. In the end, I was really gunning for Frank. Interesting that this was based on a true story, too.

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Luis D

@MasterLobo Sep 18, 2026

The movie is much slower than comparable police-corruption thrillers such as "LA Confidential" and "Training Day." If you love the 70's counter hippie culture you'd easily love this movie, but if you don't you'd find it troublesome. You can still value the protagonist's attitude as a form of resistance against a corrupt environment but it doesn't help that the director forces us to identify honesty with freak culture.

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Faiz S

@RT19049740 Jun 13, 2026

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

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Jim S

@JimS101 Jun 12, 2026

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.

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Stefan J.

@sjafari Mar 20, 2026

Incredible acting by Pacino, but sometimes felt as though the storyline felt a bit too repetitive for my taste.

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Al Pacino

Serpico

John Randolph

Chief Sidney Green

Jack Kehoe

Tom Keough

Biff McGuire

Capt. Insp. McClain

Barbara Eda-Young

Laurie

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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

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