Donnie Brasco | Rotten Tomatoes

Donnie Brasco

R

Released Feb 28, 1997

2 hr. 6 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

88%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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 hit man 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 or not 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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Alec C

Based on a real life undercover cop, we follow Joe Pistone as he navigates his other persona of Donnie Brasco in the mafia underworld! Conflicted about his friendship with "Lefty" Ruggiero, his loyalty and his duty are thrown into disarray as he struggles to find an escape without being killed. Pulse-pounding in every scene and a sense of foreboding tragedy looms as the line between cop and criminal is extremely blurred!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Istvan K

Johnny Depp's second best performance after Ed Wood, but this may be Pacino's best work. He brings pathos to the table unlike in any other gangster film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Bruno V

Filme clássico, com atores da old school do cinema norte-americano. Nem precisa acentuar o quanto esse filme te empolga do começo ao fim com traços de cinema com um roteiro bem elaborado.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

Lucas G

Depp and Pacino. Need I say more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/17/23

Full Review

Soliel F

The relationship between Donnie and Lefty? "Forget about it!"

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/23

Full Review

Tee K

This one is a good mob flick. Pacino puts on a clinic, the only aspect i don't like is that it doesn't go into detail on how much Joe Pistone actually enjoyed being in the so called "mafia"

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/27/23

Full Review

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Mike Newell

Director

Al Pacino

Lefty

Johnny Depp

Donnie

Michael Madsen

Sonny

Bruno Kirby

Nicky

James Russo

Paulie

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Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Lefty Gets a Lion

1:55

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

2:12

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Am Them

1:58

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - I Know You Know!

2:08

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - Ambush and Overthrow

2:05

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - This is Life and Death

1:39

Donnie Brasco: Official Clip - A Close Call

1:29

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

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David Ansen

Newsweek

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.

Feb 28, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

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

Nov 20, 2008

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

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)

Rated: 4/5

Mar 4, 2022

Full Review

PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

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

Rated: 3/5

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide

Depp's tight, guarded performance is almost painful to watch, and Newell seems to have reined in the flamboyant Pacino, whose portrait of the mobster as a grumpy old man may be his best work in years.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 20, 2009

Full Review

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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 hit man 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 or not to complete his job, knowing that it will lead to the murder of his new friend.

Director: Mike Newell
Executive Producer: Alan Greenspan, Patrick McCormick
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
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, SDDS

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