In three years, Al Pacino will celebrate having been a movie actor for six decades, marking the 60th anniversary of his debut film, Me, Natalie, where he played a minor role. The longevity of his illustrious turn as an actor in Hollywood is made more impressive when one considers the sheer quality of the movies that defined Al Pacino’s career.

Pacino made a name for himself by surprising everyone with his performance in The Godfather, which made him a household name. The most underrated Al Pacino movies all showcase the actor’s incredible range and dedication to his craft, even though they failed to become bigger. That is hardly a criticism of the films, considering how many masterpieces Pacino’s starred in.

Al Pacino has played so many criminals in movies that it has almost become a specific niche associated with him even if he’s played a variety of roles over the years. One of his best performances as a criminal is in a Sidney Lumet movie from over half a century ago, and his latest movie has reminded viewers of that.

Al Pacino Stars In A Minor Role In Dead Man’s Wire

Gus Van Sant’s 2026 movie Dead Man’s Wire, based on real events, features Al Pacino as M.L. Hall, the father of Richard Hall (Dacre Montgomery), who was held at gunpoint by Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) for over a day. The Halls, who were mortgage bankers, had wronged Kiritsis, who was an estate developer. He demanded $5 million and an apology.

Dead Man’s Wire recreates the morning on which Kiritsis walked into Hall’s office, held him at gunpoint, and attached a dead man’s switch to both himself and Hall. They then walked out in front of the alarmed police before Hall, at gunpoint, drove them in a cop car to Tony’s home, where the latter held him hostage for 63 hours.

Al Pacino Is The Lead Actor In Dog Day Afternoon

In 1975, Sidney Lumet directed the movie Dog Day Afternoon, based on the real story of a bank heist gone wrong in Brooklyn. Al Pacino stars in the film as the protagonist, Sonny, who gradually sees his plans getting derailed by a series of unexpected occurrences that escalate what would have been a simple heist to a high-stakes hostage situation.

With a few changes to the real story, Dog Day Afternoon tracks the events from Sonny, Sal, and Stevie entering the bank to Sonny’s arrest at an airport. While the movie uses the real name for John Cazale’s Salvatore “Sal” Naturile, it renamed John Wojtowicz to Sonny Wortzik, Al Pacino’s character. However, the bizarre events make the allusions very clear.

The Two Movies Have Been Likened

Perhaps because they’re both relevant crime movies based on real-life hostage situations, many viewers and critics alike have compared Dead Man’s Wire with Dog Day Afternoon, with some even calling the former a remake of the latter. Dead Man’s Wire does mark Al Pacino’s return to the hostage genre, but the comparison doesn’t have much substance to it beyond that.

Firstly, Dead Man’s Wire is a significantly funnier movie because Bill Skarsgård and Colman Domingo’s performances bring a sense of humor to the occurrences. Dead Man’s Wire‘s editing choices also give it a more frantic and exciting energy, almost breathing life into the movie’s setting. The drama and character moments are heightened to elicit laughter and applause from the audience.

On the other hand, Dog Day Afternoon is a more contained thriller. The movie is at its strongest when contained in a single room, allowing the tension to build up. Dog Day Afternoon is also a more explicitly political film since it leans into the implications of Sonny wanting to rob a bank to fund his girlfriend’s gender reassignment surgery.

Bill Skarsgård’s Performance Is Comparable To Al Pacino’s

The two movies have vastly different approaches to their respective stories, which are chosen to suit the tone of the incidents they cover and the political climate of the times. However, one aspect definitely remains worthy of comparison. It’s often said that Pacino gave his career-best performance in Dog Day Afternoon, which is noticeably more nuanced than his usual work.

Similarly, Bill Skarsgård’s obsessive preparation for Dead Man’s Wire, which even caused director Van Sant to intervene at one point, has led to his best performance ever, including all the scary horror movie performances he’s made a name for. The movie showcases his dramatic talents, and while Pacino’s performance remains superior, Dead Man’s Wire unlocked something special in Bill Skarsgård.

Dead Man’s Wire Could Also Become A Cult Classic

To anyone who has seen Dog Day Afternoon, it is a must-watch crime movie that no one ever talks about, in no small part due to Al Pacino’s fantastic performance. Dead Man’s Wire may not be as culturally significant because its commentary is relatively shallow by Van Sant’s standards, but it deserves to be remembered fondly in the future, too.

We live in a time when the sheer output of cinema every year often makes popular films obscure within a decade. The definition of underrated has changed rapidly in the 21st Century, and Dead Man’s Wire may lose popularity quickly since its box office is unremarkable. However, it is equally likely to be remembered as an iconic period crime thriller.