Skip to main content

This controversial Al Pacino movie is now streaming on Netflix. Here’s why you should watch it

Netflix has gotten off to a strong start in October thanks to new additions to the film library. That includes Scarface, one of the seminal films of the 1980s. Scarface initially joined the list of the 10 most popular movies on Netflix, and it remains one of the most-watched films of the month.

Scarface is technically a remake of the 1932 film with the same name, but it largely goes in its own direction. Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who wills himself to the top of the drug trade in Miami while leaving countless bodies in his wake. He’s a quintessential antihero and one of the most memorable characters that Pacino has ever played.

Recommended Videos

Now that the film is on the world’s most popular streaming platform, we’re sharing the three reasons why you should watch Scarface on Netflix in October. But for most people, they may only need one.

It has one of Al Pacino’s wildest performances

Al Pacino in Scarface.
Universal Pictures

Pacino was one of the driving forces behind getting this remake into theaters, and he threw everything he had into his absolutely unhinged and over-the-top performance as Tony Montana. Of course, Pacino isn’t actually Cuban like his character, but he maintains his version of a Cuban accent throughout. That’s one of the reasons why some of his lines, like “say hello to my little friend!” have become so iconic and memeworthy.

Scarface is about the rise and fall of Montana’s drug empire, and some of the scenes of Montana’s drug binges are even darkly funny. That doesn’t take away from the absolutely bleak ending where Montana fights to his last breath. And Pacino was mesmerizing to watch every step along the way.

Michelle Pfeiffer had her breakthrough role in the film

Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface.
Universal Pictures

Director Brian De Palma and Pacino were reportedly against casting Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira, the wife of Montana’s mentor, Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia), who goes on to marry Montana. In retrospect, De Palma and Pacino’s initial instincts were wrong, and Pfeiffer has gone on to have a very long career in Hollywood. She had previously starred in Grease 2, but this was her breakout role.

Compared to some of the other characters in the film, Elvira doesn’t get as much screen time, yet Pfeiffer makes the most of every scene that she’s in. That’s what a star is supposed to do, and along with her portrayal of Catwoman, it’s one of her most memorable performances.

Scarface exemplifies the excess of the ’80s

Al Pacino in Scarface.
Universal Pictures

Scarface is the kind of film that doesn’t know the meaning of the word restraint. It’s incredibly violent, it glorifies a life of crime and drug abuse, and it’s unapologetic about a lead character who has absolutely no redeeming qualities. And yet it’s impossible to look away from Tony Montana as he self-destructs, especially during the film’s climatic sequence.

Although Scarface wasn’t beloved by critics at the time, it proved to be highly influential on the rest of the crime epics in the ’80s. The soundtrack from the film also remains popular four decades after its release. Ecen today, it’s not uncommon to see Scarface T-shirts and posters still on sale in retail stores. Few movies ever make that kind of impact.

Watch Scarface on Netflix.

Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
If you have to watch one Netflix show in February 2025, stream this one
The cast of A Different World.

During 2024, Netflix added many classic sitcoms from the 1990s, including Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Reba. That's given those shows a chance to find a new audience in the streaming era. This month, the streamer is doing it again with A Different World, and it's our pick for the one Netflix show that you have to watch in February.

This is significant because A Different World hasn't been readily available to stream or purchase on digital outlets. It's also been unjustly dragged down by the controversy surrounding Bill Cosby and the sexual assault allegations against him that has relegated The Cosby Show to streaming purgatory. A Different World is a spinoff from The Cosby Show, and characters from the latter did show up in the former. However, A Different World also established its own identity as a comedy, especially once Lisa Bonet, the original lead of the series, left the show.

Read more
3 underrated Netflix shows you should watch this weekend (January 24-26)
The cast of HBO's Insecure

Netflix wants to be your television home, and it's been remarkably successful in that endeavor. The streamer features an amazing lineup of excellent shows, but when it's time to find something to watch, you might be at a bit of a loss over what to pick.
Thankfully, that's where we come in. We've pulled together a lineup of underrated series that are available on the streaming service, whether you're looking for something that will be over relatively quickly or a much longer commitment. These are three underrated shows on Netflix you should make time for this weekend.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Insecure (2016-2021)
Insecure - Trailer - Official HBO UK
The show that justifiably became Issa Rae's calling card, Insecure chronicles a very specific slice of modern black female life. Crucially, the show is always rooted in the perspectives of its two deeply flawed central characters, Issa and Molly, both of whom deal with a variety of major and minor crises over the course of several years in their lives.
Insecure is funny, real, and remarkably open-hearted even about its more objectionable characters. Featuring an outstanding array of Black talent, the series deserved every bit of acclaim it received and its extended run on HBO.
You can watch Insecure on Netflix.
Unorthodox (2020)
UNORTHODOX Trailer (2020) Netflix
A brilliant, sensitive look at Hasidic Judaism in the United States, Unorthodox tells the story of a woman who flees from an arranged marriage in Brooklyn in order to find a new life. When the past starts to catch up, she faces hard choices about what her future should be.
Unorthodox features a stunning central performance from Shira Haas, and it's one of the best Netflix miniseries to fly entirely under the radar. It might not be focused on true crime, but Unorthodox will leave you on the edge of your seat.
You can watch Unorthodox on Netflix.
The Pacific (2010)
'Our Cause Is Just' Trailer | The Pacific | HBO Classics
A spiritual sequel to Band of Brothers, The Pacific focuses on troops stationed on the other major front of the war. This series was every bit as gripping and acclaimed as its predecessor, but it hasn't had the same staying power. Based on true accounts of Pacific soldiers, the series chronicles their journey from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and ultimately to their return home in the aftermath of V-J Day.
Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the series is a brilliant reflection of the joys and immense sorrow of being a soldier in one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history.
You can watch The Pacific on Netflix.

Read more
If you have to watch one Netflix show this January 2025, stream this one
if you have to watch one netflix show this january 2025 stream younger tv hero

Netflix may be the top streamer for original programing, but it's also a digital afterlife for shows that aired on broadcast networks, cable channels, or even other streaming services like the recently resurgent Evil. This month, our pick for the one Netflix show you need to watch in January 2025 is Younger, a drama/comedy that premiered on TV Land in 2015.

Prior to the debut of Younger, series creator Darren Star had a proven track record in television including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Sex and the City. Younger lived up that pedigree by having a six-season run on TV Land before it moved to Paramount+ for its seventh and final season. This show already has a following, but Netflix has a way of helping old programing to reach new heights. Ahead of Younger's Netflix premiere on January 7, we're sharing the reasons why you should stream this show.
The premise is still timely in 2024

Read more