After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
Acting
Pacino's Cuban accent and bug-eyed intensity—unhinged, unforgettable, possibly problematic.
Direction
De Palma's operatic violence and that chainsaw scene you'll never unsee.
Production
Gianni Versace's actual mansion as Tony's palace. Tasteless perfection.
Director
Brian De Palma
Al Pacino
Tony Montana
Steven Bauer
Manny Ray
Michelle Pfeiffer
Elvira
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Gina
Robert Loggia
Frank Lopez
Miriam Colon
Mama Montana
F. Murray Abraham
Omar
Paul Shenar
Alejandro Sosa
Harris Yulin
Bernstein
Ángel Salazar
Chi Chi
Arnaldo Santana
Ernie
Pepe Serna
Angel
Michael P. Moran
Nick The Pig
Al Israel
Hector The Toad
Dennis Holahan
Banker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Oliver Stone wrote the script while actually recovering from cocaine addiction, explaining the visceral paranoia.
Hip-hop adopted Tony as a self-made antihero despite the film's clear condemnation—rappers sampled his downfall as aspiration.
US
