Scarface
In the 1980s, a determined criminal-minded Cuban immigrant becomes the biggest drug smuggler in Miami, and is eventually undone by his own drug addiction.
Directed by Brian De Palma · Crime · Drama · 170 min · 1983
Trailer
Director
Brian De Palma
Studio
Universal Pictures{{cite web / url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/68337-SCARFACE / archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717142536/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/68337-SCARFACE / title=Scarface (1983) / website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films / archive-date=July 17, 2019 / access-date=July 17, 2019 / url-status=live / Martin Bregman Productions
Release
09 Dec 1983
Runtime
170 min
Genres
Crime, Drama
Full Plot
Tony Montana manages to leave Cuba during the Mariel exodus of 1980. He finds himself in a Florida refugee camp but his friend Manny has a way out for them: undertake a contract killing and arrangements will be made to get a green card. He's soon working for drug dealer Frank Lopez and shows his mettle when a deal with Colombian drug dealers goes bad. He also brings a new level of violence to Miami. Tony is protective of his younger sister but his mother knows what he does for a living and disowns him. Tony is impatient and wants it all however, including Frank's empire and his mistress Elvira Hancock. Once at the top however, Tony's outrageous actions make him a target and everything comes crumbling down.
Cast & Characters
Tony Montana: a Cuban-born refugee who becomes the most powerful drug lord in Miami
Al Pacino
Elvira Hancock: Frank Lopez's trophy wife, who later marries Tony Montana
Michelle Pfeiffer
Manolo "Manny" Ribera: Tony's best friend and right-hand man
Steven Bauer
Gina Montana: Tony's younger sister
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Frank Lopez: a Miami drug lord who mentors Tony and Manny
Robert Loggia
Georgina Montana: Tony's disapproving mother
Míriam Colón
Omar Suarez: Frank's righthand man who is skeptical of Tony
F. Murray Abraham
Alejandro Sosa: a Bolivian drug lord and supplier for Tony
Paul Shenar
Mel Bernstein: a corrupt Miami Police Detective on Frank's payroll
Harris Yulin
Chi-Chi: a friend and enforcer of Tony
Ángel Salazar
Ernie: a bodyguard of Frank's, who later works for Tony
Arnaldo Santana
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $25.0M, Scarface has grossed $66.0M worldwide — about 2.6x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Al Pacino appears in 4 films in our catalog, including The Godfather Part II, Heat.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Scarface was released theatrically in North America on December 9, 1983.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Scarface holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (1,012,928 votes), 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.3/10 on IMDb (1,012,928 votes), 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scarface's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Scarface holds a 77% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Scarface's IMDb rating?+
Scarface has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDb from 1,012,928 votes.
What is Scarface's Metacritic score?+
Scarface has a Metascore of 65/100 on Metacritic.
Is Scarface good? What are critics saying?+
Scarface holds 8.3/10 on IMDb (1,012,928 votes), 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Scarface?+
Scarface has a runtime of 170 min.
Who directed Scarface?+
Scarface was directed by Brian De Palma.
Where can I watch Scarface?+
Scarface is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Netflix, Sky Go, Now TV Cinema, Netflix Standard with Ads, Channel 4 Plus, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, JioHotstar.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to the movie "Scarface" is mixed. Some reviewers praise its performances, writing, direction by Brian De Palma, and score, while others criticize it for being overly violent, histrionic, and exaggerated. The film's excesses are particularly noted, with some comparing Al Pacino's performance unfavorably to Paul Muni's 1932 version of the same character.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Immensely great crime-drama that features some great performances and excellent writing from Oliver Stone (and this coming from someone who isn't a big fan of his) to the direction by Brian De Palma. The score is great though still love the song "Take It to the Limit" during the…
JPV852 · 9/10Despite all the hype and plaudits, I don't think this film is as good as Paul Muni's 1932 iteration. That's not to say it isn't a good film, nor that Al Pacino doesn't turn in a good effort - it's that it is all so brash. The language and action has no subtlety or finesse to it.…
CinemaSerf · 6/10**A very violent film about drug trafficking and paranoia, with a great cast and a great production, but where everything is histrionic and exaggerated.** I caught this film yesterday on television and decided to watch it in full. I had already heard about it, and the good dramat…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 5/10Like most of the gangster films, Scarface is the first one from many years and some people didn't even know that it's actually a remake to the original B&W version. While I was thinking about this, it went on the whole new level with the violence for the most part because it's di…
JackthePGL · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
Beyond awesome trailer AND movie.
@CM_86 · 1 likesUN GRAN ACTOR SIN LUGAR A DUDAS POCOS COMO EL
@JesusSanabia-u9e · 0 likesjust checked my email and saw this damn cant wait!
@A5J4DX · 0 likesUN GRAN ACTOR AL PACINO POCOS COMO EL
@JesusSanabia-u9e · 0 likesBout time they released this thing on Blu Ray
@tom11zz884 · 0 likesNice and impressive trailer, nice its on Blu-ray.....
@saqibk1 · 0 likesSay hello to my little friend!
@DeadSi1ence · 0 likesHave it. Love it
@harjeet1313 · 0 likes
