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Poster for Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon

Anything can happen during the dog days of summer. On August 22nd, 1972, everything did.

1975 · 2h 4m · R Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by Sidney Lumet

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Overview

Based on the true story of would-be Brooklyn bank robbers John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Sonny and Sal attempt a bank heist which quickly turns sour and escalates into a hostage situation and stand-off with the police. As Sonny's motives for the robbery are slowly revealed and things become more complicated, the heist turns into a media circus.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh

It's beautifully acted by performers who appear to have grown up on the city's sidewalks in the heat and hopelessness of an endless midsummer.

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Fresh

Lumet is exploring the cliches, not just using them.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rotten

Enjoyable and even exciting at the start, Dog Day Afternoon degenerates into frustration and tedium toward nightfall -- an experience no less painful for the audience than for the actors.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh

One of Sidney Lumet's best jobs of directing and one of Al Pacino's best performances (as a bisexual bank robber) come together in a populist thriller with lots of New York juice

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Fresh

Dog Day Afternoon is, in the whole as well as the parts, filmmaking at its best.

Variety Staff, Variety

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