Carlito's Way

Carlito's Way
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian De Palma
Screenplay byDavid Koepp
Based onCarlito's Way and After Hours
by Edwin Torres
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyStephen H. Burum
Edited by
Music byPatrick Doyle
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12)
Running time
144 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million
Box office$64 million[1]

Carlito's Way is a 1993 American crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Koepp, based on the novels Carlito's Way (1975) and After Hours (1979) by Judge Edwin Torres. It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and Viggo Mortensen.

Pacino plays Carlito Brigante, a Nuyorican criminal who vows to go straight and to retire in paradise. However, his criminal past proves difficult to escape, and he unwillingly ends up being dragged into the same activities that got him imprisoned in the first place. The film is based mainly on After Hours, but used the title of the first novel to avoid it being confused with Martin Scorsese's 1985 film of the same name. This is the second film collaboration between Pacino and De Palma, after Scarface (1983).

Carlito's Way was released on November 12, 1993, by Universal Pictures. It initially received mixed reviews from critics and lukewarm results at the box office, though general reception to the film has improved in the subsequent years since its release. The film gained a strong cult following, and it is generally considered one of De Palma’s most enduring films.[2][3] Both Penn and Miller received Golden Globe nominations for their performances. A prequel titled Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, based on the first novel, was released direct-to-video in 2005.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mojo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Bartlett, Nick (January 31, 2022). "The 14 Best Brian De Palma Movies Ranked". SlashFilm. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Gaughan, Liam (September 19, 2023). ""They're all gonna laugh at you." 10 Most Intense Brian De Palma Movies, Ranked". Collider. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.