Few directors and actors have influenced contemporary cinema the way Al Pacino and Quentin Tarantino have. Pacino infused every performance he was a part of with unbridled intensity, while Tarantino redrew the book on filmmaking in terms of style, dialogue, and genre enthusiasm. Between them, their combined output has left us with some of the most iconic films in cinema history. Here’s a list of 10 timeless classics that illustrate why these two names will forever be etched in movie lore.
10. Jackie Brown (1997)
Too often overlooked in Tarantino’s bibliography, Jackie Brown is his suave, soulful tribute to blaxploitation films and Elmore Leonard. Pam Grier excels as the resourceful flight attendant embroiled in a deadly racketeering scheme, while Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert De Niro populate a world that’s real and lived-in. In contrast with the hyper-violent energy of Pulp Fiction, this movie goes all in on restraint, intelligent construction, and one of Tarantino’s finest soundtracks. It’s understated, sophisticated, and utterly gratifying on repeat viewings.
9. Scarface (1983)
When it debuted, Scarface was slammed for being too violent, too loud, too much. Yet Al Pacino’s larger-than-life portrayal of Tony Montana has since become iconic. The story of a Cuban immigrant rising—and crashing—in Miami’s drug trade has been embraced by pop culture, especially hip-hop, as a tale of ambition and excess. Lines like “Say hello to my little friend” have entered the cultural lexicon, and Pacino himself has called it his defining role.
8. Heat (1995)
Michael Mann’s Heat is not only a crime movie—it’s the crime movie. Pacino’s hot-tempered detective and Robert De Niro’s calculating crook engage in a high-wire game of cat and mouse, with their famous diner monologue providing sparks that still ignite today. Alternating between subtle character moments and epic shootouts, the film is still the gold standard of heist dramas.
7. Pulp Fiction (1994)
The film that made Tarantino a cultural icon. With its non-linear narrative, pop culture-drenched dialogue, and iconic soundtrack, Pulp Fiction revolutionized independent filmmaking. It revived the career of John Travolta, provided Samuel L. Jackson with some of his most memorable lines, and inspired a generation of filmmakers. It’s more than a movie—it’s a cinematic earthquake.
6. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Few performances convey desperation as Pacino’s Sonny Wortzik, a fellow who’s robbing a bank to pay for his lover’s gender-affirming surgery. The film plays virtually in real time, ratcheting tension while examining social issues pertinent even today. Pacino’s kinetic nervous energy, vulnerability, and charisma make Sonny both flawed and extremely sympathetic. It’s one of Pacino’s most human and memorable performances.
5. Kill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2 (2003–2004)
A two-part revenge saga, Kill Bill is Tarantino in his most stylish and genre-defying mode. Uma Thurman’s Bride cuts her way through martial arts sagas, spaghetti westerns, and grindhouse excitements, with Volume 1 providing staggering action and Volume 2 exploring character and resolution. From the anime-inspired sequences to the House of Blue Leaves climax, these movies are a love letter to film itself.
4. Goodfellas (1990)
Technically a Scorsese film, but impossible to leave off this list. Goodfellas is a spiritual cousin to both Pacino’s mob dramas and Tarantino’s crime tales, with its kinetic energy, unforgettable narration, and brutally honest look at life in the Mafia. De Niro, Pesci, and Liotta all deliver career-defining work, and their influence on everything from The Sopranos to Tarantino’s own style is undeniable.
3. The Godfather (1972)
The part that cemented Pacino as a legend. As Michael Corleone, Pacino is one of cinema’s greatest character transformations—transitioning from reluctant son to calculating employer. Coppola’s grand scale, Marlon Brando’s legendary performance, and the film’s indelible moments make it a masterpiece. It’s frequently cited as one of the best films ever made, and for good reason.
2. The Godfather Part II (1974)
A sequel on par with the original—and in a few respects, superior. Alternating between young Vito’s ascension (played magnificently by De Niro) and Michael’s tragic fall, the film is epic but also intensely personal. Pacino’s acting here is widely regarded as his finest work, conveying the isolated, weighty horrors of power. With its opera-like storytelling and Oscar-winning credentials, it’s the kind of sequel that’s inevitable and necessary.
1. Scent of a Woman (1992)
After decades of powerhouse performances, Pacino finally received his Oscar for playing Frank Slade, a blind, bitter ex-colonel. Part larger-than-life and part deeply vulnerable, Pacino dominates every scene, providing us with iconic lines and emotional depth in equal measure. The famous “Hoo-ah!” is the film’s calling card, but it is the quiet moments of connection and pain that make the role one of Pacino’s greatest achievements.
Be it Pacino’s incendiary performances or Tarantino’s genre-defying visions, these movies represent the finest of contemporary cinema. From crime epics to cool revenge stories, each of them has left an irreparable imprint on the audience and the filmmaker. They remind us why we actually head for the cinemas in the first place—to be jolted, awed, and utterly transported.