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Crime drama

Carlito's Way (1993): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Carlito's Way (1993) movie poster

Carlito's Way is a 1993 crime drama directed by Brian De Palma, starring Al Pacino and Sean Penn. It runs 2 hours 24 minutes and earned $63.8 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1994. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

IMDb rating
7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$63.8M
award nominations
2
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Carlito's Way (1993) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 24m (144 min)
Director
Brian De Palma
Genres
Drama , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$30M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Carlito's Way About?

The premise of Carlito's Way without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After serving a lengthy prison sentence, ex-convict Carlito Brigante attempts to build a legitimate life in 1970s New York City. He tries to stay on the straight and narrow, pursuing an education and avoiding his former criminal associates. However, the allure of the past and pressure from old friends and dangerous enemies threaten to drag him back into the violent underworld he desperately wants to escape, forcing him to confront his demons and fight for his freedom.

Carlito's Way Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • mafia
  • nightclub
  • gangster
  • 1970s
  • female nudity
  • go go dancer
  • based on novel
  • outdoor sex
  • mob lawyer
  • foot chase
  • snorting cocaine
  • urban setting
+38 more
  • nightclub owner
  • 1970s new york
  • american gangster
  • criminal underworld
  • jewish american
  • female full frontal nudity
  • love interest
  • sex in bed
  • blonde
  • topless dancing
  • pole dancing
  • jewish
  • strip club
  • sex in public
  • new york city
  • exotic dancer
  • crooked lawyer
  • crime boss
  • disco
  • neo noir
  • interracial sex
  • interracial romance
  • surprise ending
  • death of title character
  • death of protagonist
  • grand central station
  • reference to j. p. morgan
  • 360 degree pan
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • jewish lawyer
  • american mafia
  • ambush
  • pregnant girlfriend
  • ex drug dealer
  • vengeance
  • riker's island correctional facility new york city
  • cocaine addiction
  • pushed down stairs
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Cast & crew

Carlito's Way Cast

Al Pacino leads the cast, with Sean Penn. Directed by Brian De Palma.

From the director

More from Brian De Palma

More films directed by Brian De Palma, best-rated first: Blow Out, Carrie, The Untouchables and Dressed to Kill.

Full filmography
Ratings

Carlito's Way Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Carlito's Way 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

Plot

Carlito's Way Plot Summary

What happens in Carlito's Way from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1975, after serving five years of a 30-year prison sentence, Carlito Brigante is released due to a legal loophole manipulated by his lawyer, Dave Kleinfeld. Upon his release, Carlito decides to return to his old neighborhood in Spanish Harlem, hoping to make a fresh start. However, he’s soon swept back into his past when he reconnects with old friends and associates. Despite his determination to leave crime behind, Carlito is persuaded by his cousin Guajiro to join him on a drug deal at a bar, which ends tragically when Guajiro is betrayed and killed. Forced to fight his way out, Carlito takes the money from the deal and invests it into a nightclub, dreaming of saving $75,000 to retire in the Caribbean.

Full summary

The whole story of Carlito's Way, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Carlito's Way Box Office & Budget

Carlito's Way grossed $63.8 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 2.1 times what it cost. $36.9 million came from the US and Canada and $26.9 million (42%) from the rest of the world.

1993 box office

Worldwide gross

$63.8M

2.1× its budget

US & Canada
$36.9M
International
$26.9M
Budget
$30M
US & Canada 58% Rest of the world 42%
Awards

Carlito's Way Awards & Nominations

Carlito's Way earned 2 award nominations, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1994.

2 nominations1 ceremony

  • Golden Globe Awards logo
    Golden Globes 1994 2 nominations
    • Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) – Sean Penn
    • Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actress) – Penelope Ann Miller
Videos

Carlito's Way Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 5 clips.

All 7 videos
Carlito's Way (1993) Original Trailer [HD]
  • Teaser Original Trailer
  • Clip Benny Blanco From the Bronx Clip
  • Clip Carlito Gets Out Of Prison | Extended Preview
  • Clip Pool Hall Shootout Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Carlito's Way?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What crime was Carlito Brigante recently released from prison for?

Cars

Cars in Carlito's Way

33 cars on screen, including the 1973 Chevrolet Nova and the 1974 Chevrolet Impala.

All 33 cars
  • 1973 Chevrolet Nova in Carlito's Way 1973 Chevrolet Nova Important role
  • 1974 Chevrolet Impala in Carlito's Way 1974 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
  • 1974 Dodge Monaco in Carlito's Way 1974 Dodge Monaco Minor role
  • 1970 Plymouth Fury in Carlito's Way 1970 Plymouth Fury Minor role
Details

Carlito's Way Also Known As

31 alternative titles, including “L'impasse” and “Carlitova cesta”.

Also known as
  • L'impasse
  • Carlitova cesta
  • Atrapado por su pasado
  • Путь Карлито
  • O Pagamento Final
  • À la manière de Carlito
  • Fanget af fortiden
  • Υπόθεση Καρλίτο
  • Carlitov način
  • Carlito útja
  • Karlito kelias
  • Carlitos Weg
+19 more
  • Путь Карлитo
  • Perseguido pelo Passado
  • 情梟的黎明
  • カリートの道
  • カリートの道:1993
  • Carlito'nun Yolu
  • Życie Carlita
  • Карлитов пут
  • 情枭的黎明
  • דרכו של קרליטו
  • Calea lui Carlito
  • 칼리토
  • Пътят на Карлито
  • Carlito’s Way
  • Шлях Карліто
  • 角頭風雲
  • Con Đường Tội Lỗi Của Carlito
  • Atrapat pel passat
  • อหังการคาร์ลิโต้

Seen Carlito's Way?

FAQ

Carlito's Way FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Carlito's Way, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Carlito's Way?

Carlito's Way runs 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes).

When was Carlito's Way released?

Carlito's Way was released on November 12, 1993.

Who directed Carlito's Way?

Carlito's Way was directed by Brian De Palma.

More films by Brian De Palma

Who is in the cast of Carlito's Way?

Carlito's Way stars Al Pacino and Sean Penn.

How much did Carlito's Way make at the box office?

Carlito's Way grossed $63.8 million worldwide ($36.9 million domestic, $26.9 million international) on a budget of $30 million.

How is Carlito's Way rated?

Carlito's Way has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.

Was Carlito's Way nominated for any awards?

Carlito's Way received 2 nominations across 1 ceremony.

Does Carlito's Way have a post-credit scene?

No. Carlito's Way has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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