Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Anything can happen during the dog days of summer. On August 22nd, 1972, everything did.
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.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 21 September 1975 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Director | Sidney Lumet |
| Starring | Al Pacino, John Cazale and Charles Durning |
| Runtime | 124 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 94% · Metacritic 86/100 · TMDB users 7.9/10 |
| Budget | $4 million |
Where to watch Dog Day Afternoon
We could not find Dog Day Afternoon on any of the subscription services we track in the US right now. That changes often; open it in Binge Boss and we will show you where it lands.
Rent or buy
You can rent Dog Day Afternoon on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Dog Day Afternoon in 4 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Australia | Max $15.99 AUD |
| Ireland | Skygo |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| United Kingdom | Skygo |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Sidney Lumet’s 1975 crime drama turns a failed bank heist into a two-hour character study. Al Pacino plays Sonny, whose motives surface only after the police surround the branch. The film runs 124 minutes, a duration that mirrors the real standoff’s tedious, escalating tension. It is a thriller that relies on dialogue and sweat rather than gunfights. The camera stays tight, forcing the audience to sit in the heat with the hostages. It works because the characters refuse to behave like stereotypes. It is a masterclass in how a bad idea can become a fascinating one.
What the critics said
Critics have come around to the idea that a bank robbery can be a comedy of errors. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 94% as of March 2026, with an average review score of 8.6 out of 10. Metacritic lands on 86 out of 100, a number that feels almost suspiciously high for a film this chaotic.
What came next for the cast
Al Pacino and John Cazale shared a specific trajectory, both fresh off the Godfather films. For Pacino, the years after 1975 stretched long, eventually reaching Scarface, Heat, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Cazale’s path ended sooner, his final credit appearing in The Deer Hunter. The timeline does not suggest the heist caused either arc. It just marks where they stood. Charles Durning arrived from The Sting and Sisters, then drifted into Tootsie, The Hudsucker Proxy, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Three distinct futures, none guaranteed by a single afternoon in Queens.
Where it left its mark
The film leans into its era’s cynicism. Critics have called it an anti-authoritarian take that defied the establishment, especially with its focus on the Attica Prison riot and the protagonist’s resentment toward police. It also became one of the first movies to feature a bisexual male lead. In 2009, the Library of Congress selected it for the National Film Registry, deeming it culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Christopher Null noted in 2006 that it captures the early 1970s zeitgeist, a time when optimism was scraping rock bottom. It remains a tense, funny snapshot of people in crisis.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Dog Day Afternoon.
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Sources
- Dog Day Afternoon on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q458656 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Dog Day Afternoon” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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