Donnie Brasco (1997)
In 1978, the US government waged a war against organized crime. One man was left behind the lines.
An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and identifies more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 27 February 1997 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Director | Mike Newell |
| Starring | Johnny Depp, Al Pacino and Michael Madsen |
| Runtime | 127 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.8/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 88% · Metacritic 77/100 · TMDB users 7.5/10 |
Where to watch Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco is streaming on Netflix ($19.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $19.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 28 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent Donnie Brasco on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Plex. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Donnie Brasco in 9 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Australia | Binge $19.00 AUD, Foxtel |
| Cyprus | Netflix €8.99 |
| Greece | Netflix €8.99 |
| Iceland | Netflix about 1636 kr ISK |
| Italy | Prime Video €4.99, Skygo, Now TV |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Portugal | Netflix €8.99 |
| San Marino | Prime Video |
| Vatican City | Prime Video |
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
Mike Newell’s 1997 thriller runs 127 minutes and focuses on the psychological cost of deception. Johnny Depp plays an FBI agent who embeds with the mob, while Al Pacino portrays a mobster who becomes his closest confidant. The film drifts away from the typical heist or shootout. Instead, it examines the erosion of identity when a man spends too long wearing a mask. The tension comes from the fear of being found out, not from gunfights. It is a quiet, unsettling look at how loyalty can shift to the wrong side of the law.
What the critics said
Critics mostly agreed. Rotten Tomatoes holds an 88% approval rating based on 57 reviews, while Metacritic sits at 77 out of 100. The consensus calls it a stark, nuanced portrait of organized crime life. Janet Maslin of The New York Times found it "a sharp, clever encounter" that overturns genre cliches. Entertainment Weekly called it a "wonderfully dense, clever, and moving gangland thriller." Roger Ebert gave it three-and-a-half stars, noting the rare depiction of two men growing to love each other within a teacher-student framework. Depp’s performance drew specific praise for its believability, though Pacino’s exit scene left an ache.
What came next for the cast
Johnny Depp went from Edward Scissorhands to the Pirates franchise. Al Pacino moved from the Godfather era to roles in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and The Irishman. Michael Madsen, known for Reservoir Dogs, continued his run in Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight. The credits cannot say Donnie Brasco caused that shift. They simply list what came next.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Donnie Brasco.
Sources
- Donnie Brasco on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q738456 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Donnie Brasco (film)” 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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