When it comes togangstermovies, there are a few obvious ones that come to mind.Goodfellas,The Untouchables,Casino, andOnce Upon a Time in Americaare just a few that have stood the test of time to become revered classics, but among them all is a remake that has gone on to become one of the greatest ever made. Now, it’s found a new streaming home that will make it free to watch when it hitsTubion Sept. 1.
Released in 1983, the film in question was based on a 1930 novel by author Armitage Trail, and served as a remake of a 1932 pre-Code gangster movie directed by the great Howard Hawks. Starring Al Pacino as a Cuban refugee, the movie centers around his rise to become one of Miami’s most powerful drug lords. It’s perhaps one of the most brutal portrayals ever of a life of crime, which only adds to its reputation as a notorious classic.
If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking aboutScarface, Brian De Palma’s excellent gangster thriller that was written by Oliver Stone, and starred Pacino as Tony Montana, one of the best screen villains ever. Opening wide on Jun 22, 2025, the film managed to take in a little over $66 million during its theatrical run, andit went on to become a part of pop culture. Over the years, there have been video games, comic books, music, and even TV shows influenced byScarface, with the line, “Say hello to my little friend,” being one of the most quoted phrases in history.
‘Scarface’ Didn’t Start Out a Beloved Classic
While it’s now consideredone of the best gangster films ever madeand can regularly be found on Top 10 lists,Scarfacedidn’t start out as a beloved movie. Critics of the time blasted the film due to its violence, drug use, and language (it uses the F-word an astounding 226 times). Called “an empty, bullying, overblown B-movie” by some, and a film that “wallows in excess and unpleasantness for nearly three hours” by others, even today, more than 40 years later, some are still critical ofScarface, with Noah Berlatsky from Splice Today writing earlier this year:
“Unfortunately, the blockbuster trappings which have made it one of the director’s better-known movies are the same blockbuster trappings which make it one of his least characteristic—and one of his least interesting.”
Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 79% rating, though, it’s clear that the majority of people recognize De Palma’s classic for what it is: an unflinching look at how the American Dream can be distorted so easily when selfishness takes over and becomes destructive. It not only helped further Pacino’s star power, but helped create the careers of Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who portrayed Tony’s wife and sister, respectively, and went on to become two of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.
WhileScarfaceis already available to stream on Hulu and Peacock, you can look for it to hit Tubi on Sept. 1, making it free to stream for anyone who would either like to relive its greatness, or perhaps watch it for the first time.
