Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Based On the Life of: Sonny Wortzik

Starring: Al Pacino

Movie Budget: $1.8 million

Star Salary: $400,000

In Dog Day Afternoon, Al Pacino stars as an inexperienced criminal named Sonny Wortzik, who led an ill-fated bank robbery in Brooklyn. The fumbling and failed robbery attempt led to a standoff with the FBI and NYPD and caused a media circus. Of course, there’s more to it than money, as Wortzik’s real motives are revealed through a series of flashbacks.

Dog Day Afternoon was directed by Sidney Lumet. Frank Pierson wrote the screenplay and the film was released on September 21, 1975. It was nominated for several Oscars, winning one for Best Original Screenplay, among other awards.