(Credit: Netflix)

There exist two types of people out there in the world. First are those who watch cinema to seek comfort, and others, well, others are psychopaths. So if you are a fan of the latter category and are scrolling through Netflix as you see Scarface sitting there quietly in the catalogue, this is your sign to hit play. Out of all the Al Pacino films currently available on the platform, Scarface is the loudest, grittiest, and somehow still one of the most emotionally layered. And that is exactly why it is the best one to watch right now.

Let’s be real. Pacino has done a lot. From brooding mafia men to wise detectives, he has played it all. But Scarface is the one that is impossible to ignore. Even if you have never watched it, you know the poster. The suit, the gun, the intimidating stare. It is more than a film. It is a pop culture landmark.

Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, Scarface tells the story of Tony Montana. He is a Cuban immigrant who claws his way from a refugee camp to the top of Miami’s drug empire. It is a rise-and-fall story, but not in the polished, prestige-drama kind of way. It is loud. It is chaotic. It is unhinged. And so is Tony.

What makes Scarface a must-watch especially now is how raw and uncomfortable it is. Tony is not a hero. He is not a genius. He is not even particularly likable most of the time. But Pacino plays him with this manic energy that is magnetic. You do not root for him, but you cannot look away.

There is something incredibly modern about this cult classic. In an era where so many stories are trying to be palatable or morally neat, Scarface refuses. It is messy on purpose. It makes you sit with that discomfort. Tony is selfish, insecure, and constantly spiraling, but Al Pacino gives him depth. He is not just angry, he is scared, constantly proving something to people who are not even watching anymore.

And let’s not pretend this film is just one long monologue. It is flashy and violent. The soundtrack, the colors, the excess it is all very much (a lot). But somehow it works. It mirrors Tony’s own unraveling. The louder the world gets, the less he sees clearly. Until all that’s left is a man, a staircase, and the most quotable final stand in cinema history.

Now, we know The Irishman is on Netflix too. And yes, it is technically a better film. It is subtle, mature, and beautifully shot. But sometimes, that is not what you want. Sometimes you want a film that slaps you in the face and dares you to keep watching. That is Scarface.

It is also a reminder of what made Pacino the legend that he is. Not just the ability to deliver a great line, but the way he throws himself into a character with zero hesitation. He does not care if Tony Montana is too much. He leans into the madness, and by the end, it feels earned.

So if you are in the mood for a bold, chaotic, and completely unforgettable Al Pacino, Scarface is the one. It is not perfect, but it knows that. And honestly, that is what makes it work.