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Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Frank Pierson.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Frank Pierson. It stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, and Charles Durning, and is based on a 1972 Brooklyn bank robbery and hostage situation linked to John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile.

Plot and subject

The film follows a bank robbery that quickly turns into a hostage standoff in Brooklyn. The central events are based on the real-life 1972 robbery involving John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile.

Production and source material

Frank Pierson wrote the screenplay, drawing on the Life article "The Boys in the Bank." Sidney Lumet directed the film for producers Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand.

Release and reception

Dog Day Afternoon was released in 1975 and received strong critical response. It also performed well commercially and became regarded as an important American crime film.

Cast and performances

The cast includes Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, and Charles Durning. Pacino’s performance is especially prominent in accounts of the film’s reception.

Key facts

  • The film dramatizes the 1972 robbery and hostage crisis at a Chase Manhattan bank in Brooklyn.
  • Al Pacino plays Sonny Wortzik, the central robber and negotiator.
  • The story was inspired by real events reported in Life magazine.
  • It was a critical and box-office success on release.
  • The film is noted for its realistic style and social themes, including crime and media attention.
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Canadian context

The film is part of the international canon of 1970s American cinema and is widely studied and screened in Canada as a major crime drama.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dog Day Afternoon about?
It is about a Brooklyn bank robbery that becomes a hostage crisis and media spectacle, based on a true story.
Who directed Dog Day Afternoon?
Sidney Lumet directed the film.
Who wrote Dog Day Afternoon?
Frank Pierson wrote the screenplay.
What is Dog Day Afternoon based on?
It is based on the 1972 bank robbery and hostage situation covered in the Life article "The Boys in the Bank."
Who stars in Dog Day Afternoon?
The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, and Charles Durning.
When was Dog Day Afternoon released?
It was theatrically released on September 21, 1975.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Day_Afternoon
    Supports: Directed by Sidney Lumet; cast; 1975 release; based on the 1972 Brooklyn robbery; critical and box-office success.
  2. AllMovie — https://www.allmovie.com/movie/dog-day-afternoon-am6853
    Supports: Film is a 1975 American biographical crime drama; director, producers, cast, screenplay, and source article.
  3. Film Forum — https://filmforum.org/film/dog-day-afternoon-the-city
    Supports: Runtime, director, cast, and note that the motive involved funding for a wife's gender-affirming surgery.
  4. Turner Classic Movies — https://www.tcm.com/articles/387832/dog-day-afternoon
    Supports: True-story basis, setting in Brooklyn in August 1972, production credits, and outcome of the robbery.
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dog-Day-Afternoon
    Supports: Identifies Dog Day Afternoon as a 1975 film by Lumet.