Scarface

Scarface has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix and Paramount Plus, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 13,177 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Al Pacino anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Scarface arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The plotting in Scarface is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall. Al Pacino and Steven Bauer lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 1983. Scarface is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Scarface proves them wrong. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch Al Pacino work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.