Dog Day Afternoon at 50: How Al Pacino’s Bank Heist Still Resonates in the Age of Viral Outrage
Dog Day Afternoon marks its 50th year and, despite its age, the film’s events and characters still read as familiar to many viewers. The bank address used in the movie is now a private apartment building, and local cinemas in the area sometimes screen revivals.
Bank and location
The Brooklyn bank building shown in Dog Day Afternoon is no longer a working bank; today it houses private apartments. For more on the filming location, see this location page.
Moreover, screenings of the film appear at nearby revival houses from time to time. For example, the Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park hosts revival showings in the area; you can check their schedule on their site.
Plot and characters
Al Pacino plays Sonny, a former bank employee and Vietnam veteran who attempts to rob a Brooklyn bank. Sonny’s stated reason for the robbery is to get money for gender reassignment surgery for his lover, Leon, who is played by Chris Sarandon. Leon is not part of the robbery itself.
Two other characters join Sonny inside the bank: Sal, played by John Cazale, and Stevie, played by Gary Springer. Stevie leaves shortly after the robbers brandish guns. During the robbery Sonny discovers the safe has already been emptied and someone has called the police, which turns the situation into a hostage standoff.
Crowd, media and moments
The film shows an on-street crowd forming outside the bank, and that crowd responds to Sonny in real time. For example, Sonny steps outside at times and tosses some of the stolen cash to onlookers. He also pays for pizza for the hostages, and a delivery man celebrates the brief attention the event brings him, saying, “I’m a fucking star!”
Additionally, Sonny shouts “Attica! Attica!” during the standoff, a reference to the 1971 Attica prison riot. The movie is set in 1972, which is the same era as the real incident that inspired the story. The crowd’s attitude toward Sonny changes over the course of the film, and that shift connects to revelations about his personal life.
Themes and how the film treats identity
The robbery is framed by the characters’ personal struggles. The film includes details about Sonny’s work history and his difficulty finding well-paying employment, and it shows Sonny juggling tasks inside the bank as the situation grows more chaotic.
Leon’s character is depicted through a few scenes in which she appears to be struggling. The narrative does not present Leon as actively manipulating Sonny; instead, the relationship is shown as one of mutual complications. At one point, the crowd reacts negatively when they learn about Sonny’s bisexuality, and the film also mentions Sonny’s wife and children.
Finally, the film blends moments of dark comedy—particularly in the early sequences—with increasing tension as the standoff progresses. The situation moves from bungled plans and small jokes to a more serious, high-stakes confrontation.
Where to watch
As of this writing, Dog Day Afternoon is available to stream on HBO Max.
