Cruising (1980)

Cruising has Al Pacino early in his career taking bold risks, and that alone highlights why he’s considered one of the best actors of all time. He was willing to go places in 1980 that most stars wouldn’t touch, stepping into subject matter that was still largely unexplored on screen. Even when it doesn’t work perfectly, that commitment is admirable.

The film’s production was famously delayed by protests, yet it still premiered on February 8, 1980, before hitting theaters nationwide on February 15. The backlash didn’t stop there. Protests followed the film into its release, and criticism came immediately. Even so, Cruising finished as the 36th highest-grossing movie of the year, pulling in $19.8 million at the box office. With a cast like this, it’s easy to see why audiences showed up.

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