Hapless Sonny and his sidekick Sal have a plan to rob a Brooklyn bank. The novice crooks thought they would be in and out in 10 minutes, but instead they find themselves stuck in an ongoing hostage situation, with the police and the media laying siege to the bank. Sidney Lumet's fact-based drama, starring Al Pacino, John Cazale and Charles Durning.

Based on the true story of would-be Brooklyn bank robbers John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Sonny and Sal attempt a bank heist which quickly turns sour and escalates into a hostage situation and stand-off with the police. As Sonny's motives for the robbery are slowly revealed and things become more complicated, the heist turns into a media circus.