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Based on a true story, “Dog Day Afternoon” stars Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik, an inexperienced criminal who orchestrated a bank heist to fund his lover’s sex change operation.
Immerse yourself in this riveting and harrowing tale of desperation. Find out where you can watch “Dog Day Afternoon” on streaming services in Canada.
Table of Contents
What Is Dog Day Afternoon About?
Unfolding in real-time, “Dog Day Afternoon” follows Sonny Wortzik, a working-class man who planned a bank robbery to pay for his partner’s sex change surgery, alongside his accomplice Sal Naturile. The film begins with the pair attempting to rob a bank by locking in the tellers and employees of the place. However, they discover that the bank’s cash reserves were removed, leaving them with limited funds. While they tried to think of other ways to get the cash, the authorities were closing in, leading to an intense encounter with the police. Sonny holds the bank tellers as hostages while desperately negotiating with law enforcement to secure the necessary funds for his partner’s gender confirmation surgery. Through Sonny’s character, “Dog Day Afternoon” explores societal marginalization and the sacrifices individuals are willing to endure for the people they love.
“Dog Day Afternoon” hit theaters in September 1975.
Who Are in the Cast and Production of Dog Day Afternoon?
At the helm of “Dog Day Afternoon” is Oscar-winning auteur Sidney Lumet, who based the film on a real New York bank heist in 1972. Lumet’s works mostly explore social injustices and abuse of authority. He is also part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmakers, alongside Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. Starring in the film are 70s legends Al Pacino and John Cazale, who also worked together in “The Godfather” trilogy. Here’s the cast of “Dog Day Afternoon”:
- Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik
- John Cazale as Sal Naturile
- Charles Durning as Sergeant Eugene Moretti
- Chris Sarandon as Leon Shermer
- Penelope Allen as Sylvia ‘Mouth’
- Sully Boyar as Mulvaney
- Susan Peretz as Angie
- James Broderick as FBI Special Agent Sheldon
- Lance Henriksen as FBI Special Agent Murphy
What is the Rating for Dog Day Afternoon?
“Dog Day Afternoon” is rated differently in Canada. depending on the region, ranging from 13+ to R. The film contains moderate depictions of coarse language, violence, and intense situations that are only suitable for audiences aged 13 and above.
How Many People Watch Dog Day Afternoon?
“Dog Day Afternoon” is a commercial success, collecting $56 million at the box office against a $3.6 million budget.
How Are the Reviews for Dog Day Afternoon?
“Dog Day Afternoon” received universal acclaim from cinema and viewers upon its release and remains one of the best films of the 1970s. It was praised mainly for Lumet’s direction, its thought-provoking subjects, and Al Pacino and John Cazale’s strong performances. The film also won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, while Al Pacino received a BAFTA for Best Actor.
“Dog Day Afternoon” is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and holds an impressive 96% approval rating. See what critics are saying about the film:
- “[Pacino] gives an electric performance, charged with a lunatic energy that expertly captures the weird blend of confidence and self-deprecation (if not hatred) that marks the paranoid syndrome.” — Time Magazine
- “Dog Day Afternoon is, in the whole as well as the parts, filmmaking at its best.” — Variety
Where to Watch Dog Day Afternoon in Canada
“Dog Day Afternoon” is available on streaming services and video-on-demand platforms in Canada.
Is Dog Day Afternoon Available on Streaming?
Crave
“Dog Day Afternoon” is also available on Crave through the STARZ channel. To watch the movie on the service, subscribe to any of the following membership plans:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Video resolution | Simultaneous streams |
| Basic with ads | CAD$9.99 | CAD$99.90 | 720p | 1 device |
| Standard with ads | CAD$14.99 | CAD$149.90 | 4K | 4 devices |
| Premium ad-free | CAD$19.99 | CAD$199.99 | 4K | 4 devices |
Crave also offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers that you can cancel at any time. The platform is compatible with different devices as well, including smartphones, smart TVs, laptops, tablets, and game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation.
Crave also houses content from various networks like HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central. “Fight Club,” “The Shining,” “Oldboy,” and “Gone Girl” are some of the most noteworthy psychological thrillers you can stream on Crave.
Amazon Prime Video
“Dog Day Afternoon” is also on Amazon Prime Video through the STARZ channel. To stream the film on the platform, subscribe to any of its subscription plans.
| Plan | Price | Simultaneous Screens | Video Resolution |
| Monthly | CAD$9.99 | 3 devices | UHD to 4K |
| Annual | CAD$99.99 | 3 devices | UHD to 4K |
Amazon Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial to new users. However, residents of Quebec are not eligible to avail themselves of the free trial. You can also enjoy your favorite Prime Video content on various devices, such as smartphones, smart TVs, laptops, tablets, game consoles, and web players like Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
You can also stream some of Prime Video’s most popular originals, such as “Good Omens,” “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “Fleabag,” “The Boys,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Is Dog Day Afternoon Available for Rent (VOD)?
You can also rent or purchase “Dog Day Afternoon” on several video-on-demand services in Canada. Do take note that rented movies are available for a limited time only.
| Platform | Rent | Purchase |
| Cineplex Store | CAD$5.99 | CAD$10.99 |
| Google Play Store | CAD$4.99 | CAD$9.99 |
| Microsoft Store | CAD$4.99 | CAD$9.99 |
| Apple TV | CAD$4.99 | CAD$9.99 |
| Amazon Prime Video | CAD$4.99 | CAD$9.99 |
| YouTube | CAD$4.99 | CAD$9.99 |
Is Dog Day Afternoon Available on Cable or Free TV?
“Dog Day Afternoon” has not aired on any cable networks or free TV in Canada.
Should I Use a VPN to Watch Dog Day Afternoon?
There’s no need to use a VPN to stream “Dog Day Afternoon.” The film is readily available in Canada via Crave, Prime Video, and VOD.
The Price of Desperation
“Dog Day Afternoon” shows the unimaginable actions social inequality can compel people to commit. In the film, Sonny’s planned robbery is a desperate response to the financial burden and social pressures inflicted on marginalized communities, which emphasizes the tragic realities of inequality and the extreme measures people are willing to take to address their troubles.
You can watch “Dog Day Afternoon” on Crave, Prime Video, and VOD in Canada.
