Al Pacino and Brian De Palma reunite for the first time since the epic crime drama Scarface. Al Pacino plays Carlito Birgante, a notorious drug dealer who has just been released from prison on a technicality, thanks to his lawyer David Kleinfeld (Sean Penn).

All Carlito wants to do is lay low, make enough money to start his dream job in the Bahamas and rekindle the romance he once had with his old flame Gail (Penelope Ann Miller). But this isn't easy for Carlito as many old faces start to appear and Carlito soon realises that 'A favour gonna kill you faster than a bullet'.