American Buffalo

Play trailer

American Buffalo

R,

1996,

1h 28m,

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

72%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Pawn shop owner Don (Dennis Franz) discovers that a rare coin he has just sold for next to nothing is actually worth a small fortune, so he enlists his loyal teen employee, Bobby (Sean Nelson), to help him get the item back. Unfortunately, it now sits in another store, and the men will have to stage a holdup in order to retrieve it. Don's loser pal, Teach (Dustin Hoffman), believes he can make the heist work and talks his way into joining the scheme, but Don starts to get nervous about the plan.

Critics Consensus

It lacks the dynamism of other adaptations of his work, but American Buffalo still offers the tenacious characterizations and hard-hitting dialogue that are hallmarks of David Mamet's writing.

Read Critics Reviews

Daniel M. Kimmel

Variety

Apr 29, 2005

A three-character, one-set chamber piece, pic lacks the bravura moments of the film version of the playwright's Glengarry Glen Ross

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/4

Because the film never really brings to life its inner secrets, it seems leisurely, and toward the end, it seems long.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Oct 2, 2025

2/4

...predominantly comes off as a persistently lackluster endeavor that confirms some plays just aren’t suited to the silver screen.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Oct 1, 2010

C+

Dustin Hoffman channels his Ratso Rizzo character from the 1969 Midnight Cowboy.

Go to Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Jul 23, 2007

B

Mesmerized by the trademark Mamet gutter poetry, Corrente directs unobtrusively and respectfully.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Feb 12, 2007

C

In this overly theatrical version, Hoffman gives a mediocre performance in a role that Al Pacino excelled with on stage. Failing to open up Mamet's play, confined to one locale--a junk store--the film is claustropobhic and dull, lacking emotional payoff

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Poe S

Aug 1, 2012

CAST OF THREE. Very underrated. Gritty, high-tension boiler room pot-boiler by David Mamet. Superb characterization and acting by Dennis Franz and Dustin Hoffman. There's a reason these highly gifted actors picked this project at the height of their powers. It provides keen insight into the criminal mind. Feels like a play. Watch a couple derelicts plan a revenge burglary for an imagined wrong. Everyone should watch this as an example of fine acting, superb characterization, and containment. ***This will teach you how to write relevant, effective dialogue in a completely dialogue-driven film.*** Despite being unpleasant, this is a must-see. Mostly one location. Ignore the low audience scores from the cretins. 74/45. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ****1/2/*****

See more

Read all reviews

Michael Corrente

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Walt 'Teach' Teacher

Dennis Franz

Don 'Donny' Dubrow

Sean Nelson

Bob

David Mamet

Writer

John Sloss

Executive Producer

Prey for Rock & Roll

58%

63%

Prey for Rock & Roll

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Prey for Rock & Roll

Shining Through

41%

72%

Shining Through

Watchlist

Partition

38%

73%

Partition

Watchlist

Critical Care

59%

30%

Critical Care

Watchlist

Guinevere

85%

53%

Guinevere

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Pawn shop owner Don (Dennis Franz) discovers that a rare coin he has just sold for next to nothing is actually worth a small fortune, so he enlists his loyal teen employee, Bobby (Sean Nelson), to help him get the item back. Unfortunately, it now sits in another store, and the men will have to stage a holdup in order to retrieve it. Don's loser pal, Teach (Dustin Hoffman), believes he can make the heist work and talks his way into joining the scheme, but Don starts to get nervous about the plan.

Director: Michael Corrente
Producer: Gregory Mosher
Screenwriter: David Mamet
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Punch Productions, Samuel Goldwyn Company
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $632.1K
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings