Yet there were some critics who got it. The "New York Times" called Montana's downfall "as terrifying as it is vivid and arresting." In "Newsweek," David Ansen wrote: "Pacino isn't always in full control; the bigger his temper, the shakier his accent. But he makes this monster compelling, a half-crazed king of the jungle increasingly zonked out in his kingdom's forbidden fruits." As far as Pacino's accent, Stone said: "It was derided at the time, but people imitate it to this day. It may not be literally accurate, but what the fuck, it works!"

"Scarface" went on to gross $44.6 million during its theatrical release in 1983, a decent but not great total. However, the movie surged on the VHS rental market during the late 1980s (the film wasn't released on video until 1988) and then again in the late 1990s with the advent of the DVD market. In 2005, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) inducted "Scarface" into the VSDA Hall of Fame, which recognizes films that display staying power on the video rental and sale market over an extended period of time. "Scarface" was only the second film inducted into the VSDA Hall of Fame, following "The Godfather."

"Scarface" rode off into the sunset thanks to strong video rentals and sales

The film became so popular among rap and hip-hop stars that during production for the 20th anniversary DVD, Universal hatched a plan to have current rap artists record an entirely new soundtrack for the film that would have replaced the film's original synthesizer-laded new age score from Giorgio Moroder. However, De Palma shot down the idea, recognizing that it would tarnish a classic and displease the film's hardcore fans.

Stone isn't surprised that "Scarface" continues to live on. He's heard from every-day fans how much they loved the film for years before the general public realized the film had gained a whole new life. "Ultimately, I believe real people who come up to me and tell me on the street," he said. "That's more real for me than a review in the 'New York Times.'"

Stone feels the film has lasted because it was right on the money, and really captured the criminal underworld. "It was exaggerated, but it was close to the truth, and nobody got it at the time," Stone said. "'Miami Vice'" plunged in right where we left off. Michael Mann saw it right away, he told me that, he saw the power of it."

Out of numerous great performances, Tony Montana is Pacino's favourite role, and he knew "Scarface" was a special film when he was acting in it. Pacino told the "New York Times:" "You make a lot of pictures, and you realize some don't have it. I knew there was a pulse to this picture."