Editing Serpico (section)

===Premiere reception===
''[[The New York Times]]'' felt that the film was "galvanizing" for Pacino's performance and the "tremendous intensity" of Lumet's direction. The publication also considered the film "disquieting" for its use of fictional names, as the reviewer felt that it diminished the role of Durk. Meanwhile, it called Theodorakis's soundtrack "redundant and dumb".{{sfn|Canby, Vincent|1973|p=61}}

The ''[[New York Daily News]]'' delivered a favorable review of the film. It rated it four stars out of five, and called it "a triumph of intelligence, compassion and style".{{sfn|Oster, Jerry|1973|p=122}} A follow-up critique by the publication deemed Pacino's acting a "masterful performance", as the reviewer remarked that "he walks like a cop. He talks like a cop. He even seems to think as a cop." The review also praised Lumet and his "talent for achieving social realism".{{sfn|Carroll, Kathleen|1973|p=7}}

''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'' considered it "one of the finest films of the year". Although it felt that the portrayal of Serpico was "too righteous and obsessive", the review favored Pacino, but felt that his performance was "sometimes a little too intense". It praised the photography of New York City as authentic, and credited Ornitz and Allen's work for it.{{sfn|Crittenden, John|1973|p=B-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66009980/ B-20]}}

''[[The Village Voice]]'' wrote a mixed review. It criticized the focus of the film on Serpico, and the minor role that the screenplay writers gave to the character that represented Durk. The reviewer considered that Serpico was "worth seeing" for Pacino's performance.{{sfn|Sarris, Andrew|1973|p=91-92}}

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' deemed Pacino's acting "outstanding", and Lumet's a combination of "gritty action and thought-provoking comment".{{sfn|Variety staff 2|1973}}

For ''[[Advance Publications|Newhouse News Services]]'', it was an "exciting movie", but the review remarked that it was "weakened" by its focus on Serpico. The news agency attributed the minimization of the other characters to avoid "possible lawsuits".{{sfn|Taylor, Frances|1973|p=T-6}}

The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' acclaimed ''Serpico''. [[Charles Champlin]] called Pacino "one of the handful of genuine star actors in American films". Salt and Wexler's screenplay was hailed as "almost documentary reality",{{sfn|Champlin, Charles|1973|p=C 1}} and its treatment of the main character "a complex and evolving portrait". The reviewer also remarked that the romances and break-ups were presented with "unhackneyed honesty".{{sfn|Champlin, Charles|1973|p=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66332601/ C 48]}} The contributions of the supporting cast were well noted.{{sfn|Champlin, Charles|1973|p=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66332838/ C 49]}} Champlin felt that Allen's work was considered to be "high on the list" for an Academy Award nomination, and deemed Theodorakis's music "effective".{{sfn|Champlin, Charles|1973|p=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66334008/ C 102]}}