Was dog day afternoon a true story?

Yes, "Dog Day Afternoon" is based on a true story. The film, directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1975, depicts the 1972 bank robbery in Brooklyn, New York, led by John Wojtowicz and his accomplice Salvatore Naturile. The robbery was intended to finance Wojtowicz's partner's gender confirmation surgery, highlighting issues of sexuality and identity. The events were dramatized for cinematic effect, but the core story remains rooted in reality.