Carlito's Way: Rise to Power is a 2005 direct-to-video prequel to Brian DePalma's 1993 film Carlito's Way. Rise to Power is based on the novel Carlito's Way by Judge Edwin Torres (the 1993 Carlito's Way film was based on the sequel, After Hours, but used the title of the first novel to avoid being confused with Martin Scorsese's 1985 film After Hours). It stars Jay Hernandez as Carlito Brigante, the character played by Al Pacino in the first film. The film also features Mario Van Peebles, Michael Joseph Kelly, Luis Guzmán as Nacho Reyes, Jaclyn DeSantis, Sean Combs, Burt Young, and Domenick Lombardozzi.

In the 60's, the Puerto Rican Carlito Brigante, the Afro-American Earl and the Italian Rocco become best friends while in prison. When they are released, Rocco intermediates a heroin business with a family of the Italian Mafia leaded by Artie Bottolota Sr. Carlito negotiates with the lord Leroy "Hollywood Nicky" Barnes the area where the trio could operate in his neighborhood and sooner the three friends become powerful. Later, Carlito dates and has an affair with the beautiful Leticia. When Earl decides to move to Barbados with his girlfriend and leave the heroin business, his stupid younger brother causes a situation with the Italian mobsters, and Carlito and Rocco have to resolve the mess to save their lives. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil