M

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M

Released Apr 2, 1933

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

100%

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63 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre), a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

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Critics Consensus

A landmark psychological thriller with arresting images, deep thoughts on modern society, and Peter Lorre in his finest performance.

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Bruce Blevin

The New Republic

Not only is the film brilliantly directed, with a vast amount of that inspired type-casting at which the Germans are so good, but Peter Lorre acts the part of the insane murderer with great insight and inspired skill.

Feb 18, 2022

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Be afraid. Be properly afraid. The greatest creation of Fritz Lang's career remains one of the most disturbing movies of his, or any, film-making era.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 30, 2019

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Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Lang's movie is that rare thing, a nail-biting soul-searcher. While M steers clear of analyzing deviance, it is startling in its musings on which punishment fits an inhuman crime.

Rated: 4/4

May 2, 2016

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Lang’s film remains an urgent and engaging experience that still feels vibrantly made and acted—the product of a specific place and time in history, of course, but also vital, exciting, and timeless.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 13, 2025

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

A genuine masterpiece.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 17, 2024

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

One of the most chilling films ever.

Mar 8, 2023

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Jyri J

A thrilling experience. Awesome ending scene. The middle part is a little slow, but considering the year the movie was made, one can ignore this aspect. Definitely recommending this classic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

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Insomniac X

Fritz Lang constructs an engrossing social drama from the trappings of crime and thriller fiction. The serial killer manhunt featured here -- complete with psychological profiling on the part of law enforcement -- has been imitated by countless films. The same can be said for the thrilling heist sequence in act two. Disparate story elements ultimately resolve into a sobering meditation on the nature of justice, and the limitations and responsibilities of law and community.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

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William B

Nice Peter Lorre's performance. Good acting and awesome plot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

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g j

The start and the end are fantastic, but overall the pacing is atrocious and I found it hard to stay awake for most of the middle of this film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/16/24

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Christian K

Really a great concept, the police simply can't catch a notorious child serial killer so are upping their presence in the streets around town. This impacts the criminal organizations in town so they decide to go and capture him themselves, which they manage in about 2 days. Inventive filmmaking for the era and the actor who plays the killer gives an incredible extended final monologue.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

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Cem Y

Technicality aside, I think the movie owes much of its worth to the last scene. On the other hand, the idea of revealing the character who should have been mysterious according to current rules of cinema did not make me happy as a 21st century audience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/27/24

Full Review

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Fritz Lang

Director

Peter Lorre

Hans Beckert

Ellen Widmann

Madame Beckmann

Inge Landgut

Elsie Beckmann

Otto Wernicke

Insp. Karl Lohmann

Gustaf Gründgens

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Synopsis

In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre), a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.

Director: Fritz Lang
Producer: Seymour Nebenzal
Screenwriter: Egon Jacobson, Fritz Lang
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Nero-Film AG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 2, 1933, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.6K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Mono

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