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The Manchurian Candidate

Play trailer Poster for The Manchurian Candidate PG-13 Released Oct 24, 1962 2h 6m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon is returned home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and, together with fellow soldier Allen Melvin (James Edwards), races to uncover a terrible plot.
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The Manchurian Candidate

The Manchurian Candidate

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Critics Consensus

A classic blend of satire and political thriller that was uncomfortably prescient in its own time, The Manchurian Candidate remains distressingly relevant today.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Scott Globe and Mail Gaudy, surreal, inexplicable, sensible. Dec 7, 2022 Full Review Peter John Dyer Sight & Sound Its unreal characters [are] essentially relevant to ourselves in the Cold War, its extravagant fears for the future rooted logically in the recent past. Mar 6, 2020 Full Review James Powers The Hollywood Reporter The direction and acting are good, so interest is maintained. Frankeheimer's handling of the early sequences, in which he attempts and succeeds in creating on film the corruption of the mind, is imaginative filmmaking. Mar 1, 2018 Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times With our country lurching ever closer to joining the “New World Order” mentality, a possible cold war, and many American voters embracing communist and socialist ideals and platforms, “The Manchurian Candidate” has never been more vital and relevant. Rated: 5/5 Oct 27, 2024 Full Review Anna Richards Radio Times Stealing the show is Oscar-nominated Angela Lansbury as Harvey's mother -- monstrous, manipulative and completely power-crazed, she is an unforgettable creation. Rated: 5/5 Aug 17, 2024 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies The Manchurian Candidate thrilled audiences in 1962 while addressing McCarthyism and the Cold War in its own way. Rated: 4.5/5 May 23, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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revolver.0 8 Ridiculous plot, but very influential for future scenarios like The Parallax View, Black ops, etc Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/30/25 Full Review Stephen C A success for a spy movie in 2 hours and 6 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Frank Sinatra as Captain Bennett Marco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Fer S It is such a great plot. Sadly, halfway through the movie it gets so slow and boring that it made me lose all interest. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/24/25 Full Review John G Incredibly prescient not only for the 60's and also for the present MAGA movement. Slow at times but the suspense holds up and the ending will shock you. Chilling considering Russian operatives may have infiltrated this nation's highest office in 2025. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Isaiah Y Excellent dark thriller Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Audience Member Murder She Rote Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Manchurian Candidate

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Cast & Crew

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John Frankenheimer

Director

Frank Sinatra

Major Bennett Marco

Laurence Harvey

Raymond Shaw

Janet Leigh

Eugenie Rose Chaney

Angela Lansbury

Mrs. Iselin

Henry Silva

Chunjin

Movie Clips

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The Manchurian Candidate

The Manchurian Candidate: Official Clip - A Cold War The Manchurian Candidate: Official Clip - A Cold War 2:33 The Manchurian Candidate: Official Clip - I Wanted a Killer The Manchurian Candidate: Official Clip - I Wanted a Killer 3:43 View more videos

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The Manchurian Candidate

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) The Manchurian Candidate (1962) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon is returned home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra), finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and, together with fellow soldier Allen Melvin (James Edwards), races to uncover a terrible plot.
Director
John Frankenheimer
Producer
John Frankenheimer, George Axelrod
Screenwriter
George Axelrod
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
M.C. Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 24, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.9M
Runtime
2h 6m
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