Manhunter

R

Released Aug 22, 1986

1 hr. 59 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

List

94%

49 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (William L. Petersen) is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case involving a killer known as the "Tooth Fairy" (Tom Noonan). Graham enlists the help of imprisoned serial killer -- and cannibal -- Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement. Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecktor and an interfering journalist (Stephen Lang).

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Critics Consensus

Michael Mann introduces audiences to Hannibal Lecter for the first time in Manhunter, a modish thriller that fleshes out Thomas Harris' heinous creations with an elegant, chilling detachment.

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geert v

A better movie than Red Dragon, without much star-appeal ... In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

Full Review

mark g

Visual masterpiece, incredible music, great performances by Peterson, Cox, and Noonan.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

Marcus E

Watching in 2024 the movie is good, not great. The final minutes were rushed in my opinion, after a good and deliberate pacing for most of the movie. That's where it fell a little flat for me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

Full Review

Sabrina F

I watched this movie when I was young, and man did I think it was so cool and dark. I was a kid watching the film on HBO or Showtime sometime in the 80's, so the costumes and soundtrack were not so dated then. Watching it now as an adult in 2024, I have to say, Manhunter has not aged as well as I thought it would. I think Red Dragon is the superior and definitely most faithful adaptation of Harris' novel of the same name. Manhunter has a lot of style and some good performances, but the scenes don't have the emotional weight that they should. I did not find the villain particularly scary either, and the music could be so distracting (and laughably cheesy). Red Dragon goes into greater depth concerning the Dollarhyde character. Ralph Fiennes brings out Francis' vulnerability, but when he needs to be scary, he is freaking terrifying. Brian Cox still does a good turn as Hannibal Lecter, but obviously after seeing two other great actors in the role, I have to say he is not as memorable and electric as Anthony Hopkins or Mads Mikkelsen. I would say watch Manhunter if you are into retro thrillers or if you are a fan of Michael Mann's work. If you want to see his best film, you should watch Heat instead. If you want to watch the best Red Dragon adaptation, then watch Red Dragon.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

Jim Diamant

One of the most underrated movies of the 80s with one of the most underrated actors, Tom Noonan stunning with a brilliant performance as Francis Dolarhyde. Great Cinematography.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

lord b

A really great treasure. Rewatchable as hell I think I have seen it like 11 times. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just insanely good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/23

Full Review

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Michael Mann

Director

William Petersen

FBI Agent Will Graham (as William Petersen)

Kim Greist

Molly Graham

Dennis Farina

FBI Section Chief Jack Crawford

Joan Allen

Reba McClane

Brian Cox

Dr. Hannibal Lecktor

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

This slick thriller has been overshadowed by The Silence of the Lambs, but it is a compelling piece of film-making.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

... "Manhunter" is a gory and gorgeous cop thriller...

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

David Edelstein

Slate

Manhunter ushered in the age of empathy for the devil.

Feb 7, 2007

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Michael Mann’s gripping, boldly stylized take on Hannibal Lecter is a crime thriller like no other.

Rated: 8.4/10

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

The stunning vision of a man rotting from the inside is one of Mann’s finest works, and remains one of his definitive character studies.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 18, 2023

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Mann manages to develop the notion of seeing in a persuasive way, helped by an unearthly performance from Tom Noonan…

Rated: 4/5

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (William L. Petersen) is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case involving a killer known as the "Tooth Fairy" (Tom Noonan). Graham enlists the help of imprisoned serial killer -- and cannibal -- Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement. Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecktor and an interfering journalist (Stephen Lang).

Director: Michael Mann
Executive Producer: Bernard Williams
Screenwriter: Michael Mann
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.0M
Sound Mix: Surround

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