Manhunter

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Manhunter

R

Released Aug 22, 1986

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

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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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

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David Edelstein

Slate

Manhunter ushered in the age of empathy for the devil.

Feb 7, 2007

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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

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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

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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

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Spike D

Squanders the iconic characters of its setting in a synth-laden, deadpan, Miami Vice-esque soup. Hannibal, the monster on which all this drama is supposed to turn, is utterly wasted and sidelined. Of all the adaptations of the Hannibal Lecter novels, this is surely one of the weakest.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

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KerryWhite's S

Rating: 7/10. 74/100

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/24

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Munyaradzi M

This film is in my opinion: one of the best suspenseful horror movies of the 1980s. The film is nearly flawless except for maybe one little nitpick I have: that being the ending fight scene, I think it is cool but I wish they made the fight sequence much longer and more impactful. But outside of the ok ending fight scene, this film is great! Defiently watch this movie if you get the chance, it surely will not disappoint!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

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Matt F

When I was a freshman in college, I rented this on videocassette in 1990 which was a year before Silence of the Lambs released and I really loved it. The soundtrack is awesome especially Red 7's 'Heartbeat' and the finale showdown with Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" playing in the background was just electric. I remember buying their Iron Butterfly's greatest hits on cassette after seeing this movie. William Petersen and Dennis Farina were awesome as was Brian Cox as Lector. Not as great as Anthony Hopkins' take on Lecter. But it will always be one of my favorites.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

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Julian S

Gripping and gory, “Manhunter” is a meticulously crafted character study, enriched by Brian Cox’s chillingly magnetic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/24

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Jonathan O

Truly outstanding psychological thriller is really disturbing, suspenseful and really fantastic cast including for the first time we get to meet young Hannibal Lecter helping Will to find the tooth fairy aka Red Dragon and Tom Noonan performance is really creepy and disturbing and emotional villain and he did really great work and Michael Mann did excellent directing and writing and it really felt like watching a true crime documentary on YouTube and streaming platforms.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/24

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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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
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
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
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround

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