'

Manhunter

Play trailer

Manhunter

R

Released Aug 22, 1986

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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).

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Read all reviews

Nathaniel A

One of my favorite films. Without spoiling, the ending sequence is worth the entirety of the movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Karen B

This is a great suspenseful movie if you enjoy those kind of movies I highly recommend this one the acting is really good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

Full Review

Cleve H

I have avoided this movie for decades. My thought was how could anything compete with The Silence of the Lambs but I am glad I finally watched it. True is early 80's fashion the acting is a little over the top but it is clear why Mindhunter became a textbook example of how to write a crime show. The procedural aspects of it were fantastic. William Peterson, who I love from CSI does an apt job with his role. Brian Cox also does a decent job as the first incarnation of Hannibal Lecter or Lecktor for this movie. I did not care for the ending of the movie which I thought Red Dragon did better but this is a good movie overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

M B

One of the best adaptions and crime movies ever made. Endless style with incredible casting and acting. Michael Manns masterpiece!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

Full Review

Christian K

A great detective movie that really hums for the most part. A nice prequel to Silence of the Lambs, which took advantage of the basic structure and expanded on it perfectly - mainly by having more Lecktor and less romance plot for the serial killer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

Timtoons 2

This film is genuinely awful. It’s honestly amusing whenever I hear people say this film was a better adaptation of the novel (Red Dragon) compared to the 2002 movie. Manhunter (I’ll call it Poophunter from now on cuz this film is awful.) attempts to adapt the Thomas Harris novel ‘Red Dragon’. However, due to the fact that Micheal Mann doesn’t know how to make horror, this film becomes a sloppy mess. The only things Poophunter gets right is Francis Dolarhyde’s physical appearance from the novel, and the way Will Graham acts in the movie is somewhat faithful to the novel. However, those are not enough to save the film. The rest of the film is barely faithful to the novel, making it another generic thriller movie. Overall Poophunter has to be one of the WORST movies I’ve ever watched, that aren’t trying to be so bad it’s good. Poophunter is the worst movie ever.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

52 Pick-Up

56%

48%

52 Pick-Up

Watchlist

Frantic

77%

64%

Frantic

Watchlist

Mississippi Burning

79%

90%

Mississippi Burning

Watchlist

The Silence of the Lambs

95%

95%

The Silence of the Lambs

Watchlist

Black Widow

54%

41%

Black Widow

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

50 Fresh Scary Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Netflix

The Killer Body Count Guide

Now Streaming: Divergent, The Master, Manhunter, and More

View more photos

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: Columbia, Sony Pictures Classics
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

Most Popular at Home Now