Primal Fear

Play trailer

2:19

Primal Fear

R

Released Apr 3, 1996

2h 9m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

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Critics Consensus

Primal Fear is a straightforward yet entertaining thriller elevated by a crackerjack performance from Edward Norton.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Jun 28, 2005

Full Review

Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

Rated: 4/4

Jun 18, 2002

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The plot is as good as crime procedurals get, but the movie is really better than its plot because of the three-dimensional characters.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The tense crime procedural thriller has a twist in its last act that fails to do it justice.

Rated: B-

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

A presumably innocent man and a justice-seeking defense lawyer delve into a complex tangle of crime and murder in Primal Fear, a sometimes grating, sometimes invigorating courtroom drama mixed with investigative police procedural.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 12, 2022

Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

A tense psychological thriller rich with shadowy menace and a sense of confidence that allows the impressive cast to shine.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 23, 2021

Full Review

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Mike V

Sooner or later, a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real. Primal Fear is a 1996 American legal mystery crime thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit 🔪 Awesome! 😀 I’d totally recommend it 👍🏼👍🏼 One of my favourite movies of the year ⭐️ Great acting combined with an interesting and twisting screenplay makes for entertaining viewing… An arrogant, high-powered attorney takes on the case of a poor altar boy found running away from the scene of the grisly murder of the bishop who has taken him in. The case gets a lot more complex when the accused reveals that there may or may not have been a third person in the room.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Patrick G.

8/10 Only the ending was really what made it worth it really slow

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

Esra Y

90s were the era of twist ending. Years later although ending is nothing new Primal fear still provides to be an intriguing ride with great performances especially from Norton.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Janis E

An unfolding mystery in which truth is elusive, and twists are the order of the day...gives Norton a career-making opportunity to strut his stuff.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

udit k

Primal Fear is a gripping courtroom thriller that completely exceeded my expectations. The performances are top-notch across the board, but the young man at the center of it all absolutely steals the show with a hauntingly powerful presence. Twists and tension keep you hooked till the very end. A must-watch for fans of smart, intense dramas— just watch it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Well done movie. It's a shame we don't get to see Richard Gere nowadays. Laura Linney is absolutely breathtaking in this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

Full Review

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Gregory Hoblit

Director

Richard Gere

Martin Vail

Laura Linney

Janet Venable

Edward Norton

Aaron Stampler

John Mahoney

John Shaughnessy

Alfre Woodard

Judge Miriam Shoat

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Playing Rough

2:13

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Good For You, Marty

2:13

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Just One Juror

1:47

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Powerful People

2:05

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Meeting "Roy"

2:11

Primal Fear: Official Clip - How Can You Do What You Do?

2:05

Primal Fear: Official Clip - The Tape

2:11

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Prepping Aaron

0:57

Primal Fear: Official Clip - A Woman With a Brain

1:45

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Primal Fear: Trailer 1

2:19

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Synopsis

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Producer: Gary Lucchesi, Robert McMinn
Screenwriter: Steve Shagan, Ann Biderman
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.1M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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