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Primal Fear

R Released Apr 3, 1996 2h 9m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller TRAILER for List
77% Tomatometer 48 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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Primal Fear

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Mike Clark USA Today As a forum for its actors and for the big-screen directorial debut of multi-Emmy winner Gregory Hoblit, the film is up to the job. Rated: 3/4 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Don T Great actors, soundtrack, director! SO, I'LL AIR MY BEEF HERE. SINCE WHEN DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO REMOVE STARS FROM AUDIENCE. OF COURSE, WHEN I TRY TO CONTACT YOU I GET FANDANGO, WHO WON'T EVEN RESPOND TO A SIMPLE EMAIL I KNOW YOU ARE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE, WITH THEIR OTHER COMPANIES, BUT HOW ARE YOU SAVING MONEY???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/23/24 Full Review Fer S It is kind of predictable but you still want to know the truth. It is just not enough to make it a very good movie. While the plot is not that interesting, the acting and pacing is very good. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/24 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. It's first rate made all around on top of being ice cold. Riveting performances by everyone involved. A plot that keeps you guessing the entire way and an incredible ending. Were so used to seeing this genre end with the rightious justice previals ending. To see one that turns so dark is crazy to see and I haven't seen very many that do this. It's first rate made even without that. Everyone should give this a try once. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Rogue 5 An interseting movie with a amazing twist Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Audience Member A fantástica atuação de Edward Norton diferencia o filme de outros do mesmo género, elevando-o para um patamar mais alto do que o que ele poderia estar. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/21/24 Full Review Kyle C Tense, gripping legal thriller. The young Edward Norton is so great in this role, conjuring sympathy and frustration equally as the movie goes on. Richard Gere is, of course, charming as ever. Honestly, all of the supporting cast did a really solid job too. There's nuance in every performance, no matter how small. The twists start comin' and they don't stop comin', but some of them feel a little cheap and like they undermine the rest of the movie, so I'm taking off half a star for that. But it's still an excellent movie that has really held up well. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Primal Fear

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Playing Rough Primal Fear: Official Clip - Playing Rough 2:13 Primal Fear: Official Clip - Good For You, Marty Primal Fear: Official Clip - Good For You, Marty 2:13 Primal Fear: Official Clip - Just One Juror Primal Fear: Official Clip - Just One Juror 1:47 Primal Fear: Official Clip - Powerful People Primal Fear: Official Clip - Powerful People 2:05 Primal Fear: Official Clip - Meeting "Roy" Primal Fear: Official Clip - Meeting "Roy" 2:11 Primal Fear: Official Clip - How Can You Do What You Do? Primal Fear: Official Clip - How Can You Do What You Do? 2:05 Primal Fear: Official Clip - The Tape Primal Fear: Official Clip - The Tape 2:11 Primal Fear: Official Clip - Prepping Aaron Primal Fear: Official Clip - Prepping Aaron 0:57 Primal Fear: Official Clip - A Woman With a Brain Primal Fear: Official Clip - A Woman With a Brain 1:45 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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