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American Psycho

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2:02

American Psycho

R

Released Apr 14, 2000

1h 43m

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

247 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiance (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster.

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Critics Consensus

If it falls short of the deadly satire of Bret Easton Ellis's novel, American Psycho still finds its own blend of horror and humor, thanks in part to a fittingly creepy performance by Christian Bale.

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Dean Lamanna

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

It's to Bale's credit that this yuppie anomaly remains semi-watchable as the rest of the film slips into a comatose surreality.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 7, 2025

Full Review

Adrian Martin

The Age (Australia)

A smug, monotonal, buttoned-down rendering of the one-gag novel by Bret Easton Ellis, it wastes the acting talent of Christian Bale and gives post-modern irony a bad name.

Apr 5, 2025

Full Review

Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

Although the film looks sharp, the emotional comfort zone Harron allows the audience simply saps it of any bite or value.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 5, 2025

Full Review

Stephen Witty

Newhouse News Service

The truly dangerous thing about the film of "American Psycho" isn't its weary moral, but that it insists on being a period piece, setting all of its horrid behavior and loathsome character so firmly, so safely, so arrogantly back in Ellis' own late '80s.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 5, 2025

Full Review

Chris Hewitt

Knight Ridder News Service

Harron's methodical direction echoes Bateman's matter-of-fact take on murder.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 5, 2025

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Bales gives a performance drained of personality and humanity, sometimes exhibiting a glint of affected charm, sometimes even saying the right thing.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 5, 2025

Full Review

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Wyatt K

I just love being able to see old movies in the big screen. Being born too late for the great bands is a drag, but it's great to be able to see old movies in the way they were supposed to be seen. Love retro days.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Sid

I love this movie! That chainsaw seen on the big screen was everything!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Brandon S

Great satire of 80's Wall Street trash. The novel is... something different.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

Nick O

This next level slasher just reaffirms what I already assume about rich, superficial, image obsessed yuppies…that they are actually psychos!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The name says it all. Effective and nasty, superb acting from Bale.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

Jack T

This movie is incredible. Christian Bale is wonderful. I think he is very attractive, and hot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

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Mary Harron

Director

Christian Bale

Patrick Bateman

Willem Dafoe

Donald Kimball

Jared Leto

Paul Allen

Reese Witherspoon

Evelyn Williams

Samantha Mathis

Courtney Rawlinson

American Psycho: Official Clip - Ed Gein's Philosophy of Women

1:00

American Psycho: Official Clip - Sussudio

2:37

American Psycho: Official Clip - Die Yuppie Scum

2:10

American Psycho: Official Clip - The Greatest Love of All

1:21

American Psycho: Official Clip - No More Barriers

1:12

American Psycho: Official Clip - Dinner Reservations

2:20

American Psycho: Official Clip - Feed Me a Stray Cat

1:52

American Psycho: Official Clip - A Pretty Sick Guy

2:38

American Psycho: Official Clip - Hip to be Square

2:26

American Psycho: Official Clip - I Gotta Return Some Videotapes

2:03

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American Psycho: Trailer 1

2:02

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Synopsis

In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiance (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster.

Director: Mary Harron
Producer: Christian Halsey Solomon, Chris Hanley, Edward R. Pressman
Screenwriter: Bret Easton Ellis, Mary Harron, Guinevere Turner
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Lions Gate Entertainment, P.P.S. Films, Quadra Entertainment, Muse Productions, Edward R. Pressman Film Corp.
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Strong Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 13, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.0M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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