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Candyman

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1:59

Candyman

R

Released Oct 16, 1992

1h 38m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

81 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a housing project on Chicago's Near North Side. From Anne-Marie, Helen learns about the Candyman (Tony Todd), a knife-wielding figure of urban legend that some of her neighbors believe to be responsible for a recent murder. After a mysterious man matching the Candyman's description begins stalking her, Helen comes to fear that the legend may be all too real.

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Critics Consensus

Though it ultimately sacrifices some mystery in the name of gory thrills, Candyman is a nuanced, effectively chilling tale that benefits from an interesting premise and some fine performances.

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Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

Candyman explicitly becomes a horror story about the power and fascination of horror stories.

Jun 7, 2022

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Monica Castillo

Bitch Media

Wonderfully playing against expectation, Candyman leaves you wondering where the story will go next, something missing in most horror movies.

Jan 13, 2021

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

If Candyman doesn't live up to its potential, it does fulfill most of the Saturday night requirements. The action is swift, if excessively graphic, and Madsen proves a strong-willed, sympathetic lead.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 4, 2020

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Todd does not appear until forty-four minutes into the ninety-nine-minute film, he dominates the film and becomes an icon, our twentieth century Dracula. The special effects may not hold up, and the green screen is discernible, but Todd is timeless.

Jun 12, 2024

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Tony Todd's performance and the Philip Glass score set the film apart from similar slashers, but it serves more as an effective compilation of scenes as opposed to an entirely satisfying full-length narrative.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 24, 2023

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Eve Tushnet

Patheos

Candyman is perfectly shot, and its central characters are iconic.

Aug 21, 2023

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Nick O

This Clive Barker penned urban legend ghost story is so sophisticated and well crafted, it absolutely transformed Tony Todd into a slasher hero!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

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babarizam D

Story is very good but lead character is poorly written

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

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Olivia J

Candyman is perfectly shot, and its central characters are iconic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Nolan L

Chilling and scary Candyman is a great horror movie all around

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

Garry A

This is as close to perfect as you're going to get for a horror movie. It was disturbing, scary, and completely enthralling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

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Filmgal G

This movie is an absolute classic. Tony Todd is excellent as Candyman, and Virginia Madsen as Helen is amazing. You want to root for her. The story is captivating, and some things throughout the film are bone-chilling, whether that be their death scenes and the consequences, or just the words that Candyman says. The writing is excellent, and all the messages they are trying to convey are done exceptionally well.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

Full Review

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Bernard Rose

Director

Virginia Madsen

Helen Lyle

Tony Todd

Candyman

Xander Berkeley

Trevor Lyle

Kasi Lemmons

Bernadette 'Bernie' Walsh

Vanessa Williams

Anne-Marie McCoy

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Candyman: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a housing project on Chicago's Near North Side. From Anne-Marie, Helen learns about the Candyman (Tony Todd), a knife-wielding figure of urban legend that some of her neighbors believe to be responsible for a recent murder. After a mysterious man matching the Candyman's description begins stalking her, Helen comes to fear that the legend may be all too real.

Director: Bernard Rose
Producer: Steve Golin, Alan Poul, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Clive Barker, Bernard Rose
Distributor: Columbia Tristar, TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Propaganda Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.5M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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