Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

Play trailer Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct R 2008 1h 53m Action Biography Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 70 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
French gangster Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) eventually becomes Public Enemy No. 1.

Where to Watch

Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

What to Know

Critics Consensus

It's undeniably uneven, but Vincent Cassel's electrifying performance makes Mesrine: Killer Instinct a gangster biopic worth seeking out.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 08/12/2011
4.5/5
Four hours of French gangsters may not sound like a cinematic joy, but with Euro-star Vincent Cassel in the lead role, the movie is utterly hypnotic. Go to Full Review
Robert Koehler Variety 01/21/2011
The effect of Richet's hyperventilating filmmaking is akin to that of an extended-play trailer. Go to Full Review
Simon Abrams Slant Magazine 08/30/2010
2/4
Vincent Cassel deserves better scenery to devour. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/09/2023
3.5/4
Audiences may only gather a sense of the character and what drives him, however, the film would rather just tell Mesrine’s incredible story than try to understand what motivates his every crime. Go to Full Review
Jason Best Movie Talk 11/22/2020
Vincent Cassel is suitably charismatic, volatile and dangerous in the lead role. Go to Full Review
David Harris Spectrum Culture 10/28/2019
3/5
Despite its broad characterizations and some confusing chronology, Mesrine: Killer Instinct still manages to entertain. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Bob 12/10/2023 Vincent Cassel simply makes 4 hours of cinema an offer you can't refuse. See more 03/06/2019 salut je laisse rarement des traces de moi sur internet ou autres mais en voyant vos critiques je me suis senti obligà (C) d'en ecrire une moi aussi! pas pour vous contrer mais pour vous signaler qu'en fait ce film est un chef d'oeuvre et vous expliquer pourquoi. je suis belge et fascinà (C) par les grand faits divers qui ont secouer certains pays d'Europe. en fait, derriere ce film il y as à (C)normà (C)ment de travail, de documentations, de recherche, d'interviews et de tà (C)moignage des protagonistes encore vivants (du cote de la police ou des voyous comme des journalistes ou simples temoins, et même la famille ou les proches de Mesrine comme sa compagne presente a ses côtes lors de sa mort et qui as à (C)tà (C) gravement blessee et en portes encore des sequelles aujourd'hui) et le film est tres proches de la realità (C) c'est tres soignà (C) vous pouvez par exemple aller voir sur youtube des extrais de journeaux televise ou chercher des images et coupures de presse on jurerait que certains extraits sont tirer de la rà (C)alite de plus sa explique aussi pourquoi la police n'as voulus prendre aucun risques en decidant de l'abattre beaucoup soutiennent encore aujourd'hui que c,est un assassinat. voilas j'espere avoir servis a quelque chose et je vous invites a regarder la deuxieme partie la difference entre les deux c'est que le premier est realisà (C) à partir du livre ecrit par Mesrine lui même en prison alors que le second est plutôt realisà (C) a partir de de documentation, d'enquête, de tà (C)moignages et archive de police et de presse. bonne lecture et veuillez m'excuser pour mon mauvais anglais. si quelqu'un veut le corriger pour qu'il soit plus comprehensible vous pouvez le faire bonne vision. See more 08/15/2017 **** This first chapter, 'Mesrine: Killer Instinct' is a nail-biting blast. The movie features a fantastic lead performance by Vincent Cassel and a break-neck pace that doesn't let up. Can't wait for Part 2! See more 06/09/2017 Good action movies which keep you glued are great and when they are based on a true story they are simply SPECTACULAR. This movie is a definite must watch for Action & Gangster movie fans. The first scene catches you, ties you to your seat and keeps you high for the next 2 hours. There are many movies which show the lives of criminals but this one stands out! Each scene is important in the build up to the end. You wouldn't feel a drag for a single second, in fact, once the movie ends you would be left wanting for more. See more 04/02/2017 It begins with the murder of an Algerian, and it continues with the murder of another Algerian after that, it's is learned that "an Arab in the garbage can be a waste, we can put 3 in there". These are the heroes of France! But how can such a scandal not be prohibited? See more 10/09/2014 This is part 1 of the epic tale about Public Enemy N. 1 in France during the 1960s and 1970s, Jacques Mesrine. Vincent Cassel plays Mesrine with powerful conviction, really getting into the skin of the man that started out his criminal career robbing houses and banks, kidnapping millionaires, not only in France but also in Canada. Gérard Depardieu as Guido, the Godfather-like figure in the story, is excellent as ever, and despite the fact that the movie has some slight changes in tone from time to time, is a very watchable thriller, with a very exciting moment almost at the end (the prison break sequence is fantastic). See more Read all reviews
Mesrine: Part 1 - Death Instinct

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Mesrine: Part II - Public Enemy 1 81% 82% Mesrine: Part II - Public Enemy 1 Watchlist Breaking Point 0% 20% Breaking Point Watchlist Public Enemies 68% 59% Public Enemies Watchlist Punisher: War Zone 29% 42% Punisher: War Zone Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis French gangster Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) eventually becomes Public Enemy No. 1.
Director
Jean-François Richet
Producer
Thomas Langmann, Serge Hayat
Screenwriter
Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet, Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
Production Co
Région Haute-Normandie, Angoa-Agicoa, Cinémage 2, Procirep, Canal+, Banque Populaire Images 8, Remstar Productions, La Petite Reine, 120 Films, Uni Étoile 5, Novo RPI, Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles (SODEC), Uni Etoile 4, TPS Star, Téléfilm Canada, M6 Films, Centre National de la Cinematographie
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Language|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre
Action, Biography, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 22, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$551.7K
Runtime
1h 53m
Most Popular at Home Now