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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for Perfume: The Story of a Murderer R Released Dec 27, 2006 2h 25m Mystery & Thriller History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 131 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
With his incredible talent for discerning scents, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) is one of 18th-century France's finest perfumers. He becomes obsessed with capturing an elusive aroma: the scent of young womanhood. His search takes a deadly turn, and when the bodies of 12 young females are found, panic breaks out, with families rushing to lock up their daughters.
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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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Critics Consensus

Perfume is what you'd expect from a Tom Twyker-directed movie glamorizing a serial killer: a kinetic visual feast, with a dark antihero that's impossible to feel sympathy for.

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Critics Reviews

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Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness [Its] off-the-charts screwiness obscures virtually all shortcomings. Rated: B+ Nov 21, 2007 Full Review Melissa Anderson Time Out Rated: 4/6 Feb 3, 2007 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Rated: 2/5 Jan 20, 2007 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending A movie that is much, much more nuts than it lets on. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 13, 2024 Full Review Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media The unsettling horror plot with a one-note villain -- Whishaw's Grenouille is on a murderous pursuit to try and recapture the smell of his first murder victim -- is perfect for a 45-minute episode of a show like The X-Files. Rated: 2/5 Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Whimsical, disgusting, beautiful, disturbing, and evocative, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer conjures all manner of responses. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jacob B This film reminded me of, and has quite a bit in common with, Kubricks masterpiece, “Barry Lyndon”. Both are visually dazzling, both are adapted from admired literary works and both tales tell of rather unsympathetic antiheroes and both rely heavily on a narrator. But whereas Kubricks film was uninterested in plot, this films director definitely is and his screenplay is quite plot heavy…and that’s the big difference: Kubricks adaption is cinematic, this one isn’t. The narrator in “Barry Lyndon” complimented the visuals, the narrator here (the magnificent John Hurt) doesn’t compliment, he distracts and too frequently is used to over explain and then over explain again. It’s feels less of a creative choice and more of an annoying necessity. There’s just something about this story that is not suited to the visual medium. Despite the best efforts of all involved, this story seems like it refuses to be cinematic—I’m assuming holding its full impact within the pages of the novel. However, the composition of the cinematography and the cast are strong enough to cover up its weaknesses and it is definitely worth a viewing…or two. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Scott H A fabulous story well told. By far and away Ben Whishaws best role. Bit Sheriff of Nottingham from Mr Rickman but that’s why you pays your money. Fabulous understated narration from John Hurt as ever Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Sosot K Masterful and brilliant! Stellar performance of actors! This cinematic marvel is a triumph of artistry and imagination. It’s a film that demands to be seen, not just for its technical brilliance but for its shockingly magical value. A true masterpiece, it cements its creator as one of the great film artists of our time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review Eduardo M Even though the movie romanticise the pursuit of happiness by a serial killer, which nothing else could be expected from given the fact that he has been neglected his whole life, since his birth (literally), the movie is quite interesting and involving. I have never seen any picture explorer the magnificent of the sense of smell and what someone could do if we had an amplified one. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/15/24 Full Review Pablo C this movie is really disturbing and shows nudity. I wouldn't recommend it for 12 year olds as Netflix does. It still has a great story and makes you overflow with negative AND positive emotions. Would recommend watching once you're around 15 or older (don't watch around your parents) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Hussain j "Perfume" . The film's opening in a grim, chaotic Parisian market immerses me in the filthy, raw atmosphere that shapes the protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Its cinematography masterfully conveys his heightened sense of smell, using rich visuals and color grading to depict the beauty and obsession of scent-making. The film's ending is haunting and unforgettable: Grenouille pours his perfect perfume on himself in the same market, causing the crowd to fall into an ecstatic frenzy, only to end in his tragic, self-inflicted demise. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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Movie Info

Synopsis With his incredible talent for discerning scents, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) is one of 18th-century France's finest perfumers. He becomes obsessed with capturing an elusive aroma: the scent of young womanhood. His search takes a deadly turn, and when the bodies of 12 young females are found, panic breaks out, with families rushing to lock up their daughters.
Director
Tom Tykwer
Producer
Bernd Eichinger, Martin Moszkowicz
Screenwriter
Tom Tykwer, Bernd Eichinger, Andrew Birkin
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Constantin Film Produktion, Nouvelles Éditions de Films [fr], Castelao Producciones S.A.
Rating
R (Disturbing Images|Aberrant Behavior|Nudity|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.2M
Runtime
2h 25m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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