American Psycho

68%

Tomatometer

155 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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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

... A ferociously intelligent, horribly violent and darkly funny parable of greed and violence.

Apr 25, 2023

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

The slick satire cleverly equates materialism, narcissism, misogyny, and classism with homicide, but you may laugh so loud at the protagonist that you won't be able to hear yourself laughing with him.

Mar 28, 2011

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Desson Thomson

Washington Post

It's hard to summon up enthusiasm for a performance so rooted in bloody banality. I mean, as Patrick, Bale's most emotionally pressing dilemma is: Chainsaw or butcher knife?

Mar 28, 2011

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Brian Bisesi

Horror Movie Club Podcast

The film’s crisp and controlled style is immediately appealing, but things become repetitive in the film’s second act. Luckily the open-ended and frenetic conclusion makes for an even more compelling examination of the film’s themes.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 13, 2024

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Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

I will not give away the ending to American Psycho, but I will say this: The last three scenes are implausible and unnecessary (and totally unrelated to the book) and the ending includes the cheapest, most manipulative trick in filmmaking.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 28, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Christian Bale is razor sharp... as blank corporate drone Patrick Bateman... a preening tiger in designer suits whose speaking voice is part salesman, part self-help guru, and completely artificial

Apr 8, 2023

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Audience Reviews

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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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Noah C "American Psycho" is a must watch horror movie if you wanna get a good scare and laugh. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review N P "American Psycho" centers around a male VP obsessed with fitting into high superficial NY society as he is clueless to human nature and battles a psychotically uncontrollable killing spree / ideation in the process. Christian Bale plays this nuanced and terrifyingly eerie character brilliantly, and the overall tone and pace of the movie immerses audiences questioning if our protagonist's POV is real or not. The main message is that society chooses outside appearances and facades despite individuals desperately asking for help and struggling on the inside. That revelation in itself is poignant - and worth a sincere watch. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review king r i guess you could say its sigma cinema Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Audience Member IMO the ending killed everything.Plus the movie felt like it was all over the place. It felt like I was watching a PG-13 Porn. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews

American Psycho

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Cast & Crew

Mary Harron Director Christian Bale Patrick Bateman Willem Dafoe Donald Kimball Jared Leto Paul Allen Reese Witherspoon Evelyn Williams Samantha Mathis Courtney Rawlinson

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American Psycho

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