American Psycho

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2:02

American Psycho

R

2000

1h 42m

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

252 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 fiancé (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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Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

Aug 21

It's about as violent as any R-rated movie in America. But it's a lot more boring.

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Dean Lamanna

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

04/07/2025

2.5/5

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

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Adrian Martin

The Age (Australia)

04/05/2025

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.

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Bill Kelley

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Jul 8

B

The talented director, Mary Harron, never treats the material or her audience with a trace of condescension, and a strong cast trusted her enough to follow her lead completely.

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John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Feb 9

3/4

Harron deserves credit for figuring out how to make an American Psycho that retains its integrity while also standing a chance of earning a more-than-cult audience.

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Matt Soergel

Florida Times-Union

Jan 13

3/4

American Psycho works for several reasons, the most important being the performance of Bale.

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Neil

Jul 14

great acting. the dark humor CUTS deep

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David

Feb 22

Its much better in theaters, and its also the unrated version too.

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Adelso

Feb 22

This movie is honestly the most perfect movie ever man, I don’t remember it being this funny either but it’s definitely one of the best films ever

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Wyatt K

08/07/2024

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.

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Sid

02/01/2023

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

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Sabrina S

@thisisnotapseudonym 3d

This feminist cult classic is a perfect example of a satire that critiques conformity, materialism, and vanity. I'm led to believe that critics of this movie simply didn't understand the message. Fortunately, I've seen this movie about ten times and I therefore consider myself qualified. WARNING: Spoilers ahead. I like how the ending of this movie is left ambiguous. Was it all in Bateman's head? Were his crimes covered up for the sake of maintaining societal structure? Was he mistaken for someone else? I also liked that recurring motif--- the idea that Bateman and his colleagues are so similar that they often mistake each other for someone else. I think some people misunderstand that Bateman is meant to be the object of ridicule here, not some revolutionary hero. He gradually loses his mind as he tries to prove to himself that his detachment sets him apart from the others. This movie is a work of art. I could write an essay on this, but unfortunately I am out of characters. XOXO

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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

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American Psycho: Official Clip - A Pretty Sick Guy

2:38

American Psycho: Official Clip - Hip to be Square

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American Psycho: Official Clip - I Gotta Return Some Videotapes

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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 fiancé (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 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)