American Psycho

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American Psycho

R

2000

1h 42m

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

253 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, 2025

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

Apr 7, 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)

Apr 5, 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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Larry Ratliff

San Antonio Express-News

Aug 24, 2026

2.5/4

"American Psycho" is a film to be admired for burning gruesome imagery deep into our psyche.

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Bill Kelley

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Jul 8, 2026

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, 2026

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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Juandi

8 hrs ago

It was cool to watch this in theaters for the first time. It remains a classic & rightfully so. It’s still as entertaining & fun so many years later. One of my favorite Christian Bale performances.

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m

1 day ago

Huey Lewis and the News

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CS E

1 day ago

I had a great experience seeing this at AMC!

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B

5 days ago

in the AMC straight up jorking it to the superb tailoring of these suits

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Neil

Jul 14, 2026

great acting. the dark humor CUTS deep

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David

Feb 22, 2026

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

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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

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American Psycho: Trailer 1

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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)

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