The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate Image
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Metascore
94 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey
  • Summary: John Frankenheimer's gripping political thriller about a group of American soldiers who are captured and brainwashed into becoming sleeper agents. (MGM)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Here is a movie that was made more than 25 years ago, and it feels as if it were made yesterday. Not a moment of The Manchurian Candidate lacks edge and tension and a cynical spin. [Re-release]
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    100
    A dazzling spy thriller that’s still amazing.
  3. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Stuart Swineford
    70
    Complaints? Sure, I had a few: The liberal use of insta-sweat whenever the character in question is experiencing tension, Harvey's aforementioned accent, one over-used shot composition that places the action at a great distance with a giant-headed supporting actor in the extreme foreground. [Re-release]
  4. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Bosley Crowther
    60
    The film is so artfully contrived, the plot so interestingly started, the dialogue so racy and sharp, and John Frankenheimer's direction so exciting in the style of Orson Welles when he was making Citizen Kane and other pictures that the fascination of it is strong. So many fine cinematic touches and action details pop up that one keeps wishing the subject would develop into something more than it does.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. FrankO.
    10
    One of the best all-time political thrillers. Actually own this DVD and my collection is very selective. Plot was so controversial at production that release was delayed for years.… Expand
  2. PatC.
    10
    One of the Essentials. Both a well constructed film and an insightful articulation of the fears, suspicions and intrigue of the cold war era. Seems a litle over the top today, but hey, we still don't really know what really happened when Kennedy was shot. And that happened after this movie was made.… Expand
  3. ThomasW.
    10
    Excellent! Spell binding!!
  4. Frostbite
    10
    Not many movies focus on the topic of brainwashing, and that's what makes The Manchurian Candidate such an amazing and unique film. The movie follows a military veteran as he tries to figure out why he doesn't remember his friend performing an amazing act of heroism that saved two soldiers and awarded him the medal of honor. Another man in their squad talks of strange dreams, and soon after that the movie is launched into a story of politics, intrigue, and of course, brainwashing. The story leads to a great ending that wraps up everything nicely.… Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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