American Psycho

Name: American Psycho
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: April 14, 2000
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Christian Bale

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1140 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1140 Ratings

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American Psycho

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: April 14, 2000 | NC-17

Starring: Christian Bale

Summary: Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis and featuring the sounds of Huey Lewis and other classic early 80s gems, this satire set in 1980s Manhattan follows the dual life of Patrick Bateman (Bale), zealously materialistic and misogynisitc Wall Street executive by day, murdering sociopath by night.

Director: Mary Harron

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: NC-17

Runtime: 102 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Stephen Holden

A lean and mean horror comedy classic. Read full review

Peter Travers

An uneven movie that nonetheless bristles with stinging wit and exerts a perverse fascination.

Lisa Alspector

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. Read full review

David Edelstein

Nearly perfect for what it is. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

A second-rate nightmare: the Reagan generation meets Leatherhead with flickers of brilliance drowned in blood and snobbery, a corpse dressed by Bloomingdale's.

David Sterritt

A standard-issue slasher movie, stylishly shot, but with little to distinguish it from a long line of "Psycho"-spawned gorefests. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Most of American Psycho just sits there, looking at trouble, rather than looking for it - complacent, overjoyed in fact to exist at all. Read full review

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User Reviews

Chassis28

May 7, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Patrick Bateman: [faking a conversation on the phone] Now, John, you've to wear clothes in proportion to your physique. There are definite dos and don'ts, good buddy of wearing a bold striped shirt. A bold stripe shirt calls for solid colored or discreetly patterned suits and ties.

[pause]

Patrick Bateman: Yes, always tip the stylist 15%. Listen, John, I've gotta go, T. Boone Pickens just walked in.

[laughs]

Patrick Bateman: Just joking. No, don't tip the owner of the salon. Okay John? Right? Got it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Bisect

Apr 17, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. American Psycho is a strangely satisfying film.

One of the weirdest movies I've seen. Saw on video tape when it came out then recently watched it again 18 years later. Forgot how fun it is to watch. The absurdity of Bale's character Patrick Bateman's shallowness and preoccupation with superficial things like how upset he gets over a colleague having a better business card than him makes this movie comedic while he's slicing up victims. Still not sure about whether or not all of the things happening were all in his head. I guess that's up for anyone's interpretation of the story. Very well done and one of Bale's best performances as if he's ever performed badly.… Expand

8 of 8 users found this helpful80

TylerDurden900

Jul 13, 2014

American Psycho has a terrific plot, acting and is a satire of the lifestyle of those who lived in the 1980's.
The movie is absorbing and intricate which is great to see. The movie also has great comedy provided
by Christian Bale. Bale put so many facets into his character that it wouldAmerican Psycho has a terrific plot, acting and is a satire of the lifestyle of those who lived in the 1980's.
The movie is absorbing and intricate which is great to see. The movie also has great comedy provided
by Christian Bale. Bale put so many facets into his character that it would take a while to list them
all, one of my favourite thrillers, A+.… Expand

21 of 23 users found this helpful212

AmateurSam

May 11, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. American Psycho is a great film. That’s as simple as can be put. To be more specific, the performances given by all the actors are great. Willem Dafoe is perfect for Donald Kimball. He plays him very well and the techniques used to keep the viewer guessing on if he knows Patrick is a killer is genius. Christian Bale plays Patrick Bateman amazingly and is easily one of my personal favourite performances of all time. He is able to be unhinged, perfectly douchey, and absolutely dead inside all at once. Jared Leto also does a good job as Paul Allen. The film itself is filled with iconic scenes and imagery such as the business card scene, Bateman’s morning routine, and Paul Allen’s death scene to mention a few. Every character is well written just as the film is. The best part is that throughout the whole thing, it is never boring. So yeah it’s aight.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Perspective_Det

Jan 21, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I found American Psycho to be a very fascinating, and unpredictable film. I read it as some insight and commentary on some Uber masculine ideal and as a sick male fantasy of control and power over most things. Patrick Bateman is certainly a character who will stick with me for a while, as he is a very strange and disturbed man. Christian Bale steals the show in the portrayal, as although I found myself quite sickened, uncomfortable and off put by Bateman, I simply couldn't look away as he has this weirdly alluring sense of charisma, charm and stoicism, that watching him interact with any character in the film was always so interesting. We don't really learn much about Bateman personally, like what his life was like growing up, for example, and things that would help us understand why he is the way he is. And that's fine, because you don't really worry about those things as you watch the film, but later when the credits roll you start to ask yourself why. Bale nails presence in this movie, and was an overall delight to observe. The themes surrounding the film are related to corporate America, especially back in the time of this film's release (2000), but personally those themes tend to go over my head because I'm not going to pretend I know things about corporate America, but what I can speak to is the films Uber Masculine themes. My personal meaning behind the phrase Uber Masculine, is defined as something that glorifies masculine traits, such as high sex drive, or desire for power. Patrick Bateman exudes these ideals throughout the film for me, as he has high aspirations, and desires to be viewed as a kind of top dog within his corporate workspace. He works out a lot due to some obsession with his body, and tells women what to wear, and speaks of them misogynistically, at times. These themes are very interestingly explored in my eyes, and I can see why a lot of men would unironically like Patrick Bateman for what he stands for as an ideal of a man to aspire to, but I would say that is missing the point, as he is just strange, needlessly obsessive, and commanding. Traits that no one should aspire to. I almost liked him but stopped myself in time after assessing him. The latter half of the film lost me personally, and I didn't really enjoy the whole 'was it real' trope, never have. The film asks viewers to suspend their disbelief a lot. For example, I don't believe Det. Kimble would so easily just give Bateman information regarding the active investigation case as easily as he does, and I get that it likely is done in part to keep people on edge and such, but it personally felt very unnatural how trustworthy he is of Bateman. Another thing is his murdering of Jean being so violent and cartoonish, especially her death. Peoples' propensity to forget each other's names and faces. And finally, I don't think any real person would not think someone like Patrick Bateman is creepy, strange, or even just odd. He always felt so obviously obsessive and stoic, that it's a wonder he has any 'friends' or even a fiancé at all. Given the movies use of the 'was it real' trope, I have to believe these decisions were done with that ending in mind, but does that invalidate it all, I wonder. All in all, American Psycho is a great film and look into was power could do to someone. I highly recommend.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MovieGoer14

Nov 22, 2013

Classic. American Psycho is a masterpiece. Christian Bale is phenomenal. Patrick Bateman is the most interesting character I have ever seen on screen.

3 of 24 users found this helpful321

SNXL

Feb 28, 2022

KKKKKKKKK vtnc que filme ruim, não acredito que criei tanto hype pra essa bomba

0 of 12 users found this helpful012

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3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 2000
8	#8 Most Shared Movie of 2000