Headhunters

Name: Headhunters
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: April 27, 2012
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Aksel Hennie, Julie R. Ølgaard, Kyrre Haugen Sydness, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 103 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 103 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: April 27, 2012 | R

Starring: Aksel Hennie, Julie R. Ølgaard, Kyrre Haugen Sydness, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund

Summary: Headhunters stars the talented Aksel Hennie as Roger, a charming scoundrel and Norway's most accomplished headhunter. Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremelyHeadhunters stars the talented Aksel Hennie as Roger, a charming scoundrel and Norway's most accomplished headhunter. Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so discovers something which makes him a hunted man. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: Morten Tyldum

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Apr 26, 2012

Headhunters is a dark adult entertainment, a wild and bloody adrenaline rush of a movie that deals in gleeful grotesqueness and over-the-top implausibilities. Read full review

Bob Mondello

Apr 27, 2012

The film has some fairly grisly violence, but also considerable humor and the sort of intricate, thought-through storytelling you'd expect from Hitchcock or the Coen brothers. Read full review

Anthony Lane

May 4, 2012

Headhunters is admirably swift in style, and dangerously silly in what it begs us to swallow, but at its heart is a consummate depiction of a permanent type - the proud and prickly male, thrown back on his desperate wits. Small may not be beautiful, but it lives. Read full review

Walter Addiego

May 3, 2012

My main quibble is that the ending is a bit softer than I might have hoped for, but don't let that dissuade you. Headhunters is a well-oiled, nasty machine. Read full review

Stephanie Merry

May 11, 2012

Headhunters has less in common with the somber, brooding tone of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" than the cheeky black comedy "In Bruges." Read full review

Ty Burr

May 10, 2012

It's crisp entertainment even as plot absurdities gum up the works. Read full review

The Guardian Paul MacInnes

Apr 9, 2012

The film doesn't merit chinstroking: it's stuffed with Troma-style riffs around schlock, gore and human effluvia, bookended by Shallow Grave-like sections full of cynical machinations. The parts barely relate, never mind work together. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dongangstar

Jul 22, 2012

What a great movie. I guess this will be the Norwegian entry for the Academy Awards. Very good story, fast, intelligent, very good lead actor, wonderful performances in general. Sure it's all about that special thing in the motion picture industry, I guess this Director has just built hisWhat a great movie. I guess this will be the Norwegian entry for the Academy Awards. Very good story, fast, intelligent, very good lead actor, wonderful performances in general. Sure it's all about that special thing in the motion picture industry, I guess this Director has just built his ..., it starts with an 'r' ;)… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

calnativesue

May 8, 2012

Definitely the most entertaining movie I have seen this year. It was an edge-of-your-seat, roller coaster ride of a movie. Thrilling and funny in an OMG - I can't believe this is happening kind of way, I highly recommend this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tenow

Apr 27, 2012

Movie makes you care about main character with great cast, thrilling story and intense moments and then delivers a satisfying conclusion. Recommended for the fans of recent Girl with the dragon tattoo

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

raymondo

Aug 31, 2012

A very well made European film that was made on a small budget, with some very impressive cinematography, good written story by Jo nesbo and top notch casting make this a must watch.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nutterjr

Jun 23, 2012

A Scandinavian shade of dark carefully panned thriller, with a number of ever escalating and unimaginable twists and turns, keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Unless you are averse to films with subtitles, watch it before you are faced with the dilemma of choosing the unavoidableA Scandinavian shade of dark carefully panned thriller, with a number of ever escalating and unimaginable twists and turns, keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Unless you are averse to films with subtitles, watch it before you are faced with the dilemma of choosing the unavoidable glossy Hollywood remake.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Compi24

Aug 10, 2018

In attempting to be both a noir and a man-on-the-run thriller, "Headhunters" already has big shoes to fill, but when the pitch is to also add in a couple hints of Guy Ritchie and "The Thomas Crown" affair, now you're just talking crazy. Well, "Headhunters" is nothing short of just that --In attempting to be both a noir and a man-on-the-run thriller, "Headhunters" already has big shoes to fill, but when the pitch is to also add in a couple hints of Guy Ritchie and "The Thomas Crown" affair, now you're just talking crazy. Well, "Headhunters" is nothing short of just that -- craziness. Director Morten Tyldum, performers Aksel Hennie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and chief screenwriters Lars Gudmestad and Ulf Ryberg, take this Jo Nesbo story of excess, hubris, and danger, and elevate to the heights of cinematic confection. This is a richly over-the-top, yet still nail-bitingly thrilling caper with enough twists and caveats to keep glued to the screen for (what I hoped would end up being) a three-and-a-half hour affair. And though it sadly comes in at just under two, boy, is it a ride to remember.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DirigiblePulp

Dec 17, 2016

An alright thriller with two truly great scenes.

1. Roger burying himself in all the fecal matter at the bottom of a porta potty, using the cardboard of the toilet paper roll as a breathing hole. 2. The twist of whether or not his wife was trying to kill him. In the garage when he findsAn alright thriller with two truly great scenes.

1. Roger burying himself in all the fecal matter at the bottom of a porta potty, using the cardboard of the toilet paper roll as a breathing hole.

2. The twist of whether or not his wife was trying to kill him. In the garage when he finds the dead body of his security helper buddy in his car and then his wife comes out to check on him...damn what a situation for both of them to be in. It was fun and nerve-wracking watching both of them trying to guess what the other knows.

Great stuff there, though the rest is just ok. Short man gets his hot wife and saves the day and all is forgotten and forgiven. Who knew that getting married meant your wife actually loves you? Who knew she meant it when she said she wants kids?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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