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 109 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 109 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

wiggipop

Aug 23, 2012

Headhunters starts off as a pretty straightforward heist movie, but with a few sudden and sharp turns things get out of hand fast! Story-wise that is, because everything else about this movie is wonderfully realised, the performances, the cinematography: it is very well directed. Some storyHeadhunters starts off as a pretty straightforward heist movie, but with a few sudden and sharp turns things get out of hand fast! Story-wise that is, because everything else about this movie is wonderfully realised, the performances, the cinematography: it is very well directed. Some story contrivances and scenes of unnecessary gore, were the only semi-negatives. What ties it together is an incredible heart at the centre of the film, ultimately it's about a man who's afraid of losing his love, and that makes this film a brilliant watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bikerjames

Jun 4, 2012

At first the protagonist is the bad guy, but you will soon be rooting for him. This guy is like the Timex watch, he takes a licking and keeps on ticking. There are difficult scenes that you will be watching through your fingers! Very action packed, gory, and fun. You're not sure who isAt first the protagonist is the bad guy, but you will soon be rooting for him. This guy is like the Timex watch, he takes a licking and keeps on ticking. There are difficult scenes that you will be watching through your fingers! Very action packed, gory, and fun. You're not sure who is trustworthy at first, even his wife is suspect. A word of warning, it's a Norwegian film so you will have to read captions, and you will need to be a speed reader. I'm sure I missed some of the action on the screen while I was reading the captions.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Spangle

Feb 26, 2016

A slick and stylish thriller from director Morten Tyldum, Headhunters is a very satisfying experience with some killer direction, great action sequences, and a fantastically written story that is entirely captivating. The film can be quite complex and hard to understand, but by the endA slick and stylish thriller from director Morten Tyldum, Headhunters is a very satisfying experience with some killer direction, great action sequences, and a fantastically written story that is entirely captivating. The film can be quite complex and hard to understand, but by the end everything is clear and, at that moment, you realize how well thought out and well-crafted the overall film truly was. The acting is good and the characters are well-written and equally as complex as the film. In fact, this one is quite character-driven on the whole. Headhunters' major drawback is the lack of originality, but it does feel quite fresh and is so well-made, it is impossible to write-off at all. Overall, this is a fantastically entertaining and thrilling experience that is a feast for the eyes thanks to its stylish action.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Mar 15, 2022

It takes forever to get going, honestly the first half hour even bored me.
The cat and mouse narrative doesn't have much to absorb and the most entertaining part comes at the end when there's really no interest in the outcome.
Now add to that the notable lack of a compelling character toIt takes forever to get going, honestly the first half hour even bored me.
The cat and mouse narrative doesn't have much to absorb and the most entertaining part comes at the end when there's really no interest in the outcome.

Now add to that the notable lack of a compelling character to root for, Headhunters comes across as a mediocre and weak thriller for something that could have made better use of its plot.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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