Manhunter

Name: Manhunter
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Released: August 22, 1986
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 75
Cast: William Petersen

1986

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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MANHUNTER

Movie Details & Credits

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) | Release Date: August 22, 1986

Starring: William Petersen

Summary: FBI Agent Will Graham (Petersen) has captured the diabolical Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Cox), nearly losing more than just his mind in the process. But when Graham is called out of retirement to hunt the psychopath known as "The Tooth Fairy" (Noonan) he must once again confront the horrors of "Hannibal The Cannibal". If Will Graham enters theFBI Agent Will Graham (Petersen) has captured the diabolical Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Cox), nearly losing more than just his mind in the process. But when Graham is called out of retirement to hunt the psychopath known as "The Tooth Fairy" (Noonan) he must once again confront the horrors of "Hannibal The Cannibal". If Will Graham enters the mind of the serial killer, can he ever come back? (Anchor Bay Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Michael Mann

Genre(s): Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire - Mark Dinning

Probing psychological study of madness and damn scary to boot. Read full review

100

Washington Post - Paul Attanasio

A gory and gorgeous cop thriller -- you'll forgive it almost anything, so full is your eye with the beauties of its design and photography, and your ear with its supercool electronic music. For all its faults, it's one of the most sensually thrilling movies of the year. Read full review

100

Time Out - Staff (Not Credited)

One of the most impressive American thrillers of the late '80s. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine - Staff (Non Credited)

Petersen is superb as the obsessive investigator who risks madness each time he takes on a case, and Tom Noonan is absolutely chilling as the psycho killer. Read full review

Washington Post - Joe Brown

Based on the ingenious novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris, it keeps the nerves racing on fear-fuel until its oddly anticlimactic climax. [15 Aug 1986, p.N29]

Variety - Staff (Not Credited)

An unpleasantly gripping thriller... Interesting Hitchcockian guilt transference territory and Mann's grip on his material is tight and sure. Director is at all times preoccupied by visual chic. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Steve Winn

Without a compelling - and convincingly compelled - character at its center, the details in this film lack an agonizing drop-by-drop tension. The various pieces fall apart like the shattered mirrors that figure in the crimes. [15 Aug 1986]

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User Reviews

horcrux2007

Sep 3, 2014

"Manhunter" is a very exciting and well-made film. There are many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing, and some very intense and suspenseful scenes. The film's main character, Will Graham, is very complex and likable, and the movie has some great acting. I think this is even"Manhunter" is a very exciting and well-made film. There are many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing, and some very intense and suspenseful scenes. The film's main character, Will Graham, is very complex and likable, and the movie has some great acting. I think this is even better than "The Silence of the Lambs", and I highly recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

adaniil2

Mar 5, 2014

Alongside with "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans" - one of the best Mann's movies. Unlike 2002 "Red Dragon", "Manhunter" is an extremely talented and deep adaptation of Harris' brilliant novel. It is in no way your regular maniac thriller, in which terrifing murders shown and tensionAlongside with "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans" - one of the best Mann's movies. Unlike 2002 "Red Dragon", "Manhunter" is an extremely talented and deep adaptation of Harris' brilliant novel. It is in no way your regular maniac thriller, in which terrifing murders shown and tension grows high every minute. And it's not a Lecter movie. Instead, it concentrates on psychological deepness of the main character, FBI special agent Will Graham, whose ability to identify himself with wanted murderers puts him to the edge of the sanity. William Petersen did a superb job of creating one of the deepest movie characters of all time, and it's a pity that he never became a huge star (in 80's he also was great in Fridkin's "To live and die in L.A.")

Movie is unforgettable not only because of it's detailed, psychological storyline and wonderful acting, but also vivid visuals and extraterrestial soundtrack. The way Mann and his team use colors and music creates a very special, unrepeatable atmosphere and eve helps in character development. All in all, "Manhunter" is a true masterpiece, both entertaining and thoughtful, and i deeply regret that it is so unpopular nowadays. Everyone should watch it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FranzHcritic

Jan 21, 2015

A blasphemous statement to most Lecter fans, but I found this to be the best film based on a Thomas Harris work. It's style and visuals give it a unique look to the 1980's thrillers, as well as having tense yet subtle performances by the cast. The whole film is more terrifying than 'RedA blasphemous statement to most Lecter fans, but I found this to be the best film based on a Thomas Harris work. It's style and visuals give it a unique look to the 1980's thrillers, as well as having tense yet subtle performances by the cast. The whole film is more terrifying than 'Red Dragon' or 'Silence on the Lambs', because it terrifies and gives suspense not with blood or gore, but with quality cinema.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

barnet42

Oct 15, 2012

Manhunter, an excellent thriller, is the best film I've seen from Mann's oeuvre. Heat is a vastly overrated mediocrity of a film rife with cliches and an implausible love subplot with the De Niro and Brenneman characters, among other numerous silly contrivances and digressions. It's aManhunter, an excellent thriller, is the best film I've seen from Mann's oeuvre. Heat is a vastly overrated mediocrity of a film rife with cliches and an implausible love subplot with the De Niro and Brenneman characters, among other numerous silly contrivances and digressions. It's a bloated Hollywood heist thriller. I haven't seen The Insider, yet, but have heard good things about it. Collateral is a merely passable thriller that features Cruise as a Hollywood villain who utters banal philosophy. Public Enemies is fun disposable entertainment.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

timone

Aug 22, 2018

So this is the first time for me to watch Manhunter which is something I'm curious to watch and while I was watching i just realised that some of the elements were taken from Red Dragon starring Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton. I know that it's based on the novel by Thomas Harris but whySo this is the first time for me to watch Manhunter which is something I'm curious to watch and while I was watching i just realised that some of the elements were taken from Red Dragon starring Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton. I know that it's based on the novel by Thomas Harris but why can't the film title just say Red Dragon instead of Manhunter. I mean, surely Red Dragon with Edward Norton had some similarities to Manhunter like the elements like Francis Dollarhyde says "You owe me awe.", a blind woman character, a character named Jack Crawford, these are all in the book and because the prequel to The Silence of the Lambs came out after Manhunter 26 years ago. Hmm, honestly I really check the book out now since I am familiar with the story in the novel. This is the first time that Hannibal Lecter which you will call him Hannibal the Cannibal. He appeared in one or two scenes which I remember. Brian Cox did that performance really well however I think Anthony Hopkins is the best Hannibal Lecter and he does the performance fantastically. The Silence of the Lambs is one of my favourite films of all time and Manhunter is an interesting crime thriller. It was slow paced because Michael Mann is known for making crime films, making them slow paced and that was his style. Manhunter is a terrific gripping film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LuciusMcGibbon

Feb 27, 2018

Brian Cox as Lecter... weeeeird! But very good. Just don't expect to see too much of him.

This movie is steeped in its own 80's-ness, but what a fantastic job everybody does. The visuals direction and the soundtrack, all quite commendable. William Petersen is interesting enough, and theBrian Cox as Lecter... weeeeird! But very good. Just don't expect to see too much of him.

This movie is steeped in its own 80's-ness, but what a fantastic job everybody does. The visuals direction and the soundtrack, all quite commendable. William Petersen is interesting enough, and the original Red Dragon... yes, please. And let me say this... Dennis Farina. Right, end of review.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jan 23, 2017

Deux bonnes choses à retenir de ce "Dragon Rouge" (bizarrement appelé Le Sixième Sens) : la mise en scène soignée de Michael Mann, presque élégante, et la musique électro bien agréable ma foi. A part ça, il est quand même étonnant de constater que les deux adaptations (1986 et 2002) duDeux bonnes choses à retenir de ce "Dragon Rouge" (bizarrement appelé Le Sixième Sens) : la mise en scène soignée de Michael Mann, presque élégante, et la musique électro bien agréable ma foi. A part ça, il est quand même étonnant de constater que les deux adaptations (1986 et 2002) du bouquin de Thomas Harris n'ont débouché que sur des produits médiocres ou moyens (sans compter les autres) alors que la base est là pour construire un polar de qualité.

Je n'ai pas lu le bouquin et n'ai pas l'intention de le lire mais il est clair que seul le Silence des Agneaux est réussi parmi les portages des oeuvres psychopathiques de l'auteur, sans doute un heureux accident de parcours qui restera inégalé.

Ce "Sixième sens" est très long, très lymphatique et malheureusement, le sémillant et diabolique Anthony Hopkins n'est pas là pour nous aider à faire passer la pillule, décidément très amère et trop dure à avaler ici. J'étais si détaché de ce prétendu thriller que j'ai failli m'endormir plusieurs fois.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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