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Manhunter

Play trailer Poster for Manhunter R 1986 2h 0m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 120 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (William Petersen) is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case involving a killer known as the "Tooth Fairy" (Tom Noonan). Graham enlists the help of imprisoned serial killer -- and cannibal -- Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement. Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecter and an interfering journalist (Stephen Lang).
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Manhunter

Manhunter

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Critics Consensus

Michael Mann introduces audiences to Hannibal Lecter for the first time in Manhunter, a modish thriller that fleshes out Thomas Harris' heinous creations with an elegant, chilling detachment.

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Critics Reviews

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Alexander Walker London Evening Standard 22h
Mann is a real film-maker -- one who tells a story through what you see and, worse, what you imagine. It's a serial-killer thriller of quite unusual mood, intelligence and surprise. Go to Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times 22h
It's only later, safely out of its grasp, that you begin to notice that for all its perverse fascination, and save for two superlative performances, Manhunter has delivered very little. Go to Full Review Jay Scott Globe and Mail 23h
How do you put the mind of a murderer into a movie? Writer-director Michael Mann's irritatingly fashionable and self-consciously estheticized version of Red Dragon, entitled Manhunter, is no help. Go to Full Review Candice Russell South Florida Sun-Sentinel 22h
3.5/4
Michael Mann's mastery of the medium as its writer and director is evident in every frame of the film. He knows how to tell a story without any fat. Go to Full Review John Powers L.A. Weekly 22h
Mann's stylistic preening makes Manhunter a formal shambles, a film student's wet dream, a demonic gibber of a movie. Mann may know all the tricks in the book, but he doesn't understand the book. Go to Full Review Fred Lutz Toledo Blade 22h
Both Cox and tall Tom Noonan are persuasive as dedicated serial killers. The egotism of Cox in particular, complete with his precise English accent, provides an alarmingly fresh slant on the homicidal personality. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lyle Jul 27 Excellent restoration! See more steve S @stsch 1d absolutely horrible. after a while, it just morphed into a satire of itself. who wrote this thing? and where did they find actors so untalented? See more Phil D @phildub Aug 8 Michael Mann is fantastic. Great job of making Thomas Harris’ work come to life. Mind Hunter is basically a direct copy of this even down to the FBI duo. See more Pauly G @PauleyinMD Aug 7 The OG Dr. Hannibal Lecter film! Another Michael Mann masterpiece! Well written & masterfully acted! Brian Cox is as clever & devious, as he is scary ("Hannibal")! William Petersen (as "Will Graham") is as tough as they come, and Tom Noonan (R.I.P.) as "Dollarhyde" will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck! Excellent movie on all fronts! If you're a fan of the Thomas Harris books, and haven't seen this one yet, you're missing out!👍🏻👍🏻 See more Josh W @josh2077 Aug 6 Classic Michael Mann. See more Rey T @TheRey6 Jul 26 Very Good Film. Cool End Song. See more Read all reviews
Manhunter

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Mann

Director

William Petersen

Will Graham

Kim Greist

Molly Graham

Dennis Farina

Jack Crawford

Joan Allen

Reba

Brian Cox

Dr. Lecktor

Movie Clips

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Manhunter

Manhunter: Exclusive Movie Clip - Become God Manhunter: Exclusive Movie Clip - Become God 1:57 View more videos

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Manhunter

Manhunter (1986) Manhunter (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (William Petersen) is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case involving a killer known as the "Tooth Fairy" (Tom Noonan). Graham enlists the help of imprisoned serial killer -- and cannibal -- Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement. Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecter and an interfering journalist (Stephen Lang).
Director
Michael Mann
Producer
Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter
Michael Mann
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Columbia, Sony Pictures Classics
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 22, 1986, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$107.1K
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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