American Psycho

A chilling exploration of vanity and violence in a world where appearances are everything.

Critics broadly regard the film as a stylish, sharply acted black satire whose provocative violence and social commentary are balanced by Christian Bale’s committed performance, though its adaptation and ambiguity divide opinion.

• Patrick Bateman and his peers obsess over business cards, reservations, clothing, fitness, and exclusive access as expressions of superiority.
• Bateman performs the role of an immaculate Wall Street professional while describing and enacting an inhuman private self.
• The film’s increasingly uncertain treatment of Bateman’s crimes makes his perceptions and testimony impossible to accept at face value.
• The closed Wall Street social network links competitive presentation, misogyny, careerism, and predatory violence.

• Maniacshares black comedy, serial killer subject matter, social satire, and an unreliable sense of reality
• The King of Comedyshares satirical examination of consumer culture, psychological disintegration, and disturbing crime
• Nightcrawlershares wealthy urban alienation, violent psychopathy, and morally corrosive masculinity
• Fight Clubshares darkly comic corporate cruelty, identity instability, and stylized psychological violence

Director

Mary Harron

Release Date

2000-04-13

Runtime

102 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (12937)

What is American Psycho about?

A perfectly groomed Wall Street narcissist descends into murderous fantasy as his polished identity begins to fracture.

What is American Psycho like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Psycho as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is American Psycho violent?

Yes. Ember rates the violence in American Psycho as graphic.

What did critics think of American Psycho?

Critics broadly regard the film as a stylish, sharply acted black satire whose provocative violence and social commentary are balanced by Christian Bale’s committed performance, though its adaptation and ambiguity divide opinion.

Which films are like American Psycho?

Films with a similar feel include Maniac, The King of Comedy, Nightcrawler, and Fight Club.

How long is American Psycho?

American Psycho runs 102 minutes.

Where can I watch American Psycho?

In United States, American Psycho streams on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Fawesome, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Xumo Play, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Amazon MX Player.