Man Bites Dog

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Man Bites Dog

NC-17

1992

1h 36m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The activities of rampaging, indiscriminate serial killer Ben (Benoît Poelvoorde) are recorded by a willingly complicit documentary team, who eventually become his accomplices and active participants. Ben provides casual commentary on the nature of his work and arbitrary musings on topics of interest to him, such as music or the conditions of low-income housing, and even goes so far as to introduce the documentary crew to his family. But their reckless indulgences soon get the better of them.

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Bob Shelton

Birmingham Post

Sep 26, 2024

A vicious satire about TV violence that gets out of control and turns into a film almost too violent and depraved to watch.

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Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

May 4, 2020

3.5/4

"Man Bites Dog" is a deliriously sharp reflection of society's secret thirst for blood and human spectacle while hypocritically maintaining a stiff moral chin. A unique one-of-a-kind that's not for all.

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Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

Jul 24, 2018

The sheer kitsch of the characters and settings prevents a real-life audience from ever having to feel genuinely implicated.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Nov 2, 2015

A+

[VIDEO ESSAY] Self-reflexive social satire rarely comes with such a hilarious fury of black humor as it does in this ingenious mockumentary about filming a serial killer's pursuits.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jul 25, 2012

C-

It proves that a catchy title does not necessarily make for a good movie.

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Rob Humanick

Projection Booth

Aug 26, 2011

C+

An important film, yes, but one frequently surpassed and out-subverted.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Feb 23, 2026

Wow. 90%? Really. Why would you "like" this. It is like Natural Born Killers, just a different style. Same idea. There were parts that were humorous, and some that were not. When you were supposed to laugh was up to you I guess. The title refers to a news reporting saying "If a dog bites a man, that's not news. But if a man bites a dog, that is news." You get the picture. I kind of wish it wasn't in black ad white. Then again, maybe not...

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Wyndham M

@RT29620591 Sep 6, 2025

This needs a sequel asap

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David L

@Dlatt Jul 6, 2025

Self-reflexive social satire rarely comes with such a hilarious fury of black humor as it does in this ingenious mockumentary about filming a serial killer's pursuits

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 Jun 30, 2025

An sometimes deeply disturbing dark comedy that works so well thanks to the raw performances by the cast

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John C

@JohnCoch Jun 21, 2025

"Man Bites Dog" is a deliriously sharp reflection of society's secret thirst for blood and human spectacle while hypocritically maintaining a stiff moral chin. A unique one-of-a-kind that's not for

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B C

@BryanCelt Mar 29, 2025

more people need to see this film. great wit and style

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Rémy Belvaux

Director

André Bonzel

Director

Benoît Poelvoorde

Ben

Rémy Belvaux

Rémy (Reporter)

André Bonzel

Andre (Cameraman)

Jean-Marc Chenut

Patrick (Sound Man No. 1)

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Synopsis

The activities of rampaging, indiscriminate serial killer Ben (Benoît Poelvoorde) are recorded by a willingly complicit documentary team, who eventually become his accomplices and active participants. Ben provides casual commentary on the nature of his work and arbitrary musings on topics of interest to him, such as music or the conditions of low-income housing, and even goes so far as to introduce the documentary crew to his family. But their reckless indulgences soon get the better of them.

Director: Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel
Producer: Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Benoît Poelvoorde
Screenwriter: Benoît Poelvoorde, Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Vincent Tavier
Distributor: Roxie Releasing, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Les Artistes Anonymes
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2017
Runtime: 1h 36m

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