The Headhunter's Calling

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2:24

The Headhunter's Calling

R

2017

1h 50m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

17%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Dane Jensen is a hard-driven headhunter who works at a cutthroat firm. When his boss pits him against the equally driven Lynn Vogel, Dane gears up for the professional battle of his life. When his young son is then given a harrowing diagnosis, Dane is suddenly pulled between achieving his professional dream and spending time with the family that needs him now more than ever.

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Critics Consensus

A Family Man has some worthy ideas, but they're bungled in a middle-of-the-road melodrama populated by thinly sketched -- and occasionally downright unlikeable -- characters.

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Rex Reed

Observer

Aug 1, 2017

2/4

Suffers from sentimental overload and a tidal wave of conscience-searching clichs.

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

Jul 28, 2017

2/4

Not great, not terrible, mostly bearable, occasionally insufferable; you might watch it all the way through if you were tucked into a blanket on a couch and weren't so thirsty, hungry or in need of a bathroom break that you felt compelled to get up.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Jul 27, 2017

Alternately crass and treacly, overbearing and under-finessed, the film ... is on life support from get-go.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Sep 22, 2021

2.5/4

...an often painfully conventional concoction that does, for the most part, fare reasonably well...

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Stephen Mayne

Under the Radar

Aug 25, 2017

5/10

A Family Man isn't good, but it's far better than its lazy foundations and cheap motivations deserve.

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Alexandra Hepworth

Film Inquiry

Aug 7, 2017

A Family Man is enjoyable at times but falls into the preconceived pitfalls that so many similar films have.

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Jamie O

@RT16420533 May 18, 2026

Very beautiful movie! I watched it with my wife and daughter and it made us cry and sheer.

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Anthony O

@AnthonyO Dec 26, 2025

I didn't know what to expect when I saw this movie but was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. The realism of the unlikeable main character not have a quick heart turnaround was very realistic and it unfolded at a decent pace skirting some deep philosophical concepts without getting lost in them. Definitely worth a watch

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andrea c

@Charst Dec 11, 2024

Perfetto esempio di prodotto di Hollywood diretto e prodotto con l'unico obiettivo di strappare qualche lacrima e lasciare un messaggio di redenzione e di valori. Tutti gli argomenti sono trattati in maniera dozzinale; dalla malattia al lavoro, con l'unico obiettivo di lasciare lo schermo a Gerald Butler e al suo talento. Complessivamente non si può dire che il film sia inguardabile ma allo stesso tempo sembra tutta una lenta attesa verso il prevedibilissimo lieto fine che arriva puntuale e melenso come da attese. Più adatto a chi ha poche pretese al di fuori del dramma da lacrima facile.

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Paul L

@RT69915558 Aug 19, 2024

I was a headhunter for 30 years. I worked my way up from a desk to partner But breaking away to start my own small firm allowed me to work and live like the Gerard Butler headhunter at the end of the movie. Amazingly accurate portrayal of the details of the profession. Beautiful sympathetic portrayal of Chicago,s miracle Mile, and their historic buildings. Great story of how difficult AND rewarding family life is. Classic portrayal of --Every family has challenges but you only have one family. What goes around comes around. Anazingly believable actors. We need more movies like this. Uplifting after a struggle!

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Francisco M

@RT22785351 Apr 2, 2024

Great message about family values

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Tar W

@Tarwater Jan 20, 2023

Bad in every sense of the word. Butler can be appealing, but this was so mishandled that it effectively became a very bad Lifetime movie.

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Mark Williams

Director

Gerard Butler

Dane Jensen

Gretchen Mol

Elise Jensen

Alison Brie

Lynn Vogel

Anupam Kher

Dr. Savraj Singh

Alfred Molina

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Synopsis

Dane Jensen is a hard-driven headhunter who works at a cutthroat firm. When his boss pits him against the equally driven Lynn Vogel, Dane gears up for the professional battle of his life. When his young son is then given a harrowing diagnosis, Dane is suddenly pulled between achieving his professional dream and spending time with the family that needs him now more than ever.

Director: Mark Williams
Producer: Gerard Butler, Nicolas Chartier, Craig J. Flores, Patrick Newall, Mark Williams
Screenwriter: Bill Dubuque
Distributor: Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: G-BASE, Zero Gravity Management
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2017
Runtime: 1h 50m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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