Primal Fear

Play trailer

2:19

Primal Fear

R

1996

2h 9m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

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Critics Consensus

Primal Fear is a straightforward yet entertaining thriller elevated by a crackerjack performance from Edward Norton.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

01/01/2000

3/4

As a forum for its actors and for the big-screen directorial debut of multi-Emmy winner Gregory Hoblit, the film is up to the job.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3.5/4

The plot is as good as crime procedurals get, but the movie is really better than its plot because of the three-dimensional characters.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

09/22/2023

B-

The tense crime procedural thriller has a twist in its last act that fails to do it justice.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

02/12/2022

3.5/4

A presumably innocent man and a justice-seeking defense lawyer delve into a complex tangle of crime and murder in Primal Fear, a sometimes grating, sometimes invigorating courtroom drama mixed with investigative police procedural.

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Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

06/23/2021

4/5

A tense psychological thriller rich with shadowy menace and a sense of confidence that allows the impressive cast to shine.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/24/2020

7/10

It's part trial procedural but mostly the suspenseful unraveling of testimony and the realization of lies.

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Zhakyp I.

@Jake_I7 19h

I am exited with Edward Norton’s play especially when he shows Roy.

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Harold S.

@Stenglein Jan 22

Slightly predictable; great acting

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Maria U

@merisvalore Dec 26

Amazing acting, solid movie, pathetic plot twist

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Tommy H

Dec 4

I saw the ending on YouTube, which completely spoiled this movie. The whole film depends on the conclusion.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 30

Richard Gere is a cool actor, and the story was good.

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William R.

@MileHighMilk Nov 23

Excellent movie. Kept me on the edge of my seat even though it’s a court room drama. It’s a movie that sticks with you.

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Gregory Hoblit

Director

Richard Gere

Martin Vail

Laura Linney

Janet Venable

Edward Norton

Aaron Stampler

John Mahoney

John Shaughnessy

Alfre Woodard

Judge Miriam Shoat

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Playing Rough

2:13

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Good For You, Marty

2:13

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Just One Juror

1:47

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Powerful People

2:05

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Meeting "Roy"

2:11

Primal Fear: Official Clip - How Can You Do What You Do?

2:05

Primal Fear: Official Clip - The Tape

2:11

Primal Fear: Official Clip - Prepping Aaron

0:57

Primal Fear: Official Clip - A Woman With a Brain

1:45

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Primal Fear: Trailer 1

2:19

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Synopsis

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Producer: Gary Lucchesi, Robert McMinn
Screenwriter: Steve Shagan, Ann Biderman
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.1M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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