Man Bites Dog

Play trailer

Man Bites Dog

NC-17

1992

1h 36m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Bob Shelton

Birmingham Post

09/26/2024

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

Go to Full Review

Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

05/04/2020

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.

Go to Full Review

Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

07/24/2018

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

Go to Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

11/02/2015

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.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

07/25/2012

C-

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

Go to Full Review

Rob Humanick

Projection Booth

08/26/2011

C+

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jack F

@MovieFan111 Feb 23

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...

See more

Wyndham M

@RT29620591 Sep 6

This needs a sequel asap

See more

David L

@Dlatt Jul 6

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

See more

Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 Jun 30

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

See more

John C

@JohnnyCToes Jun 21

"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

See more

B C

@BryanCelt 03/29/2025

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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)

Robert Altman’s The Player is a Meta Exploration of Hollywood’s Twisted Self-Obsession

Man Bites Dog Is a Potent Mix Of Indie Film Cliches and Bloodlust

View more photos

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