The Manchurian Candidate
2004, Mystery & thriller/Drama, 2h 10m
211 Reviews 50,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
While not the classic its predecessor is, this update is well-acted and conjures a chilling resonance. Read critic reviews
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Cast & Crew
Army Major Ben Marco
Eleanor Prentiss Shaw
Raymond Shaw
Thomas Jordan
Rosie
Al Melvin
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Critic Reviews for The Manchurian Candidate
Audience Reviews for The Manchurian Candidate
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Jul 11, 2018The opening gambit is one farfetched sci-fi idea: that you can be programmed to kill your loved ones against your will. But, past that, due to the professionalism of the participants, here is one decent fantasy thrill ride about a secret government coup by a multinational corporation. Jonathon Demme keeps the story fluid while Washionton, Streep and Schreiber, amongst others, make it all seem believable. Decent.
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Apr 29, 2016It's an enjoyable, thrilling-enough watch, but it's not entirely memorable and suffers from an intriguing but convoluted premise.Matthew Samuel M Super Reviewer
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Feb 23, 2014I know that the original is a beloved suspense film, but this is a solid remake. Excellent casting choices. The ending is great too.Stephen S Super Reviewer
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Apr 22, 2012An above-average psychological thriller with some great performances, The Manchurian Candidate delivers its fair share of creepy moments before ending a little unremarkably. It is, of course, a remake of the 1960s thriller of the same name starring Frank Sinatra. I haven't seen the original, but I was impressed by just how exciting and entertaining this remake is. It's sort of a political thriller sprinkled with just enough creepiness and mystery to make it consistently interesting. Meryl Streep gives a fantastic performance as Liev Schreiber's sinister, conspiring mother and the primary antagonist of the movie. Schreiber is also great as a young senator and Gulf War veteran who is mind-controlled as part of a far-reaching political conspiracy. The story becomes a little muddled in the ending, but everything leading up to it is thrilling and very enjoyable. It's imperfect, but Jonathan Demme's The Manchurian Candidate has a lot to offer in terms of excitement and entertainment, and that's more than enough to make it a worthwhile movie to watch.Joey S Super Reviewer
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