American Psycho (2000)

Kernel Score: 89% · 12,046 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Thriller, Drama, Crime

Released: 2000-04-13

Runtime: 102 minutes

Is American Psycho worth watching?

Worth watching. A sleek, very dark satire of 1980s greed, built around an investment banker who may be a killer. Christian Bale is superb, but it is graphic, cold and not for the squeamish.

Watch it if you

  • like dark satire
  • enjoy a showy lead performance
  • want a stylish, unsettling thriller

Skip it if you

  • dislike graphic violence
  • want a clear, conventional story

Best for: Late-night solo watch

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch American Psycho

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.

American Psycho parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that American Psycho is an R-rated psychological thriller featuring a serial-killer protagonist with graphic violence and dark satire.

  • Violence & scariness: Intense — Contains graphic, bloody violence including a chainsaw and depictions of a psychopathic serial killer's murders.
  • Language: Strong — Features frequent strong profanity typical of an R-rated 1980s Wall Street satire.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like American Psycho

If you liked American Psycho, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Wall Street (1987) — 80%: The 1980s Wall Street story behind the satire.
  • The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: Classic thriller about a calculating killer.
  • Joker (2019) — 92%: Dark character study of a disturbed man.
  • The Ugly Stepsister (2025) — 83%: Body-horror satire about appearances.
  • Rope (1948) — 89%: Cold, clever thriller about killers who think they are superior.

Director

Mary Harron

Cast

American Psycho FAQ

Is American Psycho worth watching?

Worth watching. A sleek, very dark satire of 1980s greed, built around an investment banker who may be a killer. Christian Bale is superb, but it is graphic, cold and not for the squeamish.

Where can I watch American Psycho?

In the US you can stream American Psycho on Prime Video, Hulu and Peacock, watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Plex and Prime Video (free with ads) and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is American Psycho OK for kids?

American Psycho is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that American Psycho is an R-rated psychological thriller featuring a serial-killer protagonist with graphic violence and dark satire.

What movies are like American Psycho?

If you liked American Psycho, try Wall Street, The Silence of the Lambs, Joker and The Ugly Stepsister.