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Trey Parker, Toddy Walters, Dian Bachar, Ian Hardin, Jason McHugh ... see more see more... , Jon Hegel , Matt Stone , Robert Muratore , Andrew W. Kemler , Ted Henwood , Juan Schwartz

This is an amiable little parody from director Trey Parker, best known as co-creator of the cult TV series South Park. Set in 1873, the film deals with Alfred Packer (Juan Schwartz, aka Trey Parker), ... read more read more...who is accused of cannibalizing members of his six-man party on a trip West. There are comic songs, Japanese people pretending to be Indians, and a cyclops whose eye spurts pus. The film's highlight may be Alfred's saloon kung fu fight with a cocky fur trapper named Frenchy over his beloved horse Liane. Cannibal! is surprisingly light on gore for a Troma Team release (save for the prologue and finale), concentrating instead on goofy sight gags, sex jokes, and silly songs like "Shpadoinkle" and "Hang the Bastard." The cinematography is attractive, evoking all those frontier musicals of yore, and the overall quality is good, if obviously low budget. This film also features a cameo by underground film maven Stan Brakhage as the father of one of the pioneers. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

20,288 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

16 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Trey Parker

Release Date: June 1, 1996

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DVD Release Date: February 29, 2000

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Stats: 1,783 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,783)


  • October 14, 2011
    From a very young collaboration between pre-famous Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Cannibal is the most amateur venture I have seen of them so far. This is the best indicator of their future success with the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon, and involved little to no South Park voices... read more, which crop up in their later film, BASEketball. Still, though the graphics are student film project specific, and the sound is echoey in the best of circumstances, I thoroughly enjoyed the irregularity of the humor, and the open gross out makeup, including axes in the face, limbs being eaten, and frost bitten appendages. For a student film (Parker worked on this during his time at the University of Colorado) it's really professionally cast, the effects aren't altogether sloppy, and the plot, though sporadic near the end, actually has a resounding action, and is historically accurate though stretched to involve dark comedy. The songs themselves are for the most part really catchy. The title theme is a lampoon of Oklahoma's "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" and the score weaves throughout, though there is a hint of synth leftover from the eighties. My personal favorite was "Let's Build a Snowman" which you can watch on Youtube without ruining the rest of the movie for yourself, and is probably the singular most hilarious part. Very kooky, and not anything you could expect, sit back, build a snowman, and enjoy.
  • March 31, 2011
    ........ Genius.
  • March 25, 2010
    Occasionaly hilarious specially in its ending but nothing memorable really, A disappointment since my expectations were too high
  • April 27, 2009
    Some funny moments that are over shadowed by aweful (not on purpose) acting. The low budget production is abismal as well.
  • February 25, 2008
    This movie has everything. From Mormons that turn evil, to Japanese Indians, to songs about building snowmen when you're lost in the wilderness, to chopping off the heads of fur trappers who steal your woman. I mean horse. See it with the whole family.
  • June 10, 2007
    Made by Trey Parker of South Park fame when he was in school, this is a funny and tragic tale of a group of goofy gold-rushing guys who get lost on a journey through the Colorado mountains, and end up eating each other. It's done with a bunch of funny songs, sung in stage-play fa... read moresion. I really like the "Let's Build A Snowman" and "Hang the Bastard". The production quality is surprisingly good for a school assignment. The jokes are hit-or-miss. I showed it to a few friends, who got bored and wanted it to be shut off. The pacing was a bit slow in spots, so could've been edited tighter. Overall, it's an enjoyable romp which I often re-watch.
  • May 23, 2007
    Funny, but a bit longer than it maybe needed to be. Try watching it back-to-back with RAVENOUS.
  • April 25, 2007
    This movie is so awesome. I think my favorite joke is the anachronistic Indians (I don't want to ruin the surprise), but the whole movie is really funny. It's like a live-action episode of South Park. With horribly, insipidly catchy songs. See if you can stop singing Schpadoinkle... read more Day. I dare you!
  • March 2, 2007
    Absolutely hilarious, if you are in to the Parker/Stone sense of humor. Easily on par with Orgazmo or South Park, but with an added independent spirit. Plus, the DVD has one of the funniest commentaries that I have ever heard.
  • November 20, 2006
    Silly comedy musical from the creators of the excellent South Park. In fact, one of the best songs in it is used as the riff at the end of the southpark credits. Crude, rude and totally brilliant!!!!

Critic Reviews


Scott Weinberg
April 3, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Scattershot, unfocused, and simply not all that funny.

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
August 12, 2004
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

We are talking about one sweet movie over here.

Luke Y. Thompson
April 15, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Best enjoyed on DVD, as the alcohol-fueled commentary track might just be the best one ever recorded.

Dan Lybarger
March 13, 2004
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

An early project from the 'South Park' creators that, to put it politely, proves their best work was still to come.

Brian Mckay
March 17, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

General silliness from the SOUTH PARK boys, but some truly hilarious moments. And even (extremely loosely) based on actual events!

James Rocchi
November 7, 2002
James Rocchi, Netflix

Early college film effort from South Park creators is the very definition of 'Sophomoric.' Full Review

Chuck Rudolph
July 25, 2002
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

Parker and Stone's satirical whims cannot seem to find an appropriate place in a live-action setting.

Lisa Nesselson
March 26, 2009
Lisa Nesselson, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 21, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Anita Gates
January 1, 2000
Anita Gates, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Facts


    • Alfred Packer: The sky is blue, and all the leaves are green, the skies as warm as a baked potato. I think I know exactly what I mean, when I say its a Sphadoinkle day.

Cannibal! The Mus... : Watch Free on TV


Cannibal! The Musical (Alferd Packer: The Musical) Trivia

Cannibal! The Musical (Alferd Pac... Trivia


  • Dian Bachar has starred alongside Matt Stone & Trey Parker in 3 films. Orgazmo & Baseketball are 2, what is the third?  Answer »
  • 1996's "Cannibal: The Musical" was loosely based on one of America's first cases of Cannibalism. What is the name of the man the film is based on?  Answer »
  • Which 1996 film inspired by the true story of Alferd Packer contains a song with the following lyrics: The sky is blue and all the leaves are green. The Sun's as warm as a baked potato. I think I know exactly what I mean, When I say it's a Shpadoinkle day.  Answer »
  • Alferd Packer: The Musical is also known as:   Answer »

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