Headhunters poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Aksel Hennie, Synnove Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Eivind Sander, Julie R. Olgaard ... see more see more... , Joachim Rafaelsen

Headhunters stars the talented Aksel Hennie (Max Manus) as Roger, a charming scoundrel and Norway's most accomplished headhunter. Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing a... read more read more...rt to subsidize his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so discovers something which makes him a hunted man. Headhunters is based on Jo Nesbø's best-selling thriller from 2008. -- (C) Magnolia

Flixster Users

86% liked it

7,228 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

79 critics

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Morten Tyldum

Release Date: April 27, 2012

Invite friends to see Get Showtimes

Stats: 390 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (390)

  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    May 1, 2012
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Believe me, Roger. You've never seen anything like this in a film."

    An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary.

    REVIEW

    With the succ... read moreess of the likes of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Borgen and The Killing in recent years, it was only a matter of time before a Jo Nesbo novel was adapted for the big screen. This film captures the tone and style of Nesbo which will delight his hordes of fans. I wouldn't be surprised to see his Harry Hole series adapted in the near future. The film is a true thriller which had me on the edge of my seat. The first half is mostly a tense heist type of story with the second half being mostly one huge chase with a few rest bites thrown in to give those sweaty palms a break. The story is complex and interesting and made the film feel longer to me that it actually was. This isn't a bad way however and I'd happily have watched for another half an hour. The film and its lead character are very clever and this should excite the audience and leave them thoroughly satisfied.

    The acting from Hennie is superb. He shows great depth and cunning as well as despair and heartbreak. It's a career performance from him. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known as Jamie Lanninster from Game of Thrones to English speaking audiences is also excellent opposite Hennie. The two have a real duel in terms of the action and the acting. Coaster-Waldau is impossibly cool and suits his role to a tee. Every main character is given a fair amount of back story which really helps to give them their identity and drive. Unsurprisingly a Hollywood remake is already in the works but I'd recommend seeing the original as I can't see how having Ryan Reynolds and Kiefer Sutherland or someone similar will improve the film. It's just an excuse for lazy people not to have to read and for Hollywood studios to make money without doing anything original. This film is smart, witty and original and even has a love story at its centre. I can't recommend it highly enough.
  • c0up
    April 8, 2012
    c0up
    'Headhunters'. Changes tone majestically between precision caper, bumbling, dark humour, and love story.
  • rb84
    April 11, 2012
    rb84
    Little Big Man

    Jo Nesbo, the latest Scandinavian thriller writer, lifted the spirit of Fargo and Harlan Coben in his thriller Headhunters, now adapted into this superior Norwegian (!) film version. Roger Brown (where did he get such an English name?) is the small, successful, ... read morescheming headhunter who also doubles as an art thief.Brown lives over his head, has his gorgeous wife who towers over him, and a mop of ridiculous 1980's hair - so he's got to be head and shoulders above any other scalper. 'OK then,' as the Coen Brothers might say, but when he takes on the task of stealing from the hottest new prospect in town (who also owns a priceless painting he must steal), Brown's world starts to fall apart.

    The wonderful Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (of Game of Thrones fame)who plays the prospect, turns out to be a sexy killer. Roger (Aksel Hennie, brilliant) has to run for his life. His whole life falls to pieces - his partner killed, his wife seduced, even his precious hair is sacrificed. Brown battles against his new and altogether superior, antagonist. Surviving the initial onslaught, the little big man plots his revenge and triumphs over his adversary in a hugely entertaining conclusion.

    The only thing the film lacks is a heart. All of the protagonists are so deeply flawed, it is difficult to like anyone or believe anything. Though it is brilliantly tied up with some true romance, the fact is, when Roger triumphs, he barely changes from the wicked shit shown in the opening reel. Yes, he does give his now happy wife a baby, gets out of the art thief market, but still, goes back to the world of the headhunter with glee.

    Maybe this is a small price to pay for such a supremely entertaining thriller. Next year, the inferior US re-make awaits. See the original, dark and chilly as it is.
  • moviewaffle
    March 18, 2012
    moviewaffle
    Tyldum puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame with this blisteringly paced Norwegian Hitchcock homage, Nordic by Northwest if you will.

    Over the years we've had plenty of movie villains with a Napoleon complex but this could be the first instance of a hero who suffers from small... read more man's syndrome. Hennie is excellent as a corporate headhunter obsessed by the fear of his amazonian wife leaving him for a taller man. Convinced that she only sticks around for his money he moonlights as an art thief with the help of security technician Sander. When he learns that his latest client ("Game Of Thrones" star Coster-Waldau) has an incredibly rare painting in his apartment he steals it and sets off a crazy chain of events.
    Hitchcock has to be the most imitated of directors but it's rare that film-makers really capture the essence of his style. It's largely forgotten how much comedy his movies contained but this film is very much in the spirit of his lighter adventure romps, specifically "To Catch A Thief", "Saboteur" and "North By Northwest". There are several nods to the latter film; the protagonist is named Roger, he lives in a house identical to James Mason's clifftop villa, and there's an echo of the crop-duster scene, this time involving a truck. The three main characters are classic Hitch archetypes, the paranoid man on the run, the ice cool blonde who may or may not be trustworthy, and the suave villain.
    The final hour is practically an extended chase sequence, directed with the swagger of a Hollywood veteran. There are laughs, there are shocks, there are moments of absolute depravity, and some of the most comical gore since "Evil Dead 2". Every time you think Tyldum is throwing something at you gratuitously it turns out to be integral to the plot. At one point I groaned when a set of overweight twin cops showed up, being the sort of quirkiness that turns me off the Coen brothers, but in the following scene you realise exactly why Tyldum made them so obese and it's a brilliant moment of twisted comedy.
    It staggers me to think a movie this broad in scope came out of a country of just five million people. I live in Ireland which has a similar population and there is no way we could ever produce something this accomplished.
    It's rumoured Tyldum is to direct an American remake of this, a shame really as I'm curious to see what else he has up his sleeve.
  • danieljparsons
    November 27, 2011
    danieljparsons
    Review soon
  • dketu
    April 8, 2012
    dketu
    Childish story with editorial and directional mistakes. I started laughing and took it as a part comedy.
    It was not really bad but defenitely not a topper either, the stupidity was rather funny.
  • jonnycrumley
    January 1, 2012
    jonnycrumley
    Great thriller from Norway. Headhunters is an an elite headhunter who finances his lavish lifestyle by stealing art from his own clients, until he messes with the wrong one. The movie's a very entertaining cat-and-mouse thriller with an intelligent story and thrilling action. Hig... read morehly recommended.
  • danielsloyan1
    May 14, 2012
    danielsloyan1
    very well made tense thriller, i was engaged and on the edge of my seat throughout, all the acting is good, their actions believable and smart, Im careful to say too much without spoiling it, but i highly recommend you check this out if you can

View All Headhunters Reviews

Critic Reviews

Colin Covert
May 24, 2012
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

'Headhunters" is a frighteningly well-made thriller about an amoral art thief on the run. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
May 18, 2012
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"Headhunters" is a bit like an Ikea desk assembled with your nondominant arm -- sleek and attractive, but likely to fall to pieces if you look at it too hard. Full Review

Tom Long
May 18, 2012
Tom Long, Detroit News

"Headhunters" will indeed hand you your head. Full Review

Stephanie Merry
May 11, 2012
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post

A cat-and-mouse game with the giddy excitement of a heist movie. Full Review

Ty Burr
May 10, 2012
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

It's crisp entertainment even as plot absurdities gum up the works - you can almost hear the pages turn as you watch. Full Review

Ben Sachs
May 10, 2012
Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

The scenes of graphic violence are drawn out to the point where they overwhelm the story. Full Review

Michael Phillips
May 10, 2012
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

When we get the remake in a year or two, I hope it retains the edge and compact energy of director Morten Tyldum's movie. Full Review

Roger Ebert
May 10, 2012
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I knew I was being manipulated and didn't care. It was a pleasure to see how well it was being done. Full Review

Anthony Lane
May 8, 2012
Anthony Lane, New Yorker

Clearly, there are streaks of farce in all this, as well as serious cracks in logic, and those who like their black comedy done to a crisp will happily feast on what Tyldum dishes up. Full Review

Liam Lacey
May 4, 2012
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Headhunters is slick and spritely, a mixture of corporate skullduggery and low-life slapstick that plays like The Firm meets Blood Simple. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Roger Brown: Sounds like something from a movie.
    • Roger Brown: We have a mark.
Submit a Fact | View All

Theater Showtimes

No showtimes found.

Theaters & Showtimes for Headhunters

Headhunters : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Headhunters. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Headhunters to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?