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Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, Tom Sizemore ... see more see more... , Rodney Dangerfield , Russell Means , Edie McClurg , Balthazar Getty , Joe Grifasi , O-Lan Jones , Kirk Baltz , Marshall Bell , Glen Chin , Carl Ciarfalio , Peter Crombie , Lanny Flaherty , Jerry Gardner , Evan Handler , Mark Harmon , Jared Harris , Arliss Howard , Ashley Judd , Denis Leary , Richard Lineback , Jack Palance , Maria Pitillo , Everett Quinton , Josh Richman , Sean Stone , Rachel Ticotin , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Red West , Steven Wright , Salvator Xuereb , Dale Dye , Phil Neilson , Jamie Harrold , Robert "R.J." Jordan , Bob Swan , Billy Hopkins , Heidi Levitt , Risa Bramon Garcia , Ed White , Jake Beecham , Matthew Faber , John M. Watson Sr. , Louis Lombardi

A frenetic, bloody look at mass murder and the mass media, director Oliver Stone's extremely controversial film divided critics and audiences with its mixture of over-the-top violence and bitter cultu... read more read more...ral satire. At the center of the film, written by Stone and Quentin Tarantino, among others, are Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis), a young couple united by their desire for each other and their common love of violence. Together, they embark on a record-breaking, exceptionally gory killing spree that captivates the sensation-hungry tabloid media. Their fame is ensured by one newsman, Wayne Gale (Robert Downey, Jr.), who reports on Mickey and Mallory for his show, American Maniacs. Even the duo's eventual capture by the police only increases their notoriety, as Gale develops a plan for a Super Bowl Sunday interview that Mickey and Mallory twist to their own advantage. Visually overwhelming, Robert Richardson's hyperkinetic cinematography switches between documentary-style black-and-white, surveillance video, garishly colored psychedelia, and even animation in a rapid-fire fashion that mirrors the psychosis of the killers and the media-saturated culture that makes them popular heroes. The film's extreme violence -- numerous edits were required to win an R rating -- became a subject of debate, as some critics asserted that the film irresponsibly glorified its murderers and blamed the filmmakers for potentially inciting copy-cat killings. Defenders argued that the film attacks media obsession with violence and satirizes a sensationalistic, celebrity-obsessed society. Certain to provoke discussion, Natural Born Killers will thoroughly alienate many viewers with its shock tactics, chaotic approach, and disturbing subject matter, while others will value the combination of technical virtuosity and dark commentary on the modern American landscape. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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80% liked it

188,805 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

33 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Release Date: August 26, 1994

Keywords: action, violent, road

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DVD Release Date: January 25, 2000

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Stats: 10,843 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (10,843)

  • brooklynspo
    July 4, 2007
    brooklynspo
    I've seen it but I've never REALLY seen it.
  • jmanard52
    March 29, 2007
    jmanard52
    A thrill ride of emotion and action. Just great flick with over the top acting from Harrelson.
  • moonrivers
    April 14, 2012
    moonrivers
    The future will be televised ... Stone's filmic commentary on America and Americans (WAKE UP!!!) is no whisper (nearly impotent with all the screaming) and definitely not for everyone (although I think it was meant for everyone), filled with ultra-violence and psychedelic imagery... read more. "Entertaining, yes, but what do you think about it," in spades, with a healthy dollop of self-loathing on the side
  • fb1664868775
    March 25, 2012
    fb1664868775
    This surreal masterpiece started out with a ultraviolent but more funny and less terrifying script written by Quentin Tarantino. But in the hands of Oliver Stone, it turned into a hallucinogenic joyride through hell. Though it would've been interesting to see how Tarantino would ... read morehave directed it, I truly love (and fear) the menacing nature in which Stone put together the pieces.
  • blkbomb
    December 26, 2011
    blkbomb
    Mickey: The media is like the weather, only it's man-made weather. 

    "The Media Made Them Superstars."

    Oliver Stone went way over the top to make his point with Natural Born Killers and I believe it worked. This experience is unlike any other film experience you have had. Woody ... read moreHarrelson and Juliette Lewis bring Mickey and Mallory to life in such a way where it is hard to not cheer for them, and I assume that was the point. We always make the serial killers and the mass murders celebrities. We may not think of that way, but we do. 

    Until killers are caught in America, we read about them in newspaper, magazines and we hear about them on tv. Then they are caught, but it doesn't die there. We then watch their trial, talk about their body language, listen to interviews. Then they are sent to prison, but it still isn't done with. Then we have books written about them, movies made about them; television news programs go and do specials on the killer. It never ends until the killer dies, and even then they live on, like Elvis. And why? Because it is entertaining. Never have I been more aware of that then when watching Natural Born Killers. 

    That is pretty much what Natural Born Killers is getting at. Stone shows random things like hippies talking about how great Mickey and Mallory are. He shows us magazines with Mickeys face on the front cover. Killers are sold to us and we keep buying. Then there is the television show that turns them into full fledged stars and want to make television history by exploiting their story. This has all happened and it continues to happen.

    Now I personally don't care if serial killers are getting a large amount of press. It's a natural human tendency to be entertained by violence. Throughout history, violence has always sold. It doesn't matter what time period you lived in or where you lived; violence was always talked about, written about or nowadays shown on television and in movies. That's never going to change. So as the saying goes, "If you can't beat em, join em."
  • FilmFanatik
    September 29, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Oliver Stone's frenetic and frenzied Natural Born Killers has always been a film I've been quite fascinated by. The performances from everyone are stellar and over the top, the various styles of shooting and cutting are all over the place but still manage to find a singular narra... read moretive and the symbolism in the storytelling is what you'd expect from Stone's work. Somehow it all works without being perfect. The ultra violent director's cut is a much better film in comparison to the theatrical version and I prefer it much more. There are some moments in the film where it loses a bit of its focus and also becomes too symbolic to the point of almost being pretentious, but you can't deny its power or mystique.
  • fb100002535597619
    September 24, 2011
    fb100002535597619
    A very strange film indeed. The film is mixed with detestable violence and suggestive material that is definitely not for everyone. Though this film does standout as a landmark in the industry due to the many medias it uses, everything from 35mm and Super 8, to black and white ... read moreand animation. All the actors give stirring and over the top performances that are very amusing. Though it is a controversial and strange film, it is very unique.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    June 30, 2011
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    I really liked this movie. It was entertaining and makes a good point about society and how they crave violence. It was also original and really funny.

    Grade: B+
  • FiLmCrAzY
    June 5, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    I strangely enjoyed this movie.
    I thought it was directed beautifully so well done to Oliver Stone, as this movie is very visually stunning and i found it very interesting to see the different contrasts of colour.
    I must say Tommy Lee Jones was by far the best thing about this ... read moremovie, he really (for me anyway) stole the show. His psychotic, crazed wardon was hilarious and just acted really well.
    It is a good violent action packed movie but some people may find it to weird (visually) to be able to like this movie. Although the storyline was a bit rubbish it was very entertaining to watch.
  • fb619846742
    June 4, 2011
    fb619846742
    A nasty, nihilistic, cracked-out mess of a movie, where director Oliver Stone leaves subtlety at the door and instead elects for a "Looney Toons" version of a couple of killers (Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis) and how they are glorified by the media during their rampant killi... read moreng spree. This is just a headache of a motion picture, with ridiculous performances all-around, all with Stone wanting his audience to consider the serious message he's sending out that these people should not be covered and romanticized by any means. However, if you make a movie about, well, romanticizing two abhorrent individuals, I guess that's different, right Mr. Stone? By far one of the worst movies I've seen, and one that should make you feel like wanting to take a shower after you watch it.

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

As a satirist, [Stone's] an elephant ballerina. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This is one of my all time favorite movies, and it put Oliver Stone on my list of 'Best Directors Ever,' right along with Stanley [Kubrick].

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Stone...doesn't know the meaning of moderation or subtlety, and opts instead for something that is excessive and self-indulgent. It's as if he wants to shout out the statement: 'Look at what I can do!... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Seeing this movie once is not enough. The first time is for the visceral experience, the second time is for the meaning. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

The main problem with Killers...is that it degenerates into the very thing it criticizes. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Welcome to Natural Born Killers, Stone's empty, manic meditation on society's glorification of violence and the ugly heroes it loves to hate. Full Review

Kevin Carr
June 26, 2011
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

At times with this movie the art overpowered the film. Full Review

David Gurney
January 1, 2011
David Gurney, Common Sense Media

Bloody, violent, sexually explicit. Mature teens+. Full Review

Matt Noller
October 27, 2009
Matt Noller, Slant Magazine

Natural Born Killers finds Stone throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
August 25, 2008
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Electrifying, except when it's stupid. Full Review

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    • Old Indian: Look bitch, you knew I was a snake.
    • Mickey Knox: Shit, man. I'm a natural born killer.
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Natural Born Killers Trivia

  • The riot scene in Natural Born Killers was filmed in an actual jail, and many of the "inmates" are actual prisoners - some of which are even charged with murder.  Answer »
  • Finish this movie duo, from Natural Born Killers, Micky and....  Answer »
  • What movie featured cross-country serial killers traveling down highway 666 named Micky and Mallory Knox?  Answer »
  • In Natural Born Killers, what did Mickey and Mallory Knox rob the Pharmacy for?  Answer »
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