The Manchurian Candidate poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, Kimberly Elise ... see more see more... , Jeffrey Wright , Ted Levine , Bruno Ganz , Simon McBurney , Vera Farmiga , Robyn Hitchcock , Miguel Ferrer , Alyson Renaldo , Anthony Mackie , David Keeley , Paul Lazar , Sakina Jaffrey , Zeljko Ivanek

Jonathan Demme directed this updated remake of John Frankenheimer's 1962 cult favorite The Manchurian Candidate, a pioneering examination of political conspiracy and psychological reconditioning. Majo... read more read more...r Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington) and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) are two soldiers who served in the same company during Operation Desert Storm, but their paths following their tours of duty have been very different. Shaw, the son of powerful congresswoman Eleanor Shaw (Meryl Streep), has used his reputation as a war hero to quickly scale the ladder of American politics, and with the help of his mother earns the Vice Presidential nomination. Marco, on the other hand, has been troubled with mental illness, and is convinced that something strange happened to him and his compatriots during the war. As Marco struggles to find the truth behind his nightmares and emotional torment, he unearths some disturbing facts about how his mind and body have been reworked by shadowy forces, as well as those of his fellow soldiers -- including Raymond Shaw. Featuring a stellar supporting cast (including Jon Voight, Miguel Ferrer, Ted Levine, and Dean Stockwell), The Manchurian Candidate credits George Axelrod's screenplay for the 1962 film as its source, as opposed to Richard Condon's 1959 novel from which Axelrod adapted his script. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

60% liked it

64,364 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

200 critics

R, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Release Date: July 30, 2004

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 21, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 3,091 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Manchurian Candidate Creepy Syringew Poster Manchrurian Candidate Streep-Washington Major Ben Marco and Rosie The Manchurian Candidate The Manchurian Candidate The Manchurian Candidate
Upload a Photo | View All The Manchurian Candidate Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (3,091)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 25, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Manchurian Candidate for me is an average thriller that works well enough because of a good cast. I enjoyed the film, but did feel it lacked something to really make it something excellent. If it wasn't for the cast, the film definitely wouldn't have the same effect, as the c... read moreast here are well chosen in their respective roles and are perfect in the parts they play. This is a good thriller, but is nothing really excellent. The film does have an entertaining story, which is engaging, however it lacks something really special to make this film memorable. The performances, like I stated is what really makes this film worth seeing, and above all makes the film interesting for the viewer. The Manchurian Candidate is better than what most people may think, and is a good remake for what it is, but of course it does not beat the original. Director Jonathan Demme delivers a good thriller with this remake even though it's not perfect, the film does deliver and entertaining two hours. I think that the film is underrated and was quite good considering that this is a remake. The cast like I said were great, and is one of the key aspects as to why the film works. There are things that could have been improved upon, but for the most part, this remake of the classic Manchurian Candidate is good enough entertainment for anyone looking for a good thriller. I really enjoyed this film and thought it was very good, but it was of course at times uneven.
  • DreamExtractor
    July 28, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    The Manchurian Candidate was a good movie to me, despite what all these other people say. Its about a man who starts to suspect from his dreams tha him and his squad in the war were brainwashed and he must discover why and it leads him into secrets he should've never gotten into... read more. The cast is incredible and I know Meryl Streep ios great but as usual Denzel in my opinion steals the show, his intensity and face expressions are just genius acting. The plot was very slow, but the more and more we watch it becomes even more and more interesting and we want to see how this will all end. I have never seen the original so I can't say much about that, but what I can say is I enjoyed this film and I think thats all that matters.
  • ironclad1609
    July 11, 2011
    ironclad1609
    This political conspiracy thriller takes a while to take off, starting out a bit confusing. The sometimes odd camera work, that gives off the vibe of dream-like situations doesn't exactly help in that regard. You can safely assume that all that's intentional, because once the pie... read moreces are moving things do get rather interesting, even exciting. The acting is top notch, considering the names involved here. Streep may be a tad over the top, but the film's plot is so far out there, you can hardly call it based in the real world anyway. Conspiracy theory freaks should get a kick out of it, though. Good entertainment.
  • Chiefilms
    June 1, 2011
    Chiefilms
    You are a jelly doughnut. Meryl Streep was quite creepy. Need to watch the original so I can beef/salad up this review.
  • ceWEBrity
    April 11, 2010
    ceWEBrity
    Inevitably dragged to the chopping block for being (gasp!) a remake of a deservedly classic thriller, Jonathan Demme's take on The Manchurian Candidate is a great film in its own right. Just as bizarre in a contemporary context as its predecessor was 50 years ago, Demme is not af... read moreraid to take risks with this film. His protagonist is a mumbling, slurred mess, played with a surprising clarity by Denzel Washington. Washington effectively conveys that the mystery always seems to be at the tip of his fingers, its answer lurking in his brain, and that makes the movie's increased focus on him really pay off. Meryl Streep is reliably dynamic as the reimagined Ms. Shaw/Iselin, though I do think she pales a little bit next to Angela Lansbury's interpretation. Where Streep is an immediate elemental force to all who meet her, talking and walking like a regular news pundit, Lansbury gave her character a creeping insidiousness that made her all the more evil. The one person who I didn't really care for is Liev Schreiber. I cannot buy him as a political power player, even with Streep pulling the strings; he looks too weaselly and hard-faced to kindle any sort of public affection. I think there was a little bit of shadiness going on in the casting of this movie (note also that his brother got an admittedly small part), and even though he is technically sufficient, there are so many other actors who could have done this part better.

    To be honest, I really only remember the fundamental's of the original's plot. This film is unwaveringly faithful to those roots while unabashedly modernizing much of the in-between; I feel that many of the people who dislike this remake don't hate it because of the technique or content, but simply out of sacred-cow closed-mindedness. This film makes a good case for the argument that, ultimately, a remake is still its own movie, no matter how closely it follows or how much it deviates from the one that came before it. Perhaps this was only greenlighted to make money - stranger things have happened in Hollywood - but Demme clearly cared about the product he was making here. It is uncynical and creative and generally exciting to watch, even if you already know the outcome. Definitely recommended, as long as you keep a fair perspective on things.
  • garyX
    November 25, 2009
    garyX
    The captain of a recon patrol which went missing for three days in the deserts of Kuwait begins to question his own memories after a disturbing visit from one of his men. "Remake" is inevitably a dirty word in cinema but Jonathan "Silence Of The Lambs" Demme is no stranger to sus... read morepense, which along with a promising cast made this film a rather more interesting propostion than most Hollywood cash cows. In fact Demme's skillful build up of tension combined with Denzel's believable performance as a man who is hallucinating, possibly delusional and questioning his sanity makes for a very intriguing foundation to the story. It also chooses to avoid the usual laziness of most Hollywood thrillers by not including irrelevant gun battles and car chases, and has enough twists and turns to the plot to maintain the interest. It's a shame that the conclusion to the story doesn't live up to this initial promise, as the inclusion of hokey X-Files style technology and an increasingly preposterous plot is capped by an unsatisfying conclusion that feels like a half-hearted homage to The Dead Zone. Certainly not a complete waste of time, but a decent finale might have realized the superior conspiracy thriller this could've been.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    It's ok but it's not as good as the original!
  • fb619846742
    May 28, 2008
    fb619846742
    A superbly acted and skillfully scripted story. Denzel, as always is terrific, but the big surprise is Liev Schreiber's awesome performance as a confused politician puppetered by his rich mother. The ending is appropriate and the story is rich in character color.
  • DrZeek
    February 18, 2008
    DrZeek
    Senator Thomas Jordan: And you bring me rumors and conjecture.
    Ben Marco: I started with nightmares. Rumors, conjectures, that's a giant leap forward.

    Since I just wrote about the original, I might as well comment on this one.

    This remake is actually pretty good. It helps that... read more a lot of great talent is involved. Jonathon Demme serving as director. A cool Washington stepping in for Sanatra. Meryl Streep playing the bitch mother. and Liev Shreiber, who I have always been a fan of, playing my favorite character from the original. Then the movie adds in Jeffrey Wright to play a character further expanded upon in this version, making things seem even better.

    The movie works well as a thriller. The update concerning the various forces of evil at work considering the more modern time frame is effective and suitable.

    Its definetely worth a watch, but see the original, as it is much better.

    [manipulating Raymond]
    Eleanor Shaw: Sergeant Shaw.
    Raymond Shaw: [Abruptly] What...?
    Eleanor Shaw: Sergeant Raymond Shaw.
    Raymond Shaw: Mother, I...
    Eleanor Shaw: Raymond Prentiss Shaw.
    Raymond Shaw: Yes.
    Eleanor Shaw: Listen.
  • allan913
    January 27, 2008
    allan913
    A bold, brilliant and mind blowing edge of your seat thriller. Well performed and excellently excuted. Exciting, gripping, powerful, thrilling, unforgettable and unstoppably bone-chilling. As good as suspense thrillers get. An explosive edge of your seat ride. An awsome updated p... read morelot of the classic. Unraveling twist and turns that always keep you going. A masterwork. Director, Jonathen Demme is a master of intelligent thrillers. Denzel Washington is teriffic. Meryl Streep is excellent. Liev Schreiber is compelling.

View All The Manchurian Candidate Reviews

Critic Reviews

Stanley Kauffmann
August 28, 2004
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

Demme serves the picture completely.

Cliff Doerksen
August 13, 2004
Cliff Doerksen, Chicago Reader

Strikes me as a very artful cover -- about the cleverest imaginable transliteration of the story from its historical moment to ours. Full Review

Peter Rainer
August 8, 2004
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

Far from a disgrace, but it's not freewheeling enough, not strange enough to make sense of our gathering dread. Full Review

David Edelstein
August 7, 2004
David Edelstein, Slate

Beautifully made and unsurpassingly creepy, it's the rare remake with something contemporary to add. Full Review

J. Hoberman
August 3, 2004
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Following a dozen years of docs, light comedy, and p.c. weepies, Candidate represents Demme's best dramatic filmmaking since The Silence of the Lambs. Full Review

David Denby
August 3, 2004
David Denby, New Yorker

The first version was acidulous and brazenly absurd; this one is doggedly, wretchedly earnest.

Richard Roeper
August 2, 2004
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

[A] wild ride that never, never commits the crime of being dull. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
July 30, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

A picture that purports to have a galvanizing, liberal-minded theme (big business is taking over our country and our lives) but is really just ploddingly pedestrian. Full Review

Desson Thomson
July 30, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A stylish hoot: entertainingly edgy and ludicrous all at once. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
July 30, 2004
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

It shunts through the material, doing some interesting synthesizing, some genetic recombining, but it all adds up to something less powerful and interesting than the original. 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

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Ghost Writer
    The Ghost Writer (100%)
  • Bulworth
    Bulworth (100%)
  • Enemy of the State
    Enemy of the State (95%)
  • The Boys from Brazil
    The Boys from Brazil (80%)

More Movies like The Manchurian Candidate

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Eleanor Prentiss Shaw: Sergeant Raymond Shaw.
    • Eleanor Prentiss Shaw: But... but when you smile... oh darling, when you smile, that's what I live for. When you smile.
    • Major Bennett Marco: This isn't an election, this is a coup.
Submit a Fact | View All

The Manchurian Ca... : Watch Free on TV

The Manchurian Candidate Trivia

  • At the beginning of the movie Domino, what '62 Sinatra flick is Domino watching?  Answer »
  • What movie does this quote come from: "There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that enter a room and turn the television set on, and those that enter a room and turn the television set off."   Answer »
  • The tagline: "Everything is under control."  Answer »
  • "Raymond, why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?" is a quote from...  Answer »
More The Manchurian Candidate Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Manchurian Candidate 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?