More than 25 years on, American Psycho is bigger than ever. The stage musical returned to London's Almeida Theatre in early 2026, and Lionsgate's new adaptation of the novel from director Luca Guadagnino remains in development, keeping Patrick Bateman firmly in the conversation.
Here is the story of Mary Harron's sharp satire of 1980s Wall Street and the role that made Christian Bale a star. Shop the American Psycho collection.
American Psycho Fact File
| Released | Sundance premiere 21 January 2000; US release 14 April 2000 |
|---|---|
| Director | Mary Harron |
| Screenplay | Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner |
| Based on | Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel |
| Distributor | Lions Gate Films |
| Runtime | 102 minutes |
| Setting | Manhattan, 1987 |
| Main cast | Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Chloë Sevigny |
| Budget | About $7 million |
| Box office | About $34 million worldwide |
Main Cast
| Year | Actor | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Christian Bale | Patrick Bateman |
| 2000 | Willem Dafoe | Detective Donald Kimball |
| 2000 | Jared Leto | Paul Allen |
| 2000 | Reese Witherspoon | Evelyn Williams |
| 2000 | Chloë Sevigny | Jean |
| 2000 | Samantha Mathis | Courtney Rawlinson |
| 2000 | Justin Theroux | Timothy Bryce |
| 2000 | Josh Lucas | Craig McDermott |
Principal cast of the 2000 film and the characters they played.
From Novel to Screen
Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel was considered almost impossible to film. Mary Harron co-wrote the script with Guinevere Turner and turned the story into a dark satire of greed, status and vanity among young Manhattan bankers in 1987.
The production was based in Toronto, with the Toronto-Dominion Centre standing in for Bateman's office, alongside some New York exteriors.
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Casting Christian Bale
Harron always wanted Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman. At one stage the studio pursued Leonardo DiCaprio, and Harron left the project when she refused to make it without Bale. When DiCaprio moved on, she returned with Bale in the lead, and his precise, chilling performance became the film's calling card.
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Release and Reception
The film premiered at Sundance in January 2000. It initially received an NC-17 rating in the US, and around 18 seconds were trimmed to secure an R. Reviews were mixed on release, though Bale was widely praised.
Made for about $7 million, it took around $34 million worldwide and grew into a cult favourite, with its business-card scene and 1980s soundtrack now part of pop culture.
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Sequel, Musical and What Comes Next
A loosely connected sequel, American Psycho 2, went straight to video in 2002. A stage musical by Duncan Sheik opened at the Almeida in 2013 with Matt Smith, reached Broadway in 2016 and returned to the Almeida in 2026. A new adaptation of the novel, directed by Luca Guadagnino, has been in development at Lionsgate since 2024, with no release date announced yet.
Achievements
Critical Standing
- 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 64
- Grew into one of the best-known cult films of its era
Legacy
- Inspired a stage musical in London (2013, 2026) and on Broadway (2016)
- Broadway production earned two Tony nominations
Behind the Scenes
Harron and Turner kept much of the novel's violence off screen, focusing on satire instead. The score was composed by John Cale, and the soundtrack leans heavily on 1980s pop, which Bateman discusses in some of the film's best-remembered scenes.
FAQs
When did American Psycho come out?
It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2000 and was released in US cinemas on 14 April 2000.
Who directed American Psycho?
Mary Harron directed the film and co-wrote it with Guinevere Turner.
Where was American Psycho filmed?
It was filmed mainly in Toronto, with some exterior scenes shot in New York City.
Who plays Patrick Bateman?
Christian Bale plays Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film.
Is there an American Psycho sequel?
American Psycho 2 (2002) went straight to video and is largely unconnected to the original. A new adaptation by Luca Guadagnino is in development.
How long is American Psycho?
The film runs for 102 minutes.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Christian Bale Career Story and The Wolf of Wall Street Film Story.
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