Natural Born Killers (1994)
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48% of critics liked it
(33 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(188,805 ratings)
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 cultural satire. At the center of the film, written by Stone and Quentin Tarantino, among others, are… More 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 cultural 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
- Directed By
- Oliver Stone
- Written By
- David Veloz
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Aug 26, 1994 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
As a satirist, [Stone's] an elephant ballerina.
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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].
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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! I'm an artist!'
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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.
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Hal Hinson, Washington Post
The main problem with Killers...is that it degenerates into the very thing it criticizes.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Woody Harrelson
as Mickey Knox
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Juliette Lewis
as Mallory Knox
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Robert Downey Jr.
as Wayne Gale
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Tommy Lee Jones
as Dwight McClusky
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Tom Sizemore
as Jack Scagnetti
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Rodney Dangerfield
as Mallory's dad
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Russell Means
as Old Indian
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Edie McClurg
as Mallory's mom
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Balthazar Getty
as Gas Station Attendant
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Joe Grifasi
as Duncan Homolka
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O-Lan Jones
as Mabel
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Kirk Baltz
as Wayne Gale's cameraman
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Marshall Bell
as Deputy
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Glen Chin
as Druggist
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Carl Ciarfalio
as Mallory's Guard
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Peter Crombie
as Intense Cop
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Lanny Flaherty
as Earl
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Jerry Gardner
as Work Boss
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Evan Handler
as David
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Mark Harmon
as Mickey Knox in Wayne Gale's reconstructi...
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Jared Harris
as London Boy
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Arliss Howard
as See-Through Diner Patron/Prison Escapee ...
- Ashley Judd
- Denis Leary
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Richard Lineback
as Sonny
- Jack Palance
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Maria Pitillo
as Deborah
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Everett Quinton
as Wurlitzer
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Josh Richman
as Soundman
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Sean Stone
as Kevin
- Rachel Ticotin
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Pruitt Taylor Vince
as Kavanaugh
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Red West
as Cowboy Sheriff
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Steven Wright
as Dr. Emil Reingold
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Salvator Xuereb
as French Boy
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Dale Dye
as Dale Wrigley
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Phil Neilson
as Mickey's Dad
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Jamie Harrold
as Kid
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Robert "R.J." Jordan
as Wgn Newscaster
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Bob Swan
as Napalatoni
- Billy Hopkins
- Heidi Levitt
- Risa Bramon Garcia
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Ed White
as Pinball Cowboy
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Jake Beecham
as Kid
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Matthew Faber
as Kid
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John M. Watson Sr.
as Black Inmate
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Louis Lombardi
as Sparky






