Primal Fear

1996 | 130 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

People are still talking about it and audiences rate it highly (7.7/10). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Have you seen it?

Defense attorney Martin Vail takes on jobs for money and prestige rather than any sense of the greater good. His latest case involves an altar boy, accused of brutally murdering the archbishop of Chicago. Vail finds himself up against his ex-pupil and ex-lover, but as the case progresses and the Church's dark secrets are revealed, Vail finds that what appeared a simple case takes on a darker, more dangerous aspect.

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 47 on Metacritic
AudiencesStrong
7.7/10 from 4K viewers
AwardsBelow par
0 wins, 1 other nomination — nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Box office & staying powerSolid
$103 million worldwide on a $30 million budget
Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
1.8 million Wikipedia readers in the past year