American Psycho is a great satire that counts on a celebrated supporting cast and a controversial protagonist among its characters. Released in 2000, the movie adapts Bret Easton Ellis's puzzling book, introducing the unconventional Patrick Bateman, a successful banking executive. Despite being rich and an influential businessman in New York City, Patrick decides to give in to dangerous instincts, consumed by an insatiable desire to kill. American Psycho is a sharp send-up of men's obsession with materialism as Patrick effectively represents the embodiment of toxic masculinity and male privilege.
Although the movie leans more toward thriller and horror, American Psycho is undeniably funny, especially when the motivations behind Patrick's killings become increasingly trivial. American Psycho is one of the best movies set in the '80s, capturing a rich and vibrant Manhattan in contrast with Patrick's dark impulses. The movie doesn't offer easy answers, leaving a lot of room for interpretation around Patrick's multifaceted personality. Moreover, the talented American Psycho cast makes the movie an incredible experience.
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Christian Bale As Patrick Bateman
Patrick Bateman is the infamous protagonist of American Psycho. From the film's first minutes, it's clear that he is losing his edge: he becomes immersed in a meticulous routine, yet seems to feel something is missing. While he spends his life obsessed only with himself, he finds a new compulsion: killing people. As the body count stacks up and Patrick increasingly exposes himself to danger, he suspects his careful routine will soon come to an end.
American Psycho's director had to fight to cast Christian Bale as Patrick, which turned out to be a perfect cause: the actor nails the character's ridiculously phony expressions. Bale is one of the most prolific Hollywood actors, with a series of iconic roles that range from Bruce Wayne in the Dark Knight trilogy to real-life boxer Dicky Eklund in The Fighter. Bale has a history of going through drastic physical changes for his performances, as evident in movies such as The Machinist and Vice, where he looks almost unrecognizable. Bale also took part in the MCU as Thor: Love and Thunder's villain, Gorr.
Chloë Sevigny As Jean
Patrick Bateman's personal secretary, Jean, is played by Chloë Sevigny, famous for her role as Shelley in American Horror Story, as well as other dark roles including Officer Mindy in The Dead Don't Die and Janelle in Bones and All. After American Psycho's success, Sevigny continued to take part in many indie projects, such as Dogville and the controversial The Brown Bunny.
Always with a shy expression on her face and her eyes cast down, Jean's insecurity makes her a perfect target for Patrick, although he gives up on killing her at the last minute. Her would-be murder scene is of the few moments where Patrick genuinely seems to care about someone, asking Jean to leave so that he won't hurt her.
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Reese Witherspoon As Evelyn Williams
Evelyn is Patrick Bateman's "supposed" fiancée, as he tends to point out, although the two don't really like each other. Evelyn and Patrick share the same friend circle and seem to be together purely for convenience; Evelyn is always talking, and Patrick is never listening.
One year after Reese Witherspoon starred in her best movie, Election, as an overbearing teenage student, she was cast as a successful yuppie in American Psycho. Witherspoon would soon become a comedy veteran, starring in Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama, but her talent for drama should not be underestimated: in 2006, she won a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in Walk the Line.
Jared Leto As Paul Allen
Paul Allen is a charismatic businessman who becomes Patrick's archenemy after showing up with the best business card in the office. He easily falls for Patrick's charm and becomes one of his early victims, brutally murdered with an ax. His death gives rise to a concerning investigation involving Patrick's office.
The Allen character is played in the American Psycho cast by Jared Leto, who is also known for being the frontman for the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. Leto is an actor who has won both Oscars and Razzie awards, receiving unanimous praise for his roles in Dallas Buyer's Club and Fight Club and dividing opinions with his portrayal of the Joker in Suicide Squad.
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Willem Dafoe As Donald Kimball
Donald Kimball could be considered American Psycho's antagonist for two reasons. Firstly, he spends the movie on Patrick Bateman's heels while investigating Paul Allen's disappearance. Secondly, he's either terrible at his job or the best man in the business. His scenes with Patrick are conducted in a way where it's impossible to tell whether Kimball is suspecting something or just acting blatantly naive, which makes both the audience and Patrick anxious.
Kimball is played by the veteran actor Willem Dafoe, who has starred in over 100 movies. His filmography ranges from massive box office hits such as Spider-Man, whose Green Goblin role Dafoe reprises in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and indie movies such as The Florida Project. Dafoe also has a long-term collaboration with renowned director Wes Anderson, appearing in at least four of his movies.
Samantha Mathis As Courtney Rawlinson
Although she's engaged to one of Patrick's closest coworkers and is his fiancee's best friend, Courtney is having an affair with the main character of American Psycho. She's described as an almost perfect-looking woman who's constantly abusing a wide range of psychiatric drugs.
Courtney is played by Samantha Mathis, one of the stars of the 1994 adaptation of Little Women. The actress also played Sara Hammon in the drama show Billions. Viewers might also be familiar with Mathis's role as Princess Daisy in the infamous live-action Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993.
Related: American Psycho Hidden Detail Makes Its Patrick/Marcus Scene Even Better
American Psycho Supporting Cast & Characters
Justin Theroux as Timothy Bryce - Timothy is Patrick Bateman's charming co-worker, who according to him might be having an affair with Evelyn. The character is played in American Psycho by Justin Theroux, who would later become part of the cast of The Leftovers. He is also known for his multifaceted role in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive.
Matt Ross as Luis Carruthers - Patrick calls Luis the biggest doofus in the business, and he's engaged to Courtney, with whom Patrick is having an affair. Ross is famous for playing supporting roles in John Woo's Face/Off and Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, but his biggest achievement is having directed the acclaimed movie Captain Fantastic.
Stephen Bogaert as Harold Carnes - Patrick's erratic lawyer, Harold Carnes, is played by Stephen Bogaert. The actor is known for playing Carl Cooper, one of the antagonists of The Umbrella Academy's second season. In the Stephen King adaptation It, Bogaert plays Beverly Marsh's abusive father.
Bill Sage as David Van Patten - David is one of the members of Patrick's main social circle, played in American Psycho by Bill Sage. Sage is known for his villain role in the dark teen movie Mysterious Skin and for being one of the most loyal collaborators of indie filmmaker Hal Hartley, starring in such films as Simple Men and The Girl from Monday.
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Cara Seymour as Christie - Christie is one of the sex workers hired by Patrick Bateman and features in the iconic chainsaw death scene. She's played by Cara Seymour, known for her role as the mysterious Sister Harriet in the period medical drama The Knick and movies such as Hotel Rwanda and Charlie Kaufman's Adaptation.
Guinevere Turner as Elizabeth - One of Patrick Bateman's acquaintances and victims, Elizabeth, is played by Guinevere Turner in the American Psycho cast. The actress also appears in Kevin Smith's Dogma and in the LGBTQ+ romance The Watermelon Woman.
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