The Manchurian Candidate (1962): cast, story & where to watch
1962 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1962, The Manchurian Candidate is a thriller, drama and mystery film directed by John Frankenheimer, running about 126 minutes. “When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon is returned home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco, finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and soon races to uncover a terrible plot.
Who’s in it. The Manchurian Candidate stars Frank Sinatra as Capt./Maj. Bennett Marco, Laurence Harvey as Raymond Shaw, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Iselin and James Gregory as Sen. John Yerkes Iselin, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, The Manchurian Candidate has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $7.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Manchurian Candidate page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Manchurian Candidate tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Manchurian Candidate (1962)?
- In US, The Manchurian Candidate is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Manchurian Candidate worth watching?
- The Manchurian Candidate holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and mystery. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Manchurian Candidate?
- The Manchurian Candidate stars Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury, James Gregory and Janet Leigh.
- When was The Manchurian Candidate released?
- The Manchurian Candidate was released in 1962, with a runtime of about 126 minutes.