The Manchurian Candidate (2004): cast, story & where to watch
2004 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 2004, The Manchurian Candidate is a thriller, drama and mystery film directed by Jonathan Demme, running about 129 minutes. “Everything is under control.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mysterious implant embedded in his back, the memory of what really happened begins to return.
Who’s in it. The Manchurian Candidate stars Denzel Washington as Major Bennett Ezekiel Marco, Liev Schreiber as Congressman Raymond Prentiss Shaw (D-NY), Meryl Streep as Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (D-VA) and Vera Farmiga as Jocelyne Jordan, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, The Manchurian Candidate has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $96.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential and Starz Apple TV Channel and rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. 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 (2004)?
- In US, The Manchurian Candidate is available to stream on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium and Paramount Plus Essential, and rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. 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 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Manchurian Candidate?
- The Manchurian Candidate stars Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Meryl Streep, Vera Farmiga and Kimberly Elise.
- When was The Manchurian Candidate released?
- The Manchurian Candidate was released in 2004, with a runtime of about 129 minutes.