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Mary Harron, director of the cult film ‘American Psycho’, expressed surprise at how relevant the movie remains 25 years after its release. Speaking at the 2025 Tribeca Festival during a conversation with Hasan Minhaj on June 7, she reflected on the film’s ongoing cultural impact.
Set between 1987 and 1989, the horror drama follows investment banker Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale, as he grapples with violent fantasies. Harron shared that when they made the film, she viewed Wall Street employees as “dinosaurs” unlikely to appear again. She acknowledged that while greed and ruthless behaviour persisted, it had been somewhat concealed for years after the film’s debut. However, she noted with concern that society still seemed to “revel in bad behaviour” and “the joy of being overly racist,” which she had never anticipated witnessing again.
Minhaj observed that Bateman’s voiceovers seemed to reveal the “quiet part of loud,” contrasting with today’s more overt acceptance of hateful language. Harron agreed, describing Bateman as more symbolic than literal, embodying the worst aspects of 20th-century capitalism and the Reagan era—such as cruelty, contempt for the poor, sexism, and racism. She also suggested the character symbolises the triumph of “male dominance and money.”
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When Minhaj asked if present-day reality seemed to echo the film’s narrative, Harron admitted her outlook had changed since making the movie. Whereas she once believed history’s arc bends towards justice, she now thought it might follow a “corkscrew” or “rollercoaster” path, though she hoped better times were ahead. She remarked that the world in 2025 was far worse than during filming, citing “open fascism” as a disturbing trend, which she believed contributed to the film’s continued appeal.
Harron and co-writer Guinevere Turner were surprised by the character’s popularity, particularly among Wall Street types, since the film was intended as satire. Harron theorised that some might find Bateman aspirational because he possesses all material desires and acts without restraint.
The film references the Trump family, with Donald Trump mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel on which the movie is based. Harron explained that Trump was regarded as a quasi-celebrity and somewhat of a joke in 1980s New York, with Bateman’s fiancée Evelyn Williams, played by Reese Witherspoon, complaining about his obsession with Trump.
Why Christian Bale Was Cast—and How ‘American Psycho’ Nearly Didn’t Get Made
Harron also reflected on casting Christian Bale as Bateman after the role was recast multiple times, including a brief consideration of Leonardo DiCaprio. She explained Bale was the only actor who shared her sense of humour about the script, which made her confident he was the right fit. Unlike other actors who appeared to find Bateman “cool,” Harron stressed that the character’s absurdity, not his coolness, was the focus.
Concluding the interview, Harron recalled the difficulties in getting the film made until Lionsgate agreed to produce it. She expressed amazement at how warmly ‘American Psycho’ has been embraced over the years.
