Manglehorn
An eccentric Texas locksmith clings to an old heartbreak until an unexpected friendship nudges him toward an uncertain second chance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- wistful
- understated
- quiet evening
- reflective night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Al Pacino’s understated lead performance effective but judged the story slight and the script uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
A.J. Manglehorn remains heartbroken over the woman he loved and lost many years earlier, shaping his isolation and resistance to starting over.
Manglehorn’s locksmith trade and solitary small-town routines provide the concrete framework for his emotional withdrawal.
The plot places an eccentric locksmith’s attempts at reconnection within a small-town Texas environment.
The critical consensus specifically highlights Al Pacino’s nicely understated performance in a story centered on long-held heartbreak.
Films like Manglehorn, and why
The Straight Story
shared melancholic character study of an isolated older man struggling with regret, loneliness, and the possibility of emotional renewal
The Visitor
shared intimate small-town drama, subdued pacing, wounded protagonists, and themes of aging and reconnection
The Savages
shared wistful portrait of emotional paralysis, late-life longing, and understated performances in an independent drama
Movie Details
- Director
- David Gordon Green
- Release Date
- 2015-06-03
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (227)
Cast
- Al Pacino
- Holly Hunter
- Harmony Korine
- Chris Messina
- Natalie Makenna
- June Griffin Garcia
- Edrick Browne
- Skylar Gasper
- Brian Mays
- Herculano Trevino
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Manglehorn about?
- An eccentric Texas locksmith clings to an old heartbreak until an unexpected friendship nudges him toward an uncertain second chance.
- What is Manglehorn like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Manglehorn as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Manglehorn violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Manglehorn.
- What did critics think of Manglehorn?
- Critics broadly found Al Pacino’s understated lead performance effective but judged the story slight and the script uneven.
- Which films are like Manglehorn?
- Films with a similar feel include The Straight Story, The Visitor, and The Savages.
- How long is Manglehorn?
- Manglehorn runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Manglehorn?
- In United States, Manglehorn streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
