The Gingerbread Man
A Savannah lawyer’s reckless attempt to protect his lover from her dangerous father spirals into a claustrophobic legal and family nightmare.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- quirky
- atmospheric
- late night thriller viewing
- 1990s crime marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found it an entertaining, atmospheric, and quirky legal thriller elevated by Robert Altman’s direction and the cast, while acknowledging its conventional or implausible plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story unfolds around Savannah, Georgia, where family instability, legal power, and lurking violence create a distinctly southern gothic atmosphere.
Rick Magruder uses the resources of his law firm to protect Mallory after their affair, allowing private obsession to drive legal decisions.
Rick’s affair with Mallory leads directly to Dixon’s arrest and to subpoenas involving Mallory’s ex-husband Pete.
Rick believes he can solve Mallory’s problem by having Dixon institutionalized, but Dixon’s escape turns that intervention into a threat to everyone around them.
Films like The Gingerbread Man, and why
A Time to Kill
southern gothic atmosphere, legal jeopardy, and escalating psychological threat
The Firm
legal thriller structure, compromised professionals, and morally tangled suspense
Blood Simple
quirky auteur-inflected crime storytelling and unstable characters in a regional setting
The Ice Harvest
darkly comic thriller tone, sudden violence, and dysfunctional adult relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Altman
- Release Date
- 1998-01-23
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (182)
Cast
- Kenneth Branagh
- Embeth Davidtz
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Daryl Hannah
- Tom Berenger
- Famke Janssen
- Mae Whitman
- Jesse James
- Robert Duvall
- Clyde Hayes
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Gingerbread Man about?
- A Savannah lawyer’s reckless attempt to protect his lover from her dangerous father spirals into a claustrophobic legal and family nightmare.
- What is The Gingerbread Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Gingerbread Man as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Gingerbread Man violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Gingerbread Man as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Gingerbread Man?
- Critics generally found it an entertaining, atmospheric, and quirky legal thriller elevated by Robert Altman’s direction and the cast, while acknowledging its conventional or implausible plotting.
- Which films are like The Gingerbread Man?
- Films with a similar feel include A Time to Kill, The Firm, Blood Simple, and The Ice Harvest.
- How long is The Gingerbread Man?
- The Gingerbread Man runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Gingerbread Man?
- In United States, The Gingerbread Man is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
