Primal Fear (film)
Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:49:34 PM Wikipedia source
Primal Fear is a 1996 American crime legal drama mystery thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit, based on the 1993 novel of the same name by William Diehl, written by Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman. It stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, and Edward Norton in his film debut. The film follows a Chicago-based defense attorney who believes that his client, an altar boy, is not guilty of murdering a Catholic bishop. The film was a box office success and received positive reviews, with Norton's performance earning critical praise. Norton won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Infobox
Tables
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 20/20 Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Nominated | |
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top Box Office Films | James Newton Howard | Won | |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Edward Norton | Runner-up | |
| Honorable Mentions | Gregory Hoblit | Nominated | ||
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
| Casting Society of America | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama | Deborah Aquila and Jane Shannon-Smith | Nominated | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Nominated | |
| Most Promising Actor | Won | |||
| Critics Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Won | ||
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Villain | Nominated | ||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 3rd Place | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best DVD Extras | Primal Fear – Hard Evidence Edition | Nominated | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Edward Norton | Nominated | |
| Society of Texas Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
References
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- Golden Globeshttps://www.goldenglobes.com/film/primal-fear
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- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-16-ca-59082-story.html
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