Christian Bale Got Death Threats While Filming His Most Shocking Role

Christian Bale once opened up about the intense experience of playing Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, revealing that his commitment to the role even led to death threats.

The actor, now known for his immersive performances, wasn’t originally considered for the part, which was first offered to Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite being told he wasn’t in the running, Bale refused to step back.

“I would call Mary [Harron] up, and she would say ‘Christian, they’ve given it to other people,’ and I was like ‘it doesn’t matter, we’re still gonna make it.’ And she was like, ‘Ooh, he’s lost the plot,’” Bale told GQ. “I was turning down other projects and kept on going, and it eventually came back, so that felt like a great victory.”

Bale’s performance as the Wall Street banker-turned-psychopath drew strong reactions from audiences. Some praised his chilling portrayal, while others were disturbed by the film’s dark humor and violent scenes. Bale recounted one particularly alarming moment when he was warned about a potential attack.

“They called me up, and they went, ‘There’s some person, and they know where you walk every single day, and you go down this back alley, and they say that they’re gonna jump on you and they’re gonna rip your cerebral cortex out of your head. So please don’t go down that alley.’ So, of course, I was like, ‘I’m going to that alley. I want to see what happens.’ Fortunately enough, I kept walking up and down it going, ‘Where are they? Come on,’” Bale said.

Even beyond personal threats, Bale noted that some audiences didn’t fully grasp the satirical tone of the film. Meeting with Wall Street professionals, he realized some took Patrick Bateman’s character seriously rather than seeing the irony.

“I went and visited all different levels of people at Wall Street. When I got there, they were like, ‘Patrick Bateman, we love ’em.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, ironically, right?’ and they went, ‘What do you mean?’”

American Psycho premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it polarized critics and audiences. Some praised Bale’s performance and the screenplay, while others criticized its graphic violence.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of critics gave positive reviews, with the consensus noting that the film blends horror and humor, largely due to Bale’s creepy yet compelling performance. Metacritic scored it 64 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews, while CinemaScore audiences gave it a “D,” reflecting divided public opinion.

Renowned critic Roger Ebert praised Bale’s work, saying he was “heroic in the way he allows the character to leap joyfully into despicability; there is no instinct for self-preservation here, and that is one mark of a good actor.” Other reviews were mixed, with some critics admiring the satirical take on ‘80s materialism and others questioning the film’s repeated grisly scenes.

Bale’s dedication to his craft, even in the face of danger and misunderstanding, shows the lengths he will go for a role. He embraced the controversy and stayed committed, delivering a performance that has become iconic in cinema history.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!