American Psycho (2000)

This is an imperfect-but-creditable movie. Young Harvard graduate, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), has all the accessories of a well-to-do man, from designer wardrobe to a fancy apartment, just like everyone else in his crowd. He desperately wants to fit in, yet, the terrible irony is the more he tries to be like other wealthy men on Wall Street, the less he is noticed. This lack of control causes him to vent his frustrations, but things aren’t as they appear.

It is based on the 1991 novel by Bret Ellis. Christian Bale's father David was married to feminist Gloria Steinem for three years. Screenwriter Mary Harron claimed it was a coincidence that the character Paul Allen has the same name as the co-founder of Microsoft. As a promotion for the movie, you could register to receive e-mails sent from the main character to his therapist. A direct-to-video spin-off, American Psycho 2: All American Girl was released in 2002 and directed by Morgan Freeman.