Manhunt
Manhunt
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Manhunt

"The assassination was just the beginning."

6.9
Yr 2024
Status Ended
Drama Crime
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

A conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history. This is the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's assassination—as the fate of the country hangs in the balance.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 76 /100

Critical reception for Manhunt was generally positive, with reviewers praising the limited series as an engaging and detailed historical procedural. Critics particularly commended Tobias Menzies' weary performance as Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, as well as the show's ability to turn the high-stakes chase for John Wilkes Booth into a compelling narrative that feels relevant to modern political discussions.

However, several critics noted pacing and tonal inconsistencies throughout its seven-episode run. Some reviews highlighted that the series occasionally lost momentum after its strong opening episodes, leaning too heavily into instructional historical detail at the expense of dramatic dread and momentum.

Despite these occasional lulls, the overall consensus praised the show's strong performances, rich atmosphere, and accomplished storytelling, deeming it a worthwhile watch for history buffs and procedural fans alike.

“it's a big and thrilling story, enough to make an excellent TV miniseries”

“the series is a fresh take on the event that would change the direction of America — while drawing a direct throughline to our present-day political climate”

“takes itself very seriously indeed. But the astonishing performances make it worthwhile”

“starts and ends strongly but is formulaic and overly familiar for too much of its 7-episode run”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Apple TV
US • UK • CA
Apple TV Amazon Channel
US • CA • UK
Amazon Prime Video
CA
Show 1 more
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
CA
Why fans love it

Viewers who gravitate toward historical crime dramas appreciate *Manhunt* for turning a familiar moment in American history into a tense political conspiracy thriller. Based on a book, this 2024 miniseries dives into the immediate aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Instead of treating the events as a settled chapter in a textbook, the drama focuses on the chaotic search for John Wilkes Booth while the fate of a divided country hangs in the balance.

Tobias Menzies anchors the cast in a story that captures the paranoia and instability of the post-Civil War era. Fans of the series respond to its grounded focus on the logistics of a 19th-century search, where hidden political motives, widespread tension, and even personal physical challenges like asthma shape the pace of the pursuit. It offers a detailed look at a famous crime that is often remembered, but rarely examined with such procedural focus.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 14
Longest run 7 eps
Tobias Menzies
Tobias Menzies
as Edwin Stanton
7 episodes
Anthony Boyle
Anthony Boyle
as John Wilkes Booth
7 episodes
Lovie Simone
Lovie Simone
as Mary Simms
7 episodes
Will Harrison
Will Harrison
as David Herold
7 episodes
Brandon Flynn
Brandon Flynn
as Eddie Stanton Jr.
7 episodes
Damian O'Hare
Damian O'Hare
as Thomas Eckert
7 episodes
Glenn Morshower
Glenn Morshower
as Andrew Johnson
7 episodes
Matt Walsh
Matt Walsh
as Dr. Samuel Mudd
7 episodes
Show 67 more
Hamish Linklater as Abraham Lincoln 7 episodes Daniel Croix as Joseph 'Peanuts' Burroughs 3 episodes Patton Oswalt as Det. Lafayette Baker 4 episodes Lili Taylor as Mary Todd Lincoln 4 episodes C.J. Hoff as Louis Weichmann 3 episodes Larry Pine as Secretary William Henry Seward 3 episodes Anne Dudek as Ellen Stanton 3 episodes Spencer Treat Clark as Lewis Powell 4 episodes Carlos Luckie Jr. as William Bell 2 episodes Carrie Lazar as Mrs. Mary Surratt 3 episodes Tommie Turvey as George Atzerodt 3 episodes Walker Babington as Spangler 3 episodes Harrison Stone as Stanton's Doctor 2 episodes Carrie Anne Hunt as Clara Harris 1 episode Rebecca Ray as Fanny Seward 2 episodes Joshua Blayne as Freddie Seward 1 episode Maxwell Korn as Robert Lincoln 3 episodes Jason Kirkpatrick as Sgt. Silas Cobb 1 episode Chip Lane as Chief Security Guard 2 episodes Chris Myers as Harry Hawks 1 episode Kate Croonquist as Augusta 1 episode Kathleen Hogan as Mrs. Mountchessin 1 episode Betty Gabriel as Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Keckley 3 episodes Joshua Mikel as John Surratt Jr. 3 episodes Roger Payano as Oswell Swann 3 episodes Kevin Patrick Murphy as Lieutenant Luther Baker 3 episodes Antonio J Bell as Milo Simms 4 episodes Jeronimo Spinx as Uncle Henry 1 episode Brielle Oliver as Young Mary Simms 1 episode Chris Gerard as William Parker 1 episode Tom McCafferty as Mr. Gorsuch 1 episode Sam Balas as Tom Gorsuch, Jr. 1 episode Don A. King as Southern Congressman #1 2 episodes Glenn H. Allen as White Neighbor 1 episode Stephanie McInnis as Mary Simms' Older Aunt 1 episode Elizabeth June as Mary Simms' Grandmother 1 episode Andre Haskett as Marry Simms' Male Cousin 1 episode Shawn Randall Howard as Stable Manager 1 episode Julie Ivey as Miss Rachel 1 episode John Billingsley as Judge Joseph Holt 3 episodes Davin Allen Grindstaff as Box Office Manager 2 episodes Anthony Marble as George Sanders 2 episodes Christian Robinson as Pvt. Cuffy Stevens 1 episode Thomas Francis Murphy as Samuel Cox 1 episode Elvis Nolasco as Frederick Douglass 1 episode Joberde Metellus as Sgt. Powahatan Beaty 1 episode Josh Stewart as Sanford Conover 5 episodes Ryan Hope Travis as Infantryman 1 episode Ted Welch as Frank Leech 1 episode Keith Brooks as River Ghost 2 episodes Ja'Quan Monroe-Henderson as Alec Leconte 1 episode Megan Hayes as Karrie 1 episode Mark Rand as Judge Chase 1 episode Grant Pfost as U.S. Navy Officer 1 episode Tom Olson as DC Policeman 1 episode Julian Green as Sanders' Valet 2 episodes Patrick Lamont Jr. as Alec's Father 1 episode Ernest Lee as Ernest 1 episode Nick Westrate as Edwin Booth 1 episode Bill Kelly as Jonathan Lamson 1 episode William J. Simmons as Jesse 2 episodes William Mark McCullough as Boston Corbett 2 episodes Judd Lormand as Col. Conger 2 episodes Helene Henry as Julia Garrett 2 episodes Bill Winkler as Jeremiah Dyer 2 episodes Neal Ghant as Baptist Washington 2 episodes Craig Nigh as Jefferson Davis 2 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Art Direction
Christina Eunji Kim
Editor
Karoliina Tuovinen Damien Smith
Assistant Art Director
Chelsea Morgan Brynna Norvell Samantha Klemm
Makeup Artist
Midian Crosby Randi Owens Arroyo Jessica Paige Goodin
Assistant Set Decoration
Sondra Thorpe
Second Assistant Director
Kate Pulley
Production Secretary
Kit McDonald
Executive Producer
Kate Barry Monica Beletsky Michael Rotenberg
Supervising Art Director
Jonathan Bell
Director
John Dahl Carl Franklin
Set Designer
Jeffrey Beck
Script Supervisor
Diane Durant
Prosthetic Designer
Robin Beauchesne
Health and Safety
Suzanne C. Robertson
Creator
Monica Beletsky
Assistant Production Coordinator
Drew Funk
Production Design
Chloe Arbiture
Supervising Producer
Ben H. Winters
Dialect Coach
Cynthia Blaise
Consulting Producer
Jackie Hoyt
First Assistant Director
Melanie Grefé
Costume Design
Katie Irish
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Manhunt overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book asthma miniseries political assassination american civil war manhunt political conspiracy
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 14, 2024
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
92