A Shock to the System (1990) - Movie Browser

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

Movies
TV Shows
Browse
Topics

Account

Watchlist
Watched
Ratings
Profile

Legal

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

backdrop

backdrop

A Shock to the System (1990) - Movie Browser

Michael Caine murders his way up Madison Avenue with a smile.

Watch

yuppie nightmareblack comedy gold80s corporate rot

Overview

When experienced advertising executive Graham Marshall loses out on a promotion to a young man, he goes down in a path of vengeance.

Content warning

based on novel or book new york city murder advertising executive corporate ladder advertising agency sailing lighter electrocution madison avenue

white-collar revengeaging male entitlementcapitalism as violencemoral decay behind success

Standout Aspects

Acting

Caine's whispered menace and perfect restraint

Writing

Wickedly quotable corporate satire that still stings

Production

Sleek Manhattan ad world, all marble and moral void

Best for:Solo·Rewatch

Heads up:Violence

Director

Jan Egleson

ReleasedMar 23, 1990

Runtime1h 31m

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady

Intensitymedium

Tonedark

Feellight

Brigand Films

Top Cast

Michael Caine

Graham Marshall

Elizabeth McGovern

Stella Anderson

Peter Riegert

Robert Benham

Swoosie Kurtz

Leslie Marshall

Will Patton

Lt. Laker

Jenny Wright

Melanie O'Conner

John McMartin

George Brewster

Barbara Baxley

Lillian

Haviland Morris

Tara Liston

Philip Moon

Henry Park

Kent Broadhurst

Executive #1

Zach Grenier

Executive #2

David Schramm

Executive #3

Christopher Durang

Convention Speaker

Ask about A Shock to the System

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

2 items hidden due to spoilers

A Shock To The System (1990) - Official Trailer

A Shock To The System (1990) - Official Trailer

Gallery

Recommended

Phone Booth movie poster (2003)

Phone Booth

The Killer movie poster (2023)

The Killer

The Woman in the Window movie poster (2021)

The Woman in the Window

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer movie poster (2025)

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer

Q & A movie poster (1990)

Q & A

The Specialist movie poster (1994)

The Specialist

The Big Heat movie poster (1953)

The Big Heat

Killing Them Softly movie poster (2012)

Killing Them Softly

10 Rillington Place movie poster (1971)

10 Rillington Place

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman movie poster (2021)

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman

Reasonable Doubt movie poster (2014)

Reasonable Doubt

The Anderson Tapes movie poster (1971)

The Anderson Tapes

The Number 23 movie poster (2007)

The Number 23

Caught Stealing movie poster (2025)

Caught Stealing

Kill Your Friends movie poster (2015)

Kill Your Friends

More Like This

Closely Watched Trains movie poster (1966)

Closely Watched Trains

Blue Velvet movie poster (1986)

Blue Velvet

Strangers on a Train movie poster (1951)

Strangers on a Train

Shrek movie poster (2001)

Shrek

Animal Farm movie poster (1999)

Animal Farm

Lolita movie poster (1962)

Lolita

Se7en movie poster (1995)

Se7en

Petrov's Flu movie poster (2021)

Petrov's Flu

Sleepers movie poster (1996)

Sleepers

Men in Black movie poster (1997)

Men in Black

Manhattan movie poster (1979)

Manhattan

Falsettos movie poster (2017)

Falsettos

The Big Sleep movie poster (1946)

The Big Sleep

Bullitt movie poster (1968)

Bullitt

The Golden Ass movie poster (1970)

The Golden Ass