Copycat

Copycat centers on Helen Hudson, an agoraphobic psychologist who built a career analyzing serial killers while avoiding the outside world. When a methodical murderer begins reproducing famous homicides, San Francisco detective M.J. Monahan seeks Helen's expertise despite her fears. The pair combine forensic profile work, survivor insight, and street-level detective work to trace a perpetrator who seems obsessed with mimicking the past. As threats escalate and clues pile up, Helen's trauma complicates the investigation and every lead could point to the next strike. Media scrutiny and police politics complicate the case, and Helen's reluctance to leave home becomes a tactical challenge for the investigation. Their collaboration tests prejudices and limits as they try to outthink an antagonist obsessed with replication.

Directed by Jon Amiel and written by David Madsen and Ann Biderman, Copycat was released in 1995. Set in San Francisco, it stars Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara and Harry Connick Jr., with a moody tone, notably.

Copycat opened to modest box office returns, never becoming a major summer hit but performing steadily. It later reached a broader audience through home video and television, which helped the film maintain visibility beyond its theatrical run and steady rentals.

The film's portrayal of an agoraphobic female expert working alongside a tough detective stood out in a decade packed with serial killer movies. Its methodical cat-and-mouse scenes and emphasis on imitation left an imprint on later procedurals, and it helped cement Sigourney Weaver's role in tense dramatic work for viewers.

Critics offered mixed to positive reviews, reflected in general audience ratings around 6.5 out of 10, praising performances and atmosphere while noting familiar genre beats. Reviewers highlighted Weaver and Hunter's chemistry and the film's focus on obsession, imitation, and how trauma affects expertise and daily functioning, though it has aged.