Editing Michael Mann (section)

=== 1978–1999: Career breakthrough and acclaim ===
Mann's first feature movie was the sports-themed ''Swan Song'' starring [[David Soul]] for ABC, which was filmed in April 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1978-03-06 |title=Syracuse Herald-Journal from Syracuse, New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1098146321/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1978-03-24 |title=The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/571664987/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> However, it was only broadcast in February 1980, after his second feature, ''The Jericho Mile'', had been released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1980-01-29 |title=Turlock Journal from Turlock, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1103050401/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[The Jericho Mile]]'' was also made for ABC for television broadcast in the United States but was released theatrically in Europe. The movie was filmed on location at the [[Folsom State Prison|Folsom State Penitentiary]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=1979-11-27 |title=Birmingham Evening Mail from Birmingham, West Midlands, England |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/858160089/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special in 1979 and the Directors Guild of America award for Best Director. 

Mann's debut feature in cinema as director was ''[[Thief (film)|Thief]]'' (1981) starring [[James Caan (actor)|James Caan]], a relatively accurate depiction of thieves that operated in New York City and Chicago at that time. Mann used actual former professional burglars to keep the technical scenes as genuine as possible. His next film was ''[[The Keep (film)|The Keep]]'' (1983), a supernatural thriller set in [[Nazi]]-occupied [[Romania]]. Though it was a commercial flop, the film has since attained cult status amongst fans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Mari |title=Horror Film Shot in Gwynedd Has Become a Cult Classic |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/horror-film-shot-gwynedd-become-11462212 |website=NorthWalesLive |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=The Daily Post |access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref> 

His television work in the mid-1980s includes being the executive producer on ''[[Miami Vice]]'' (1984–1990) and ''[[Crime Story (U.S. TV series)|Crime Story]]'' (1986–1988). Contrary to popular belief, he was not the creator of these shows, but the executive producer and [[showrunner]], produced by his production company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sage |first=Tyler |date=January 25, 2020 |title=30 Years Ago: 'Miami Vice' Ends After Changing TV Forever |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/miami-vice-last-episode/ |access-date=January 21, 2021 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2016 |title=15 Things You Didn't Know About Miami Vice |url=https://screenrant.com/miami-vice-tv-show-movie-trivia-facts/ |access-date=January 21, 2021 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Nathan |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Crime Story Set the Stage for the Last 3 Decades of Prestige Crime Dramas |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/how-michael-manns-crime-story-revolutionized-crime-dramas.html |access-date=January 21, 2021 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Jericho Mile {{!}} film by Mann [1979] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Jericho-Mile |access-date=January 21, 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> His production company also produced [[Paul Michael Glaser]]'s 1986 film ''[[Band of the Hand]].''

In 1986, Mann was the first to bring [[Thomas Harris]]' character of serial killer [[Hannibal Lecter]] to the screen with ''[[Manhunter (film)|Manhunter]]'', his adaptation of the novel ''[[Red Dragon (novel)|Red Dragon]]'', which starred [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] as Hannibal. In an interview on the ''Manhunter'' DVD, star [[William Petersen]] comments that because Mann is so focused on his creations, it takes several years for him to complete a film; Petersen believes that this is why Mann does not make films very often.<ref>''Inside Manhunter: Interviews with stars William Petersen, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, and Tom Noonan''</ref> 

In 1989, he wrote, produced and directed the crime television film ''[[L.A. Takedown]]'', then wrote and produced the three-part miniseries ''[[Drug Wars: The Camarena Story]]'' (1990), and in 1992 wrote and produced ''Drug Wars II: The Cocaine Cartel.''

Mann gained widespread recognition in 1992 for his film adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel into the [[epic film|epic]] [[historical drama]] ''[[The Last of the Mohicans (1992 film)|The Last of the Mohicans]]'' starring [[Daniel Day-Lewis]]. The film is set during the [[French and Indian War]]. Film critic [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' described Mann's directorial style, writing that "Mann, at his best, is a master of violence and lyrical anxiety".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/09/25/last-mohicans/|title= 'The Last of the Mohicans': EW review|magazine= Entertainment Weekly|access-date= February 21, 2021}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' praised Mann's directing, writing that "the action is richly detailed and thrillingly staged."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1040678-last_of_the_mohicans/reviews?type=&sort=&page=2|title= The Last of the Mohicans|website= Rotten Tomatoes|access-date= February 21, 2021}}</ref>

This was followed by crime drama ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'' (1995) starring [[Al Pacino]], [[Robert De Niro]], and [[Val Kilmer]]. The film, a remake of his TV movie ''[[L.A. Takedown]]'', was a critical success with [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' calling the film a "sleek, accomplished piece of work, meticulously controlled and completely involving. The dark end of the street doesn't get much more inviting than this."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/heat/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Heat |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref> [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Stunningly made and incisively acted by a large and terrific cast, Michael Mann's ambitious study of the relativity of good and evil stands apart from other films of its type by virtue of its extraordinarily rich characterizations and its thoughtful, deeply melancholy take on modern life."<ref name=var>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/heat-2-1200444173/ |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |title=Review: ''Heat'' |date=December 5, 1995 |access-date=March 27, 2014}}</ref>

In 1999, Mann filmed ''[[The Insider (film)|The Insider]]'' about the ''[[60 Minutes]]'' segment about [[Jeffrey Wigand]], a whistleblower in the [[tobacco industry]]. [[Russell Crowe]] portrayed Wigand, with [[Al Pacino]] playing [[Lowell Bergman]], and [[Christopher Plummer]] as [[Mike Wallace]]. The film showcased Mann's cinematic style and garnered the most critical recognition of his career up to this point. ''The Insider'' was nominated for seven [[Academy Awards]] as a result, including a nomination for Mann's direction. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised the film writing, "''The Insider'' had a greater impact on me than ''[[All the President's Men (film)|All the President's Men]]'', because you know what? Watergate didn't kill my parents. Cigarettes did."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-insider-1999|title= The Insider|website= Rogerebert.com|access-date= February 21, 2021}}</ref>