The Game

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2:26

The Game

R

1997

2h 8m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a successful banker who keeps mostly to himself. When his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn) returns on his birthday with an odd gift -- participation in a personalized, real-life game -- Nicholas reluctantly accepts. Initially harmless, the game grows increasingly personal, and Orton begins to fear for his life as he eludes agents from the mysterious game's organizers. With no one left to trust and his money gone, Orton must find answers for himself.

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Critics Consensus

The ending could use a little work but this is otherwise another sterling example of David Fincher's iron grip on atmosphere and storytelling.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

06/07/2021

4/5

It looks stunning, with every shadowy scene seemingly dipped in ink and some rapid-fire edits balanced by more experimental touches (super slow-mo squash, anyone?).

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

07/27/2020

The more we invest in Nicholas' bank of experiences, the more we display our willing complicity with, even subservience to, a system that lets cocooned elites merely play games (on an urban, even international scale)

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/28/2018

The rational side of my brain can pick this movie apart until all that's left is incoherent threads. The movie-mad side, happy to lose control, had a hell of a good time.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Feb 1

4/5

…this is a far better movie than say The Killer, and better than director David Fincher thinks. If they’d kept the ending, and upped the social commentary within a bit more pointed critique of Van Orton’s lifestyle, this could have been a classic…

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Quentin Falk

Sunday Mirror (UK)

12/18/2024

4/5

The plot develops into a nerve-tingling thriller of bluff and double bluff set in San Francisco.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

04/26/2023

One of Fincher's best. [Full review in Spanish]

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Blake T

@RT95241830 Mar 10

Stupidest movie I've EVER seen. You're telling me they [spoiler] knew he was gonna bring the revolver? Shoot his brother? GO ON THE ROOF TO JUMP? Because how else would he be PUSHED OFF THERE? They put a SAFEGUARD. They even marked the floor?? After several days of straight agony, breaking in and vandalising his house, putting him in a car UNDERWATER, faking not one, but TWO (three??) shootings, culminating in DRUGGING HIM and PUTTING HIM IN A CASKET IN MEXICO??? And after everything, his brother was like "happy birthday bro!" and he replied with "THANK YOU"? This is pure shit. Absolute trash. Do NOT recommend minus a thousand holy FU My day was actually ruined by this. I was having a fantastic day. I hope everyone who worked on this burns in HELL

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Dave N

@DNeale Mar 9

Hard to believe David Fincher did Seven then did this - I've read that he actually regrets making The Game, and I can see why. It's one of the most ludicrous movies I've ever seen, although I think if you go into it thinking of it as a mystery with fantasy/sci-fi elements it might work a lot better, as you would then be prepared for the absurdities. The premise is great, but clearly no one knew where to take it.

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Brent G

@bgillett86 Mar 9

Does everything make sense? Not really, but my butt was puckered for the last hour or so of this unforgettable psychological thriller.

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Clifford C

@Craneiv77 Feb 8

Literally one of the best movies I've ever seen!!

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Raphaël T

@Salbataaar Feb 6

From the beginning to the end, this movie has all the qualities of 90's cinema, serving a great plot, fluid character development and excellent storyline. It's quite easy to watch and even though we seem to know where we are going, we're in for surprises. An entertaining movie, going alongside the likes of "Usual Suspects".

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Amber D.

@Amber.Rochelle86 Jan 25

Oh my goodness- the score was AWFUL! You know how when a teenager thinks they’re gonna be the next Mozart so they “play” piano every chance they get… it’s not terrible music but it is kinda bad? This sounded like that but INCESSANTLY! It didn’t even fit what was happening in the movie!! The acting was very good. I personally felt it was all pretty predictable, but still an enjoyable watch.

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David Fincher

Director

Michael Douglas

Nicholas Van Orton

Sean Penn

Conrad Van Orton

Deborah Kara Unger

Christine

James Rebhorn

Jim Feingold

Peter Donat

Samuel Sutherland

The Game: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Nicky

2:59

The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead

2:54

The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun

2:24

The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride

3:00

The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them

2:52

The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It

2:42

The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress

2:11

The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience

2:53

The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins

2:56

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Synopsis

Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a successful banker who keeps mostly to himself. When his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn) returns on his birthday with an odd gift -- participation in a personalized, real-life game -- Nicholas reluctantly accepts. Initially harmless, the game grows increasingly personal, and Orton begins to fear for his life as he eludes agents from the mysterious game's organizers. With no one left to trust and his money gone, Orton must find answers for himself.

Director: David Fincher
Producer: Steve Golin, Ceán Chaffin
Screenwriter: Michael Ferris, John D. Brancato
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.3M
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround

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