The Ghost Writer

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The Ghost Writer

PG-13

2010

2h 9m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

206 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When a successful ghostwriter, The Ghost (Ewan McGregor), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Pierce Brosnan), England's former prime minister, his publisher assures him it's the chance of a lifetime. Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.

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Critics Consensus

While it may lack the revelatory punch of Polanski's finest films, Ghost Writer benefits from stylish direction, a tense screenplay, and a strong central performance from Ewan McGregor.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This isn't a great film. You won't carry it around in your heart for years to come... But it'll keep you with it right to the very end, which has to be worth something. It may even be worth quite a lot.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

The dialogue and suspense created by director Polanski are first rate. You will enjoy this film.

Jan 13, 2018

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Andrew Sarris

Film Comment Magazine

In the total context of Polanski's hard life and grim ordeals ... The Ghost Writer constitutes a miracle of artistic and psychological resilience.

Jun 20, 2013

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A subtle and elegant thriller

Rated: 4/4

Aug 22, 2023

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The first impressionable thriller of 2010. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 5, 2022

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Stuart McGurk

NME (New Musical Express)

It's the kind of film that comes along all too rarely, and you find yourself hoping it won't be his last.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2021

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Kevin R.

without including lots of spoilers I can't say what the basic flaw in this movie is. However suffice it to say that the big reveal at the end has something very wrong with it. Nevertheless I think it's a great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

Kim P

The final shot was the only thing of any unusual value in this exceedingly boring film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

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mark g

Visually stunning. This film is a masterpiece in cinematography. You see elements of Hitchcock and De Palma. Every scene is a cross between elegance and sterile, just so clean. There is no sunlight, all overcast or stormy. This atmosphere creates a suspense that slow burns for the full two hours. Suppose I could talk about the plot and acting, but for me, this film was always about the visuals.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

John C

The sound track was intrusive it gave it a 70’s TV detective series feel. The ending wasn’t supported at all by the plot. How does the Ghost Writer string it all together with practically 0 references during the film. Only to be discovered at the very end, then killed? (Sorry).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Another great Polanski hit. It's a murder mystery suspense thriller told from the point of view of the memoire ghost writer for a politician who is suspected of deception and abuse of power. The movie has a great flow and you're kept engaged throughout as the plot twists and turns with a completely unexpected end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

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Roman Polanski

Director

Ewan McGregor

The Ghost

Pierce Brosnan

Adam Lang

Kim Cattrall

Amelia

Olivia Williams

Ruth Lang

Timothy Hutton

Sidney Kroll

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - A C.I.A. Handler

3:04

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Prime Minister Down

2:27

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - In the Beginning

2:45

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Deeper Into the Woods

2:59

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - A Formal Investigation

2:53

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Escaping The Ferry

2:26

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - Selling Autobiographies

2:17

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - For a Woman

2:35

The Ghost Writer: Official Clip - The Triangle

2:02

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Synopsis

When a successful ghostwriter, The Ghost (Ewan McGregor), agrees to finish the memoirs of Adam Long (Pierce Brosnan), England's former prime minister, his publisher assures him it's the chance of a lifetime. Instead, he begins to uncover evidence that suggests his late predecessor knew a dark secret about Lang and may have been murdered to prevent it from coming to light.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Roman Polanski, Robert Benmussa, Alain Sarde
Screenwriter: Robert Harris, Roman Polanski
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Runteam III LTD, France 2 Cinéma, Elfte Babelsberg Film GmbH, R.P. Films
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Nudity|A Drug Reference|Language|Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.5M
Runtime: 2h 9m

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