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The Ninth Gate

Play trailer Poster for The Ninth Gate R Released Mar 10, 2000 2h 13m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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43% Tomatometer 95 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) specializes in tracking down rare and exotic volumes for collectors. Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) has recently acquired a seventeenth-century satanic text called The Nine Gates- a legendary book written by Satan himself. With The Nine Gates in his possession, Corso soon finds himself at the center of strange and violent goings-on. Not only is his apartment ransacked, it appears that he is being shadowed ferociously by others determined to regain the book.
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The Ninth Gate

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Critics Consensus

Even though the film is stylish and atmospheric, critics say The Ninth Gate meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous. And despite the advertising, there's hardly any chills.

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Critics Reviews

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Brandon Judell IndieWire Polanski revisits Satan with less than devilish fun. Sep 14, 2012 Full Review Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution Watching The Ninth Gate is like being force-marched through dank rooms piled high with musty books, led by drab tour guides who mutter the same pedantic points over and over. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press Isn't likely to be mistaken for one of Polanski's great shockers. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh There are a number of promising themes being explored here that feel entirely fresh for the horror genre, yet none of these nuggets of promise are paid off in fulfilling ways, making for a messy experience with glimmers of hope. Rated: 3/5 Sep 20, 2023 Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media Depp's Dean Corso seems at once generic and elusive, stumbling from set piece to set piece as The Ninth Gate's plot takes predictable twists and turns until it wanders into oblivion. Rated: 2/5 Nov 16, 2022 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault The movie begins with Polanski’s usual mood of voluptuous menace, promising an elegant headgame for people who still read; the mood remains — Polanski’s craft is impeccable — but the story lets him down. Rated: C- Sep 2, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Louise C I watched this for a second time, there being a few years since the first viewing. Unfortunately, this did not clarify anything for me. Other reviewers have said what was lacking, and I agree. This is not Roman's best work. Released in 1999, it now seems so weird to have a character chain-smoking all the way through. It became a distraction for me as the film went on. No-one today would smoke like that, in venues that were enclosed. It demonstrates that society's attitudes change over decades. Although the actors portrayed well what the material offered, this particular movie did not deliver a satisfying conclusion. It is long for the quality given. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 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 07/18/25 Full Review Chris F. I honestly think that the story behind movies elude people. This is a gem of a movie and deserved to be more popular than it is. I will watch this movie again. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Nashville I A hidden gem that never got the credit it deserved for being a genuine thriller with just the perfect amount of supernatural elements. It doesn't lean heavy at all on supernatural aspects, and it allows its cast to use their charisma as an asset just the right amount. The one flaw is this movie makes too many allusions and tries to hint a bit too much with a couple key parts, rather than just coming out and being honest with the audience. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Glafira Regina O I absolutely love mystical thriller-detectives about books, the devil, and various rituals. But despite the gripping plot and great acting at times, the film falls short in a few places. The script has significant plot holes that are difficult to overlook. Plus, the open ending — we spend two hours being told about a book with otherworldly powers, but what those powers are remains a mystery. I was completely let down by the soundtrack as well — it fails to create any kind of atmosphere. All in all, it's okay for a one-time watch, but not something to watch repeatedly. I expected more from Roman Polanski. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Markus L Entertaining enough, worth a watch Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Ninth Gate

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Cast & Crew

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Roman Polanski

Director

Johnny Depp

Dean Corso

Frank Langella

Boris Balkan

Lena Olin

Liana Telfer

Emmanuelle Seigner

The Girl

Barbara Jefford

Baroness Kessler

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The Ninth Gate

The Ninth Gate (1999) Johnny Depp as Corso and Lena Olin as Liana in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Emmanuelle Seigner as an evasive angelic creature who knows a great deal about The Nine Gates and the people pursuing it in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Frank Langella as Boris Balkan in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Frank Langella as Boris and Johnny Depp as Corso in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Johnny Depp as Corso in Artisan's The Ninth Gate The secret society formed to perpetuate the teachings of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of the Shadows in Artisan's The Ninth Gate View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) specializes in tracking down rare and exotic volumes for collectors. Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) has recently acquired a seventeenth-century satanic text called The Nine Gates- a legendary book written by Satan himself. With The Nine Gates in his possession, Corso soon finds himself at the center of strange and violent goings-on. Not only is his apartment ransacked, it appears that he is being shadowed ferociously by others determined to regain the book.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Roman Polanski
Screenwriter
Arturo Pérez-Reverte, John Brownjohn, Enrique Urbizu, Roman Polanski
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
R.P. Productions, Araba Films, Le Studio Canal +, Orly Films, Live Entertainment, Bac Films, Kino Vision, Via Digital
Rating
R (Violence|Sexuality)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 10, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.7M
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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