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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 Globe and Mail Rated: 2/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review Susan Stark Detroit News Rated: 2/4 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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Audience Member Underrated occult movie- a great watch. This will probably never be anyone’s favorite film, but it’s entertaining enough from start to finish. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Scott P Great and awesome occult movie. It’s close to being one of the very best Occult films ever made. After watching the movie several times I got the book that it was based on, Club Dumas, and this is one of the very rare moments that the film is better than the book. The book is still very, very good, but only the parts that deal with the satanic book are really interesting and deep and profound, the other parts that go off into this Three Musketeers world and just get you bored basically. If you didn’t like this movie then unfortunately you just do not have a high intellect and cannot appreciate it. I don’t mean to insult but it’s just true. It should have a 90+ percentage rating on rotten tomatoes but this is why Marvel movies are completely dominating the theaters now. That’s what people want, sadly. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/14/25 Full Review Weston L This movie went over my head the first time watching. But after viewing it again and again I find it to be more clever than most films. You might hear it doesn't have payoffs but that's because the payoffs are subtle, making them more impactful not less. Very likely most the plot and meanings went over most the reviewers heads. It's actually a very cool, smart and engaging film in many ways. One of my favorite elements of it is its mysterious nature. It treats the audience as smart puzzle solvers not as simple minded viewers that need everything spelled out. The more you pay attention the more string there are to pull at. Even now after multiple viewings I still find new elements I missed. Sorta the gift that keeps on giving. The film carries style and substance in unique ways. There's even a nice touch of humor and levity in it making it a very enjoyable watch. The performances are cool yet understated, and the music is too. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/25 Full Review Billy B Excellent plot build up to nothing. Great acting but a horrible ending with no defined resolvement of the story. Simply left hanging with no clue as to what was going on and no explanation as to what the events in the movie meant. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review Ron R A simply delightful movie with great production values, excellent script, plot and acting. A successful marriage of Drama, Suspense and the Supernatural. This is one of the extremely rare movies that I watch at least once a year. You should at least consider watching this movie at least once. You will not be disappointed. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Lomer A I beg to differ with the masses, however I found the story line absolutely riveting and intriguing. Kept my on the edge of my seat until the end. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Ninth Gate

The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Blood Baptism The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Blood Baptism 2:09 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - You Should Be More Careful The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - You Should Be More Careful 2:16 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - The Enigma Is Solved The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - The Enigma Is Solved 2:06 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Even Hell Has Its Heroes The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Even Hell Has Its Heroes 2:03 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - A Man Whose Loyalty Can Be Bought The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - A Man Whose Loyalty Can Be Bought 2:15 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Raise the Devil The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Raise the Devil 1:55 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Why the Devil? The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Why the Devil? 2:13 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - The Last Engraving The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - The Last Engraving 2:12 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Some Books Are Dangerous The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Some Books Are Dangerous 2:04 The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Boris Enters the Ninth Gate The Ninth Gate: Official Clip - Boris Enters the Ninth Gate 2:15 View more videos
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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
Araba Films, Bac Films, Kino Vision, Via Digital, R.P. Productions, Live Entertainment, Orly Films, Le Studio Canal +
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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