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The Ninth Gate

R Released Mar 10, 2000 2h 13m Mystery & Thriller List
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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Dysnomia C I really enjoyed this film and felt like I was watching something special. Each scene has interesting characters, as the mystery and plot unfolds. It's a very atmospheric mystery drama centered on the occult. It's a slow burn compared to typical Hollywood films because it's more European in taste. It feels like a novel. The music really sets a gothic suspenseful tone. The ending is lackluster, but I get the sense that at a more than 2-hour runtime, they were rushing to wrap it up. International audiences enjoyed this more than American ones, which isn't surprising. There isn't enough action and explosions to hold most American movie goers' attention spans. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Audience Member I had a good time with it! Acting is spot on, by absolutley everybody! It is dense and atmospheric! And it made me appreciate the craftsmanship of bookbinding! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/02/24 Full Review Audience Member There is something very unique about this movie... the atmosphere, the pacing, the dialogues and the way people talk softly... It feels like it is one of its kind, that you cant really find occult movie like this one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Potato p Definitely one of the movies ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review Olga K Underappreciated masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/10/24 Full Review Aaron B 25th Anniversary this year, and I still love this movie. It creates such an amazing atmosphere. And Dean Corso is such a fabulously unreliable narrator. For those still confused—Boris Balkan is the one doing the murders and Corso is well aware of the game he is playing and the end goals. And he's trying to win. The movie just doesn't hand you that. You have to live in it to get it. I've watched this movie so many times over the years, and it still captures my imagination every time. An absolute masterpiece of noir fiction. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/30/24 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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