Stranger Than Fiction

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Stranger Than Fiction

PG-13

2006

1h 45m

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

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176 Reviews

85%

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250,000+ Ratings

A mentally unstable IRS auditor (Will Ferrell) hears an author's (Emma Thompson) voice in his head and discovers that he is the ill-fated protagonist of her latest work. While a book-company employee (Queen Latifah) tries to cure the author's case of writer's block, the auditor and a professor (Dustin Hoffman) set out to find the woman and make her change her story.

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Critics Consensus

A fun, whimsical tale about an office drone trying to save his life from his narrator, Stranger Than Fiction features a subdued performances from Will Ferrell that contributes mightily to its quirky, mind-bending affect.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

The ending may be mush, but the rest has surprising bite.

Jun 5, 2023

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

There just isn't enough wit or style or verve to pull it off. It takes a great premise and then not only fails to run with it, but also fails to go absolutely anywhere with it at all.

Aug 22, 2018

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

UGO

Stranger Than Fiction never rises above its eye-catching premise, ending up as nothing more than a great idea with absolutely nowhere to go.

Mar 24, 2007

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

There’s more than a touch of Charlie Kaufman absurdity to Zach Helm’s screenplay but it’s warmer and less caustic in the way it uses fantasy to plumb human emotions and examines the nature of storytelling.

Apr 26, 2025

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Helm's strong script is aided by superb direction from Marc Forster and a top-notch cast.

Nov 20, 2019

Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

The List

The manic spirit of Preston Sturges has a hold of this voyage of self-discovery that's packed with laughs and brilliant performances. Thompson in particular hasn't been this inspired for a long time.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 3, 2018

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Ed R

What an outstanding depressing movie where the creator of a novel controls the details of an IRS agent.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Jeffrey P

Shades of offbeat dark rom-com that’s not Adaptation, not The Truman Show, not Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind, and not Being John Malkovich. When the best part is seeing the main character get hit by a bus, it has to be a miserable viewing experience.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/20/25

Full Review

Personal C

I love a good love story. The IRS tax auditor Will Ferrell thought his mission was to bring an Anarchist to justice. Maggie Gyllenhall, the baker, had not paid the portion of her taxes that was earmarked for war. But something happened neither one expected: They fell in love. This one gets a solid 5 stars. Great acting and a heartwarming plot full of surprises.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

Jonathan E

Wil Ferrell in a serious role and he's GREAT! With a star-studded cast including Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson, Maggie Glynhaal, and more!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

Full Review

Blu B

All Time Classic. Unlike any Will Ferrell film he's ever done and probably the best thing he's ever done. Everything here is first rate. Incredible supporting cast and a subdued Ferrell really showcases how Carrey did with the Truman Show what he can do when given more serious material. It's a shame he hasn't gotten more consistent chances and even more so this found the fate of films like Edge of Tomorrow and Blade Runner where it wasn't appreciated as strong when it came out by audiences. It's a very smart, meta, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and ode to storytelling and the impact it has on our lives and vice versa. It isn't just a one way street and the impact those characters have on us changes us too. Mostly for the better. Everyone should give this a try once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

Full Review

Christopher M

Easily one of if not the best work Will Ferrell has ever done. Honestly I usually cannot stand him as an actor as I find most of what he does silly and foolish. This however has depth and actually shows that he can act, not just play a fool.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

Full Review

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Marc Forster

Director

Will Ferrell

Harold Crick

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Ana Pascal

Dustin Hoffman

Dr. Jules Hilbert

Queen Latifah

Penny Escher

Emma Thompson

Kay Eiffel

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Narration Freakout

2:13

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - You Have to Die

3:15

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - I'm in a Tragedy

4:16

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - I Want You

3:25

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Buying a Guitar

1:25

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Harold Crick Dies

2:29

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Meeting the Author

2:45

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Whole Wide World

3:34

Stranger Than Fiction: Official Clip - Taxman in Love

4:02

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Synopsis

A mentally unstable IRS auditor (Will Ferrell) hears an author's (Emma Thompson) voice in his head and discovers that he is the ill-fated protagonist of her latest work. While a book-company employee (Queen Latifah) tries to cure the author's case of writer's block, the auditor and a professor (Dustin Hoffman) set out to find the woman and make her change her story.

Director: Marc Forster
Producer: Lindsay Doran
Screenwriter: Zach Helm
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Columbia, Mandate Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Nudity|Brief Language|Sexuality|Some Disturbing Images)
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.1M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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