Stranger Than Fiction

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Stranger Than Fiction

PG-13

Released Nov 10, 2006

1h 45m

Comedy

Fantasy

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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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Gail S

I really enjoyed this movie. I haphazardly stumbled upon it today and it was great. Where was in 2006, to miss this touching, dramatic and funny movie???

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

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Dave K

For an unpredictable movie it was rather predictable. The actors and acting were very good. It must have played well in the theatres and for the fans. Of course you had to look past the stupid plot. Maybe in the US there are enough crack heads and dreamers to think the plot could happen. After all 1/3rd of the Us is either high on something or on prescription drugs. So I can see the irrational hype on RT. Should have been more like 30 for the critics and 60 for the fans. Fans are going to over look the plot and critics are afraid to declare this one stupid. I rate movies on if I would ever watch it again. No, I am more than done with this bird poop.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Ben L

A great Movie! Classic! OMG Will, Maggie! Whole Wide World.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Melissa M

Every comedian does a thinker movie. A movie that's deep and really makes you think about things in a psychological way. Or has a deep meaningful plot. That makes you examine life in somewhat comical way. This movie is definitely one of them. In the film the character of Harold is a creature of habit. throughout the film he's getting the funny feeling that his life is being narrated. All of a sudden one day his watch stops and he realizes it's time to reexamine his life. He is told by the narrator that his death is imminent. The storyline is highly imaginative. It's good to see that Hollywood has somewhat of an imagination still. Will ferrell, Dustin hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, & Dana Owens are in the movie. It's a very eclectic cast. For a very eclectic movie. It's surprisingly good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved it. It’s nothing particularly amazing but with so many films recycling the same hashed out plots over and over, Stranger Than Fiction gets 5 stars for it’s originality and non-formulaic plot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

Diana H

LOVED. Will watch again. Well-written and directed. The cast - oh my greatness. All wonderful. Loved the bits of business from Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman. I was surprised to see some negative reviews above. It's hard to grasp that some professional critics just didn't (grasp it).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

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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