The Game

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2:26

The Game

R

1997

2h 8m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a successful banker who keeps mostly to himself. When his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn) returns on his birthday with an odd gift -- participation in a personalized, real-life game -- Nicholas reluctantly accepts. Initially harmless, the game grows increasingly personal, and Orton begins to fear for his life as he eludes agents from the mysterious game's organizers. With no one left to trust and his money gone, Orton must find answers for himself.

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Critics Consensus

The ending could use a little work but this is otherwise another sterling example of David Fincher's iron grip on atmosphere and storytelling.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

06/07/2021

4/5

It looks stunning, with every shadowy scene seemingly dipped in ink and some rapid-fire edits balanced by more experimental touches (super slow-mo squash, anyone?).

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

07/27/2020

The more we invest in Nicholas' bank of experiences, the more we display our willing complicity with, even subservience to, a system that lets cocooned elites merely play games (on an urban, even international scale)

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/28/2018

The rational side of my brain can pick this movie apart until all that's left is incoherent threads. The movie-mad side, happy to lose control, had a hell of a good time.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Feb 1

4/5

…this is a far better movie than say The Killer, and better than director David Fincher thinks. If they’d kept the ending, and upped the social commentary within a bit more pointed critique of Van Orton’s lifestyle, this could have been a classic…

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Quentin Falk

Sunday Mirror (UK)

12/18/2024

4/5

The plot develops into a nerve-tingling thriller of bluff and double bluff set in San Francisco.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

04/26/2023

One of Fincher's best. [Full review in Spanish]

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Steven G

@DongLord69 May 15

This movie is beyond overrated. The writing is simple TERRIBLE. Nothing about this film is realistic, absolutely nothing. The entire point of the film is to get us to buy into this "game", but the truth is, a ridgid character like that would NEVER sign up for a game of anything. Scene after scene of the most ridiculous scenario’s all leading to a horrifically terrible ending. Can we have fight club back?

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Kristofer K

@kbkaizer May 13

Fincher keeps you on the edge of your seat in beautiful composition, but is there such a thing as TOO MANY mind games? Intense.

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Oscar T

@ScarfaceRampage May 11

My favorite Michael Douglas movie and his best work

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Donovan H.

@donnie1 Apr 29

A film reminding us that happiness is not necessarily about status or being wealthy but is about adventure and specifically the people we meet along the way to share our experiences with.

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EMC 5

@RT33528247 Apr 21

Definitely in my top 10 Movies This movie keeps you guessing and at the edge of your seat the entire way through with so many twists and turns, not very well known but an absolute classic in my books, Great plot and great acting it’s a don’t miss movie!!

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Jack N.

@RT97141159 Apr 18

I’m shocked this got such a high rating. This movie is awful, intriguing until the end. After his life is tormented physically and psychologically he just has a party and then goes on a date like it’s all fine and dandy, so stupid. At least fincher learned something and made better movies after this.

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David Fincher

Director

Michael Douglas

Nicholas Van Orton

Sean Penn

Conrad Van Orton

Deborah Kara Unger

Christine

James Rebhorn

Jim Feingold

Peter Donat

Samuel Sutherland

The Game: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Nicky

2:59

The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead

2:54

The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun

2:24

The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride

3:00

The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them

2:52

The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It

2:42

The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress

2:11

The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience

2:53

The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins

2:56

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Synopsis

Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) is a successful banker who keeps mostly to himself. When his estranged brother Conrad (Sean Penn) returns on his birthday with an odd gift -- participation in a personalized, real-life game -- Nicholas reluctantly accepts. Initially harmless, the game grows increasingly personal, and Orton begins to fear for his life as he eludes agents from the mysterious game's organizers. With no one left to trust and his money gone, Orton must find answers for himself.

Director: David Fincher
Producer: Steve Golin, Ceán Chaffin
Screenwriter: Michael Ferris, John D. Brancato
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.3M
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround