The Game

Play trailer

2:26

The Game

R

1997

2h 8m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

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?).

Rated: 4/5

Jun 7, 2021

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

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)

Jul 27, 2020

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

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.

Feb 28, 2018

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

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

Apr 26, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Douglas works hard, and even if it's at first enticing, the movie is shallow and much ado about nothing.

Rated: C

Jan 10, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

An effort that skirts the boundary between legitimately terrifying and ridiculous enough to be funny (25th anniversary

Rated: 4/5

Sep 19, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

M7AMD A

i dont know how this movie got a high rating! i felt bored as i watched this nonsense and only stayed to see what the big reveal was and i was disappointed, i probably would have rated it higher if i had watched it in 1997, it was flat and long and boring, i cant say i enjoyed this movie at all and felt like i wasted 2 hours of my time, especially that ending its just is not logical and a complete nonsense Only things that were good were acting and direction

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

Full Review

Fer S

Very good! I just wanted a different ending. The beginning makes you think the movie is gonna suck, but as it progresses you will totally change your mind.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Mason M

I'm quite surprised that this film isn't talked about more. I just watched it for the first time and this film might be my single most surprising, flabbergasting, and astonishing movie watching experience that I have ever had. The Game is a dark neo-noir thriller with impeccable writing and execution, that kept me on the edge of my seat and with no idea of what was to happen next for the entire run time. This is definitely my favorite that I have seen from David Fincher, and should be more often considered as one of the best of it's time

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Yes definitely highly recommended. Michael Douglas is a superb actor in my opinion and this is fantastic. From start to finish this will keep you on your seat. Great story and performances. One of my favourite films.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Pantera O

"This is your game, and welcome to it" Un hombre maduro recibe un regalo de cumpleaños que se convierte en un juego que cada vez se vuleve mas serio y peligroso. Elegante. Mental. Intrigante. Una elegante cinematografía, con colores oscuros, planos en su mayoria estáticos, y una elegante producción que refleja el ambiente y poder socio económico de los personajes. Se pierde en la complejidad del conflicto, descuidando el sentido de la realidad, perdiendo seriedad en el argumento. Si la respuesta a varias cuestiónes del argumento es "porque es una pelicula" es porque tiene poca profundidad. La fragilidad de la mente humana ante los engaños de la realidad. Refleja muchos aspectos de la psicología, profundizando un poco en el significado de la locura. La ilusión de nuestra experiencia ante los hechos. La amargura de la edad madura. Un laberinto mental. Logra mantener un genuino interés, llevando al espectador a sufrir la confusión de los protagonistas, manteniendolo al borde de la locura y el suspenso, pero pierde mucho impacto en la resolución, al no cubrir varias vertientes en el desarrollo, y tener poca veracidad y sentido. Una película que solo se disfruta bien una vez. Crei que la iba a cachar mejor pero no, me parece muy absurda. ¿Porque a mi? La realidad es una ilusión. Técnica: 7.9 Expresión: 6.5 Efecto: 7.2 Experiencia: 7.0 Calificación: 7.1/10 Película: No 2 Reseña: No 2

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

Full Review

Dospi A

One of the best movies ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

View more videos

Dream Lover

57%

39%

Dream Lover

Watchlist

Shallow Grave

72%

83%

Shallow Grave

Watchlist

Mulholland Falls

31%

39%

Mulholland Falls

Watchlist

Kalifornia

59%

64%

Kalifornia

Watchlist

Extreme Measures

56%

41%

Extreme Measures

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Netflix in July 2021

JB Smoove’s Five Favorite Films

First Teaser for the "Black Christmas" Remake

The Game: Trailer 1

2:26

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now