The Game

R

1997

2 hr. 8 min.

Mystery & Thriller

TRAILER

for The Game: Trailer 1

List

77%

65 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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noa r

ridiculous! i am a massive david fincher stan, but this was way overtop with the amount of twists and it got to the point where it was exhausting. the runtime was unnecessary, there were some scenes that could've easily been cut. this is definitely not my favourite fincher, but not my least.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Mate P

The Game is an extremely well-executed movie. The main character was interesting from the beginning. Then I thought I know what the goal of this movie was and I was actually right. They wanted him to realize how rude he was with others. But of course later in the movie this thought changed, because of the twist and turns, which really got me. In the middle of watching the film I realised that I had seen this movie before, but that meant nothing, because all the twist got me. The acting of Michael Douglas was outstanding, maybe this is typecasting, but it was certainly good. I was gobsmacked by this, amazing film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

gurken s

Great Storytelling Good acting. One of the blueprints for that genre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/24

Full Review

Steve D

It all ends up quite cheesy.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Dionisis T

Definitely not David Fincher's best movie, but definitely one of the best plot twists and movie endings I could imagine, it was worth my time!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/23

Full Review

TrueBlueReview I

Disappointing somewhat, but I would also watch Michael Douglas watch paint dry on a wall.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

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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

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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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The Game: Trailer 1

2:26

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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

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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
Executive Producer: Jonathan Mostow
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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