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The Game

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for The Game R 1997 2h 8m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Audience Member The Game is a riveting thriller that's filled with unpredictable plot twists right down to the very end. Double crosses, double crosses of double crosses and a complete fabrication that should have any viewer questioning the reality of everything that's happening at nearly every point in the film. Anytime I thought I had something figured out, this film would prove how utterly wrong I was and flip everything upside down, and then back upright again. It's only major weakness is the ending in which Douglas' character seems to take every twisted manipulation in stride. I don't think anyone who went through the events of that film would be having a laugh about it. More likely that they would mentally breakdown and spend years receiving psychological help to work through the neverending laundry list of trust issues that would surely arise. Taut, encaptivating and enigmatic, The Game is a true thriller to its very core, even though it's finale is hardly believable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review babarizam D I have never liked David Fncher because of Alien3 though but this movie is rather good one though I had questions during the movie but at the end I just forgot them because movie is very good. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/21/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

The Game

The Game: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Nicky The Game: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Nicky 2:59 The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead 2:54 The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun 2:24 The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride 3:00 The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them 2:52 The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It 2:42 The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress 2:11 The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience 2:53 The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins 2:56 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
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