The Number 23

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The Number 23

R

Released Feb 23, 2007

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

7%

Tomatometer

189 Reviews

56%

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250,000+ Ratings

A man's (Jim Carrey) discovery of an obscure book about the number 23 leads him on a descent into darkness. As he becomes more obsessed with its contents, he becomes more convinced that it is, in fact, based on his life. To his horror, he discovers grave consequences in store for the book's main character.

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Critics Consensus

Jim Carrey has been sharp in a number of non-comedic roles, but this lurid, overheated, and self-serious potboiler is not one of them. The Number 23 is clumsy, unengaging, and mostly confusing.

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Tom Charity

CNN.com

For all its gimmicky numerology, The Number 23 just doesn't add up.

Jul 9, 2007

Full Review

George Palathingal

Sydney Morning Herald

This thriller's biggest mistake is its belief that it's as clever and original as it is visually stylish.

Rated: 2.5/5

Apr 27, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Pretty much every important date in history...can be teased to fit the pattern. What can't be hammered out of this fixation, apparently, is a coherent movie.

Mar 13, 2007

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A nauseatingly absurd film

Rated: 0.5/4

Mar 8, 2024

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Schumacher is in his clenched, “realistic” mode here, and Carrey gives a grim, exhausted performance that would better suit a more serious movie.

Rated: D

Sep 20, 2022

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Takes a decent premise and turns it into utter trash.

Nov 21, 2019

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Chrissy C

It´s upsetting how insanely inept and preposterous this disaster is. Joel Schumacher did have his good days but he often struggled with tone and what the man who directed A time to Kill was going for here,I can not tell. It reads like a overstuffed,unecessarily convoluted mystery with very occult overtones signifying nothing,Jim Carrey plays his lead as a tortured soul stuck in a generic drama and mr.S directs the whole thing as a glossy,wannabe noirish potboiler that looks cheap with dashes of pg-13 creepiness and it´s all just very "what the hell am I watching"? Great cast though,never any shade on Virginia Madsen.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Dan R

2007's 'Number 23' was one of the first examples that Jim Carrey could play a serious(ish) role. SYNOPSIS: 'Walter Sparrow becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him, as more and more similarities between himself and his literary alter ego seem to arise.' It's not the worst film you'll see, especially when looking at this sort of sub genre, but it has so many flaws it ruins something which could've been half decent. With its glaring plot holes, over-reliance on coincidence and unexplained central conceit, it is hard to fathom why this project drew the likes of Jim Carry and Virginia Madsen. And neither of them can carry this film on their own. Carrey does play crazy really well though. 5/10

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

Julian S

There’s an undeniable cheapness to it, no matter how hard Carey tries—and he really does try.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

Full Review

Cindy H

I am a BIG horror and thriller fan and I really liked this movie! Thought Jim Carey was amazing as always. Score on RM gives me doubt in relying on their opinions about any movie. I recommend judge for yourself👍🏻

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/12/24

Full Review

Sean D

7% is so wrong !! Remember watching this when it first came out and being a big horror and Jim Carey fan I was so excited. On the horror side you will be slightly disappointed, but as a thriller it's pretty solid overall. I loved the dream sequences and Jim Carey puts in a decent performance, and the ending caught me off guard !! 7% from the critics is ridiculous. Glad to see the audience score is pretty fair

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/09/24

Full Review

Klaudia W

In the nutshell, "respectfully" and HONESTLY, it's DARK, CONFUSING, DISGUSTING, and ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

Full Review

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Jim Carrey

Walter Sparrow

Virginia Madsen

Agatha Sparrow

Logan Lerman

Robin Sparrow

Danny Huston

Isaac French

Rhona Mitra

Laura Tollins

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Synopsis

A man's (Jim Carrey) discovery of an obscure book about the number 23 leads him on a descent into darkness. As he becomes more obsessed with its contents, he becomes more convinced that it is, in fact, based on his life. To his horror, he discovers grave consequences in store for the book's main character.

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Fernley Phillips, Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson
Screenwriter: Fernley Phillips
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Contrafilm
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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