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

Stream 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

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?).

Go to Full Review

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)

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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…

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

04/26/2023

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Cinema S

@cinema_sensei 4d

I genuinely had no idea where this was going. The whole experience kept me questioning whether what I was seeing was real, part of the game, or something much bigger. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, the movie made me doubt it again. I wasn't ready for the twist, and that ending completely caught me off guard. Some parts are a little overcomplicated, but the experience was fantastic.

See more

Jan J

@JANFILM97 5d

Still One of Fincher’s Best The Game is the kind of thriller they just don’t seem to make anymore. Dark, clever and completely unpredictable, it takes a simple idea and keeps twisting it until you’re questioning absolutely everything. Michael Douglas is perfect as a man who believes he controls every part of his life, only to have that control slowly stripped away. Fincher’s direction is the real star, though — the atmosphere, paranoia, and constant sense that something isn’t quite right are brilliant. You can pick holes in the logic afterward, but while you’re watching, it doesn’t matter. You’re completely along for the ride. A proper psychological thriller and one I can watch again and again.

See more

Jack P

@filmthrill172 Aug 17

The Game is one of those thrillers that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. Fincher creates this constant feeling that something isn't quite right, and just when you think you've figured it out, the film shifts again. Stylish, clever and incredibly well directed, with a great central performance. Even years later, it still feels original. A brilliant psychological thriller and one I can watch again and again.

See more

Michael F

@MikeF964 Aug 11

Saw this in the theatre nearly 30 years ago. Loved it. Fun and suspenseful storytelling. It’s all in the ending…

See more

bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 4

interesting and fun. worthwhile good storytelling and acting... it will make you think.

See more

Cos D

@CosMovies Jul 27

It’s a masterpiece- a spiritual journey of awakening.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead

2:54

Now Playing

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

2:24

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride

3:00

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them

2:52

Now Playing

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

2:42

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress

2:11

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience

2:53

Now Playing

The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins

2:56

Now Playing

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

55%

41%

Extreme Measures

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Game: Trailer 1

2:26

Now Playing

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings