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The Game

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for 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.
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The Game

The Game

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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 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

Audience Reviews

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Romas M @Romas 1d Greetings from Lithuania. "The Game" (1997) is a true example of superb, edge of your seat and intelligent thriller. Everything works in this movie so good, that you will be glued to your screen during the whole movie. Saw this movie back in 1997, and 3-4 times after - it hardly gets better than this. Michael Douglas stars in one of the best films of the great David Fincher (first one is STILL his "Se7en" in my opinion) and he does a superb job in creating a wealthy man who gets a birthday present of a lifetime called as "The Game". When "The Game" starts, you are in a thriller ride of you lifetime. Overall, "The Game" is a good as thriller can possible be. It's not the best of all time, but it is unforgettable movie. Scene by scene you will be involved in this picture, and by the very end you will definitely say, "what a great movie that was". See more Steven G @DongLord69 May 15 This movie is beyond overrated. The writing is simple TERRIBLE. Nothing about this film is realistic, absolutely nothing. The entire point of the film is to get us to buy into this "game", but the truth is, a ridgid character like that would NEVER sign up for a game of anything. Scene after scene of the most ridiculous scenario’s all leading to a horrifically terrible ending. Can we have fight club back? See more Kristofer K @kbkaizer May 13 Fincher keeps you on the edge of your seat in beautiful composition, but is there such a thing as TOO MANY mind games? Intense. See more Oscar T @ScarfaceRampage May 11 My favorite Michael Douglas movie and his best work See more Donovan H. @donnie1 Apr 29 A film reminding us that happiness is not necessarily about status or being wealthy but is about adventure and specifically the people we meet along the way to share our experiences with. See more EMC 5 @RT33528247 Apr 21 Definitely in my top 10 Movies This movie keeps you guessing and at the edge of your seat the entire way through with so many twists and turns, not very well known but an absolute classic in my books, Great plot and great acting it’s a don’t miss movie!! See more Read all reviews
The Game

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Cast & Crew

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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

Movie Clips

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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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The Game

The Game: Trailer 1 The Game: Trailer 1 2:26 View more videos
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The Game

The Game (1997) The Game (1997) The Game (1997) The Game (1997) View more photos

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