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The Ninth Gate

Play trailer Poster for The Ninth Gate R 2000 2h 13m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 97 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) specializes in tracking down rare and exotic volumes for collectors. Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) has recently acquired a seventeenth-century satanic text called The Nine Gates- a legendary book written by Satan himself. With The Nine Gates in his possession, Corso soon finds himself at the center of strange and violent goings-on. Not only is his apartment ransacked, it appears that he is being shadowed ferociously by others determined to regain the book.

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The Ninth Gate

The Ninth Gate

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Critics Consensus

Even though the film is stylish and atmospheric, critics say The Ninth Gate meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous. And despite the advertising, there's hardly any chills.

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Critics Reviews

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Brandon Judell IndieWire 09/14/2012
Polanski revisits Satan with less than devilish fun. Go to Full Review Jay Carr Boston Globe 01/01/2000
The self-immolating and oblivion-bound Ninth Gate is the kind of film that's going to give satanic cults a bad name. Go to Full Review David Hunter The Hollywood Reporter 01/01/2000
The film never gets around to illuminating much about the lead character. Go to Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Nov 11
3/5
This satisfying gothic chiller has moody atmosphere, a stunning score (from Wojciech Kilar) and sinister unease to spare as it leads the viewer up numerous garden paths to a disappointing hallucinatory climax. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Oct 11
... full of rumbling menace and deliciously unsettling imagery, but Polanski’s languorous direction and purposefully vague story leaves a film that’s eerie without every becoming thrilling. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh 09/20/2023
3/5
There are a number of promising themes being explored here that feel entirely fresh for the horror genre, yet none of these nuggets of promise are paid off in fulfilling ways, making for a messy experience with glimmers of hope. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bronn B. @RT31774873 May 28 The movie is odd but I always enjoy watching it. I love the mood and ambiance, and Johnny Depp does such a good job that I always want to start smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes and collecting books. The plot is a bit nonsensical and the ending is a bit “huh?” but if you watch it not expecting a grand plan you might enjoy the ride. It’s very European and has such odd affects. Like Johnny Depp needs a car so his companion steals a red Dodge Viper. Not a Citroen or a Fiat, but the oddest and most American vehicle in France. It’s so odd but if you just go with it, it’s fine. See more ARG VIROX T @AVGVSTVS May 24 A really enjoyable film. It's true that it tends to be a bit slow, but I really liked the atmosphere it creates. I recommend this film to people interested in occult-related fiction. The ending left me wanting more, but that's what's interesting about this film; there's nothing spectacular, and everything is designed so that the viewer can imagine what will happen next. See more Michael L @MikeLewis Apr 23 I quite dug this. Slow, very Rosemary’s Baby in its approach to basically hold back everything until the end. I have always avoided watching it due to the reviews but I’m glad I finally gave it a shot. Polanski aside, I give this a solid B rating See more Wendel L @BRZRKR Feb 20 Direção: Ok Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok See more Melissa L @Agent99 Feb 16 I'm a bibliophile myself, so I really liked the plot of this movie. I also know how to handle rare books, which means I know they have to be stored in a hermetically sealed environment, and you should only handle them wearing gloves. You don't allow cigarette smoke anywhere near the book. I found it interesting and well-acted. See more Danny W. @DannyRockefeller Nov 4 Horrible pace, horrible music, and an ending that made me throw my remote at the TV. See more Read all reviews
The Ninth Gate

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Cast & Crew

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Roman Polanski

Director

Johnny Depp

Dean Corso

Frank Langella

Boris Balkan

Lena Olin

Liana Telfer

Emmanuelle Seigner

The Girl

Barbara Jefford

Baroness Kessler

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The Ninth Gate

The Ninth Gate (1999) Johnny Depp as Corso and Lena Olin as Liana in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Emmanuelle Seigner as an evasive angelic creature who knows a great deal about The Nine Gates and the people pursuing it in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Frank Langella as Boris Balkan in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Frank Langella as Boris and Johnny Depp as Corso in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Johnny Depp as Corso in Artisan's The Ninth Gate The secret society formed to perpetuate the teachings of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of the Shadows in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Johnny Depp as Corso in Artisan's The Ninth Gate Director Roman Polanski and Johnny Depp on the set of Artisan's The Ninth Gate View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) specializes in tracking down rare and exotic volumes for collectors. Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) has recently acquired a seventeenth-century satanic text called The Nine Gates- a legendary book written by Satan himself. With The Nine Gates in his possession, Corso soon finds himself at the center of strange and violent goings-on. Not only is his apartment ransacked, it appears that he is being shadowed ferociously by others determined to regain the book.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Roman Polanski
Screenwriter
Arturo Pérez-Reverte, John Brownjohn, Enrique Urbizu, Roman Polanski
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
R.P. Productions, Araba Films, Le Studio Canal +, Orly Films, Live Entertainment, Bac Films, Kino Vision, Via Digital
Rating
R (Violence|Sexuality)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 10, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.7M
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)