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The Game

  • 1997
  • R
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
453K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
618
21
Michael Douglas in The Game (1997)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for The Game
Play trailer1:35
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerPsychological DramaPsychological ThrillerSuspense MysteryTragedyDramaMysteryThriller

A mysterious game invaded a man's ordered existence.A mysterious game invaded a man's ordered existence.A mysterious game invaded a man's ordered existence.

  • Director
    • David Fincher
  • Writers
    • John Brancato
    • Michael Ferris
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Deborah Kara Unger
    • Sean Penn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    453K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    618
    21
    • Director
      • David Fincher
    • Writers
      • John Brancato
      • Michael Ferris
    • Stars
      • Michael Douglas
      • Deborah Kara Unger
      • Sean Penn
    • 891User reviews
    • 160Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    The Game: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:35
    The Game: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    The Game (1997)
    Trailer 0:31
    The Game (1997)
    The Game (1997)
    Trailer 0:31
    The Game (1997)

    Photos330

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    + 324
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    Top cast80

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Nicholas Van Orton
    Deborah Kara Unger
    Deborah Kara Unger
    • Christine
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • Conrad
    James Rebhorn
    James Rebhorn
    • Jim Feingold
    Peter Donat
    Peter Donat
    • Samuel Sutherland
    Carroll Baker
    Carroll Baker
    • Ilsa
    Anna Katarina
    Anna Katarina
    • Elizabeth
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    Armin Mueller-Stahl
    • Anson Baer
    Charles Martinet
    Charles Martinet
    • Nicholas' Father
    Scott Hunter McGuire
    • Young Nicholas
    Florentine Mocanu
    • Nicholas' Mother
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    Elizabeth Dennehy
    • Maria
    Caroline Barclay
    Caroline Barclay
    • Maggie
    Daniel Schorr
    Daniel Schorr
    • Daniel Schorr
    John Aprea
    John Aprea
    • Power Executive
    Harrison Young
    Harrison Young
    • Obsequious Executive
    Kimberly Russell
    Kimberly Russell
    • Cynthia, CRS Receptionist
    Joe Frank
    • CRS Data Collating Technician
    • Director
      • David Fincher
    • Writers
      • John Brancato
      • Michael Ferris
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews891

    7.7452.6K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9vithiet

    A classic thriller that is aging well

    I remember liking it a lot when it came out and upon recent viewing, it holds up very well. An excellent classic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
    8Xstal

    Wild Game...

    Like 'A Christmas Carol' with the ghosts replaced by 'Interesting Events', enough to make the most self absorbed think again. Wholly unrealistic in its portrayal but intensely engaging with some boomerangs to navigate and some thoughtful reflections to ponder.
    9planktonrules

    I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one.

    Sean Penn is not the most popular celebrity and has created a few enemies over the years. However, this does not make his performance nor the film "The Game" something to avoid...and considering I am no fan of him as a person, the fact I loved the movie so much says a lot. THE GAME is exceptional...and you'd be doing yourself a favor by watching it. THE GAME is one heck of a great film, as I give it a well-deserved score of 9 because it's so well written and entertaining. It is one of the most exciting and riveting films of recent memory. You've got to see this film! I'll say no more because I don't want to spoil it.
    8Confidante77

    An extremely underrated movie

    After the great success, both with critics and with the public, of "Seven", Director David Fincher turned to this film. It has often been said that this movie was one he'd wanted to make for a long time and upon viewing you can really see his belief in both characters and the story- overall an excellently directed movie.

    Although several people argued that "Seven" was gory, in my opinion it wasn't, for example, there is a total lack of blood in the Lust scene, something which I particularly admired- the fact that a director could make a chilling and shocking movie without resorting to piling tons of blood onto the screen. Fincher continues this streak in "The Game" by drawing the tension and shocks of the film by using psychological terror.

    Unfortunately, the movie could not parallel the success of "seven" upon its release and also received mixed critical reviews, however since then it has become somewhat of a cult movie with far more success on DVD than in the box office.

    Perhaps most notable about the film is the fact that (apparently) Fincher himself often seems to direct his actors in a detached way, the way one might move around chess pieces in a game. Whether this is 100% true or not his direction, the acting and just about everything else is superb.
    8Agent10

    ....and when it was all over, I was blown away

    Very few films have captured my attention the way The Game did. Every turn, every corner seemed to have some hint of intrigue and deception. This film would be the life's work for any major film maker, but then again, this David Fincher were talking about.

    Years from now, when Fincher is honored with his lifetime achievement award at the Academy Awards, his true fans will always remember this film. It put a whole new twist on the idea of "plot-twist." One of the few films me and my father both liked (we never agree on any film).

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Fincher originally planned to make The Game before Se7en (1995). But once Brad Pitt became available for the latter, Fincher shelved this film until Se7en (1995)'s filming was done.
    • Goofs
      At the airport, Nicholas gets ink on his shirt. When trying to clean it, it's a different shirt.
    • Quotes

      [Nicholas van Orten loses a shoe when climbing a fire-escape ladder]

      Nicholas: There goes a thousand dollars.

      Christine: Your shoes cost a thousand dollars?

      Nicholas: That one did.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits shatter in the form of jigsaw puzzle pieces in reference to the film's title.
    • Alternate versions
      The Blu ray has a deleted ending.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday to You
      Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

    Top picks

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    FAQ26

    • How long is The Game?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the significance of the incident and firing of Anson Baer, and how does it play into the rest of the movie?
    • What was the purpose of the montage Nicolas had to watch, before his "game" began?
    • Is "The Game" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
      • German
      • Spanish
      • Thai
    • Also known as
      • El juego
    • Filming locations
      • Filoli Estate - 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Propaganda Films
      • A&B Producoes, Lda.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,323,648
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,337,029
      • Sep 14, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $109,423,648
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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