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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) Jun 7, 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 Jul 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 Feb 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, 2026
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) Dec 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 Apr 26, 2023
One of Fincher's best. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 4 days ago The Game = a *4* star Movie! See more tomtot S @trextomatoe Sep 14, 2026 Helluva a movie. Hard to explain other than props to Penn and M. Douglas, they were fun to watch. And obviously the writer/creator is fascinating. See more Anthony L @RT86574168 Aug 29, 2026 One of the best first time watches ever but I am afraid it’s tough beyond that See more Cinema S @cinema_sensei Aug 22, 2026 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 Aug 21, 2026 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, 2026 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 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 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead The Game: Official Clip - Back from the Dead 2:54 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun The Game: Official Clip - He's Got a Gun 2:24 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride The Game: Official Clip - Deadly Cab Ride 3:00 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them The Game: Official Clip - You're With Them 2:52 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It The Game: Official Clip - She's In On It 2:42 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress The Game: Official Clip - Bad Waitress 2:11 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience The Game: Official Clip - A Profound Life Experience 2:53 Now Playing The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins The Game: Official Clip - The Game Begins 2:56 Now Playing View more videos

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The Game

The Game: Trailer 1 The Game: Trailer 1 2:26 Now Playing 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
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