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21

2008
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 3m
"21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. (imdb)

Directed by:

Robert Luketic Robert Luketic

Written by:

Peter Steinfeld Allan Loeb Allan Loeb
+1 more

Starring:

Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey Laurence Fishburne Laurence Fishburne Kate Bosworth Kate Bosworth Jack McGee Jack McGee Jacob Pitts Jacob Pitts Sam Golzari Sam Golzari Aaron Yoo Aaron Yoo Jim Sturgess Jim Sturgess Liza Lapira Liza Lapira Josh Gad Josh Gad Rebecca Marshall
More

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime

Country:

USA

Language:

English
imdb More information at IMDb
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21

2008
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 3m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 38.69% from 5662 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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skenkereSkenkere
Rated 17 Jun 2008
48
28th
This is about the most perfect example I can think of for the definition of an AVERAGE Hollywood movie. It's somewhat entertaining, but not exciting, it's got decent performances, but not great ones, the story is ok, but predictable and uninspired, it's competently shot, but not brilliantly so, the script is passable, but not memorable...It's just mediocre and average in every way. You won't regret watching it, but you probably won't remember watching it either in a couple weeks.
Rated 17 Jun 2008
mjvmoviemanMJVmovieMan
Rated 12 Apr 2008
73
60th
Even when everything gets tidied up oh-so-neatly, '21' offers strong performances from Sturgess, Spacey and Bosworth, some laughs, a swift pace, and keeps the methods of the scam easy for the audience to play along. This isn't excellent filmmaking, but it's a winning surprise in vein of last year's youth-oriented "Disturbia." If this one doesn't exactly bring down the house, by all means- it's a winning hand.
Rated 12 Apr 2008
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 01 Apr 2008
3
24th
It's entertaining. But it sucks. But it's kind of entertaining! But really, this isn't that great. It's predictable, sappy average popcorn-flick fun, I guess, and that's only if you see it with a group of friends at 10:25pm when you have nothing else to do.
Rated 01 Apr 2008
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 06 Dec 2008
2
21st
Goes through the motions of a movie that wants to be good but it just ends up being a forgettable piece of trash. Let's show a shot of MIT and/or Harvard in every other scene. DO YOU GET IT? THEY ARE SMART. Kevin Spacey is awesome and Jim Sturgess is all right but it's not enough - the script blows and so does the directing. And another thing, Kate Bosworth's eyes = horrifying.
Rated 06 Dec 2008
3names3Names
Rated 08 Apr 2008
49
7th
You could probably tell me what I saw just as easily as I could, having seen it... Predictable and typical... Kevin Spacey makes it all a bit more enjoyable though...
Rated 08 Apr 2008
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 17 Apr 2008
5
20th
Could've been worse...
Rated 17 Apr 2008
matthew_parkinsonMatthew Parkinson
Rated 07 Jan 2015
30
17th
21 is a bore for most of its running time. It's filled with drama you won't care about, repetitive scenes of people always winning at blackjack, and character moments that don't matter because the characters doing them are bland, uninteresting, and poorly developed. The stakes are low, the emotion is nonexistent, and the running time is far too long. Gambling is a rush because of the stakes; 21 doesn't contain anything you'll care about losing, and as such isn't worth watching.
Rated 07 Jan 2015
mohkoMohko
Rated 18 May 2008
50
35th
Two hours passed by and in the end I didn't want to kill myself so it did it's job.
Rated 18 May 2008
leonardisLeonardis
Rated 13 Feb 2015
78
25th
Ehh. I've seen worse. Sturgess does a good job as does most of the cast, but for some reason, this movie just felt average to me. A little annoying but also quite clever. You like it or you don't.
Rated 13 Feb 2015
thatyoungmthatyoungm
Rated 01 Apr 2020
80
14th
I think the cast elevates this film a few notches above what it should be. It's a fun heist film and some of the inventive planning sequences feel like a math-based version of Ocean's Eleven. Of course, Kevin Spacey chews the scenery as a sarcastic anti-hero and the rest of the cast gets off some cool one-liners. But, beneath its surface, the film falls victim to trying too hard to be cool and at the end of it, there isn't a lot of substance left.
Rated 01 Apr 2020
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 26 Feb 2012
35
10th
Could there have been a more unlikable group of protagonists? I don't really see how. Not one thing stands out in this movie. It takes a bunch of stuff that's relatively boring to watch, (math, 21, white people) and adds lines like, "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner" that make me want to go on a murderous rampage.
Rated 26 Feb 2012
ytadelYtadel
Rated 03 Dec 2008
3
28th
An offensively slick, glossy, and Hollywoodized version of what's otherwise a pretty interesting story. The pop music montages and the fact that all the card counters look like models and the way they shoehorn in some good vs evil bullshit all adds up to fluffy, forgettable junk food. Kate Bosworth has been playing a college undergrad for a fucking decade.
Rated 03 Dec 2008
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 28 Dec 2008
69
32nd
Although the acting is acceptable for the bad actors, and great for the good actors, there are way to many montages of pointless origin. The plot could have been dense and amazing, but this is a feeble attempt at a "Rounders" rip-off that succeeds in no way.
Rated 28 Dec 2008
amazedemonamazedemon
Rated 17 Apr 2016
62
31st
21, in the context of this movie, refers to the game of Blackjack, the age of the students, and the number of tropes used when writing the screenplay. The entire film feels staged, like an episode of CSI, resulting in characters having no real stakes and a predictable plot. That said, the film is mildly entertaining, in spite of the horrible screenplay and mediocre direction. Also, the Math lectures were horrendously unrealistic and irrelavent (to the subject).
Rated 17 Apr 2016
damildamil
Rated 06 Oct 2013
55
34th
I didn't care too much for this film. The story's not necessarily bad or anything, but it's told too traditionally. I got bored with all the typical conventions. The characters had little to no depth. Kevin Spacey was good, as he always is. None of it was truly horrible, but the whole thing was exceptionally mediocre.
Rated 06 Oct 2013
wicheWiche
Rated 24 Jan 2010
77
74th
Good and solid. Fast, nicely built up and some pretty exciting moments but too predictable. Good performance of most of the leading people though. I was glad to see Kevin Spacey again. The end was a bit a let-down to me.
Rated 24 Jan 2010
bmuniseBmunise
Rated 06 Jul 2010
50
8th
I can't imagine anyone feeling good about this movie while it was being made. It is so ludicrously bad that film classes should use it as an example of how not to make films. The entire opening sequence is nothing but an excuse to play an MGMT song in its entirety for no reason, the "normal life" is so flatly based on nerd stereotype that it's hard to believe that part of the film wasn't recycled from 80s movies, and... screw it, I can't even summarize what's wrong with this film at this length.
Rated 06 Jul 2010
obidyObidy
Rated 25 Jul 2010
3
4th
21 is a classic example of a cool story that Hollywood drained of any entertainment value. It's the story of Ben, an MIT math whiz who is recruited by a phoning-it-in Kevin Spacey to use card counting to making thousands of dollars off Vegas casinos. Rather than address the math, it prefers to chronicle the stories of the various team members, which would work if they weren't so boring. This movie is an utterly soulless exercise in a generic thriller without thrills.
Rated 25 Jul 2010
swizardofozswizardofoz
Rated 30 Jun 2011
0
0th
Pretentious, slow, and stupid. Generic characters, predictable plot, and it's no longer believable when you change all the characters from Asians at MIT (as in the real-life story this is based on) to a cast which looks like they dropped out of art school. Sturgess is an incredibly annoying actor and it is sad to see Spacey in such an inane film.
Rated 30 Jun 2011
amerigoamerigo
Rated 30 Mar 2008
80
69th
Jim Sturgess aptly transforms himselfs from an awkward MIT geek to a Vegas-hardened high roller. With Spacey in a supporting role as the professor with a shady past, the film manages to soar far above the essentially trite script. But what really seals the deal for this film is the cinematography; through radiant well-composed shots, it perfectly captures the sensory bombardment of Vegas nightlife.
Rated 30 Mar 2008
gtown1479gtown1479
Rated 30 Mar 2008
86
87th
Pretty good movie. Fishburne is awesome in his role. The kid Pitts is pretty good too. The middle of this movie kind of drags but when you get to the end you sorta feel like its worth it. It "dazzled" me.
Rated 30 Mar 2008
jfalldorfjfalldorf
Rated 02 Apr 2008
45
11th
Predictable.
Rated 02 Apr 2008
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 03 Apr 2008
77
54th
I'm going to be the divisive one here and say that 21 is not just good, but great. It's a fun, exciting movie that has a great cast and a supremely interesting story. Sure, it could have been much better and the writing isn't particularly special, but Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey do the trick and keep you hooked. It's definitely predictable and cliched, but whatever, it's good. Jim Sturgess is bound for stardom and it's good to see him get leading roles.
Rated 03 Apr 2008
thegreyfoxthegreyfox
Rated 29 Dec 2012
40
13th
What's the real story here? The Maths, the rise and fall? The people? The Casino backroom boys? 21 has no idea what it is focusing on, and ends up devoid of any sense of realism, passion or entertainment. The "walk out" scene from the casino by our "heroes" says it all. The problem is that even after 2 hours, they are totally 1 dimensional and we just dont care about them. Did no one bother to sit down with "Ben" and tell him to stop being a jerk? This film is so shallow it's a small hummock!
Rated 29 Dec 2012
darkmandarkman
Rated 23 Apr 2008
70
38th
Entertaining popcorn movie.
Rated 23 Apr 2008
browncoatBrowncoat
Rated 25 Apr 2008
40
13th
What was anyone really expecting? Nothing, be it performances, screenplay or otherwise, particularly stands out about this film. It's predictable, but it's fun.
Rated 25 Apr 2008
philipPhilip
Rated 26 Apr 2008
19
4th
So by the book that it's embarrassing.
Rated 26 Apr 2008
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 30 Apr 2008
60
28th
Enjoyable fluff - no idea what its like compared to the book though
Rated 30 Apr 2008
prestobixPrestoBix
Rated 04 Oct 2019
32
6th
Full of insipid melodrama.
Rated 04 Oct 2019
aversasAversaS
Rated 10 Aug 2012
75
69th
Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey. What more needs to be said?
Rated 10 Aug 2012
freakfreak
Rated 18 May 2008
65
51st
A pleasant surprise from a non - very pleasant director. It has a nice soundtrack & it's quite enjoyable until the end which is a very poor spin on the Ocean trilogy. It would be far more interesting if Ben was asian though.
Rated 18 May 2008
turinturin
Rated 25 May 2008
51
24th
Painfully predictable. You'd expect some sort of plot twist in this kind of film, but no - the system to this film is much easier then the one for winning in blackjack. Still, it's quite entertaining and a decent Friday night popcorn flick.
Rated 25 May 2008
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 23 Jun 2008
33
25th
Well done popcorne entertainment. The most of the movie was okay, but towards the end the easy choises of the story bothers some.
Rated 23 Jun 2008
midasoMidaso
Rated 11 Dec 2019
4
32nd
Lacklustre compared to the book.
Rated 11 Dec 2019
unusedfutureUnusedFuture
Rated 06 Jan 2013
54
26th
21 could have been a fascinating study had it not supplanted the true story on which it is based with mundane melodrama.
Rated 06 Jan 2013
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 24 Jul 2008
10
2nd
Kevin Spacey doesn't read scripts. He just asks his agent if it the plot has a twist in it.
Rated 24 Jul 2008
jebJeb
Rated 26 Jul 2008
65
45th
A great cast and a good plot make up for it being slightly boring. Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey and the rest of the crew give great performances!
Rated 26 Jul 2008
jombronijombroni
Rated 27 Jul 2008
84
64th
Clever film and strong acting from the leading roles. Definitely worth watching
Rated 27 Jul 2008
sw0sw0
Rated 27 Jul 2008
73
46th
I love movies based of true stories. I enjoyed how this story was told and the acting was great.
Rated 27 Jul 2008
therealj_roTheRealJ-Ro
Rated 28 Jul 2008
65
31st
I like Blackjack, so mild saving grace. It's a nice cautionary tale, nothing more. But the cast was pretty talented, and Kevin Spacey was great as always.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
stigmastyleStigma&Style
Rated 18 Aug 2017
30
21st
My everywhere hurts when I see Kevin Spacey in garbage movies.
Rated 18 Aug 2017
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 29 Aug 2008
10
1st
I swear to God this movie has been made already.
Rated 29 Aug 2008
neil_millerNeil Miller
Rated 06 Sep 2008
45
13th
Like a pop music video gone wrong, 21 fails to ever get itself on track long enough to make us care about its characters. The book might have been a good read, but the film was a real letdown.
Rated 06 Sep 2008
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 04 Oct 2008
75
71st
It could be more daring, but it is quite enjoyable.
Rated 04 Oct 2008
mohanmohan
Rated 05 Oct 2008
78
15th
A medium paced avg film.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
pjamesPJames
Rated 23 Oct 2008
40
3rd
A tale of dull complacency and plebian-minded exploitation studded by trite attempts at character development, perfectly reminiscent of the servantile lower rung of MIT students. Harvard's Board of Medical School admissions would be more than justified in telling the pencil-pushing, weak protagonist to get the fuck out of their office.
Rated 23 Oct 2008
luordluord
Rated 07 Aug 2017
51
27th
A nonsensical lack of accuracy to the real events, as well as a trite plot that does nothing interesting squander a potentially good story. But it's cool to watch with friends for some reason.
Rated 07 Aug 2017
tarwebroodtarwebrood
Rated 30 Oct 2014
60
31st
2014-10-29 half gezien
Rated 30 Oct 2014
ztisdaleztisdale
Rated 15 Dec 2008
1
25th
Shit
Rated 15 Dec 2008
evnEv@n
Rated 16 Dec 2008
64
42nd
Overrated but a good movie. Could have been a lot better though. Grade: B-
Rated 16 Dec 2008
sickornotsickornot
Rated 04 Jan 2009
60
22nd
it was a nice movie...
Rated 04 Jan 2009
christofchristof
Rated 27 Dec 2016
21
4th
A story from the man who brought you "The Social Network". Teen drama 90210.
Rated 27 Dec 2016
pineapplepineapple
Rated 16 Jul 2014
60
30th
Fun to watch but the characters seemed a little shallow to me.
Rated 16 Jul 2014
iamianimaniamianiman
Rated 19 Sep 2021
58
57th
More drama centered than action, just like a regular 21. A nephew of Ocean.
Rated 19 Sep 2021
favrewanabfavrewanab
Rated 18 Jan 2009
75
47th
It was OK. Good acting.
Rated 18 Jan 2009
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
70
54th
Cool poker movie. Kevin Spacey is too good for this movie though.
Rated 26 Jan 2009
niomiNiomi
Rated 31 Jan 2009
90
85th
90
Rated 31 Jan 2009
canadianorcanadianor
Rated 07 Feb 2009
40
23rd
Not to toot the Canuck horn, but a fellow countryman made a better version of this film four years prior, "The Last Casino". "21", based on the book, still follows a very similar plotline, exchanging Hull, Quebec for Las Vegas, Nevada. "21" uses every cliche Hollywood possible. He has to fall in love with his female accomplice, because she's there. They all live happily ever after in the end, but I'm not spoiling anything. Do yourself a favor, watch "The Last Casino" for a better experience.
Rated 07 Feb 2009
gilgameshGilgamesh
Rated 05 Mar 2009
72
50th
Math is powerful science!!
Rated 05 Mar 2009
gsbgsb
Rated 25 Sep 2016
30
8th
Laurence Fishburn and Kevin Spacey are the only reasons to watch this.
Rated 25 Sep 2016
whotempwhotemp
Rated 29 May 2014
72
32nd
- 10/10/10
Rated 29 May 2014
thedvdfairythedvdfairy
Rated 09 Jan 2012
50
6th
Might have been fabulous if the cast weren't white-washed.
Rated 09 Jan 2012
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 07 Apr 2009
81
80th
Although the too smart characters feel like they have been Frankensteined together by Hollywood's top script doctors, there's enough Vegas glitz and glamour splashed down to distract and lure us into the film's Ocean's 11 world. The underlying story had real potential, and Luketic mostly used entertaining montages to save it from a bevy of awkwardly-written scenes. I did like the framing device though. Could have been more effective with fewer stars and budget. Good entertainment nonetheless.
Rated 07 Apr 2009
empiremagempiremag
Rated 13 Apr 2009
3
40th
"The Ocean's Eleven: The College Years mood makes for a breezy good time, even if there is, as with Vegas, precious little substance beneath the glitz."
Rated 13 Apr 2009
naurunauru
Rated 20 Apr 2009
30
21st
Pretty weak film. Amateurish acting and production in general.
Rated 20 Apr 2009
mottMott
Rated 02 May 2009
29
2nd
Terrible.
Rated 02 May 2009
stflyst_fly
Rated 03 May 2009
70
69th
Good. A group of MIT students is led by their manipulative teacher, Spacey, to win big in Vegas by card counting. Its a pretty decent story told with sufficient flair. Definitely rent it.
Rated 03 May 2009
mojojojoMojo_Jojo
Rated 06 Oct 2013
50
33rd
Makes a weird number of mistakes - Medical students being good at electronics, playing cash at tables, and so on. Small things that just raise questions about how they made it to the final cut
Rated 06 Oct 2013
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 01 Jan 2012
75
67th
kumar, kumarhane, basarili ögrenci, burs, ögretmen, ögretmen - ögrenci, las vegas (basarili ogrenci Harward'da okumak icin bir burs basvurusunda bulunur. Bursun durumu muammadir. Bu arada matematik ögretmeni onu kagitlari sayan bir kumarbaz kulubüne alir.)
Rated 01 Jan 2012
spleenspleen
Rated 18 Jun 2009
68
37th
"Hey maybe another montage would help"
Rated 18 Jun 2009
citizenxCitizenX
Rated 27 Jun 2009
40
30th
are smart people doing dumb things really smart?
Rated 27 Jun 2009
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 27 Jun 2009
48
28th
This is long and pretentious. Unnecessary.
Rated 27 Jun 2009
mxwmxw
Rated 02 Jul 2009
71
31st
Easily mistaken to be a "really good movie", 21 settles more as a Friday night boredom buster.
Rated 02 Jul 2009
agentcheagentche
Rated 04 Jul 2009
65
19th
I don't get it... If the spotters at the table are counting cards anyway, telling him when to show up and when to go away, what is that main guy doing? He doesn't need to be brilliant to do his job. I don't get it.
Rated 04 Jul 2009
lazynicklazynick
Rated 29 Feb 2020
75
14th
Loved the book. Really looked forward to the movie. It was just kind of blah.
Rated 29 Feb 2020
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 18 Dec 2011
59
12th
I enjoyed this movie at the start but then the plot keeps getting increasingly worse. The screenplay takes one wrong turn after another. There could have been a good movie here.
Rated 18 Dec 2011
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 13 Aug 2009
38
17th
For awhile, it's a reasonable diversion. There's a lot in here that feels like Hollywood screenwriting filler, from the schlumpy betrayed friends serving as the barometer of the heroes descent from decent guy to hard-hearted cad to the pasted-on romance. When it's setting up the mechanics of the group's strategy, it has a nice energy. When it has to concentrate on the plot and the poorly drawn interpersonal drama, it's a barely bearable trudge.
Rated 13 Aug 2009
gattGatt
Rated 21 Aug 2009
60
28th
Interesting book made into a terribly BORING movie.
Rated 21 Aug 2009
totoroTotoro.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
55
27th
Spacey is good. Story is alright. Teenage fluff.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
spanksSpanks
Rated 31 Aug 2009
45
33rd
Kate Bosworth's eyes and hypnotizing and beautiful. That's more or less all I remember.
Rated 31 Aug 2009
doooomdoooom
Rated 24 Apr 2024
51
15th
bruh
Rated 24 Apr 2024
timon88Timon88
Rated 18 Nov 2015
30
18th
"Man, that sugar's sweet." Unlike this movie.
Rated 18 Nov 2015
midbounceMidbounce
Rated 18 Feb 2015
83
33rd
Could have been so much better.
Rated 18 Feb 2015
gabygaby
Rated 17 Dec 2011
60
38th
I did not really expect to enjoy much of anything about this film, so I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't cringing through most of it. Although it's "based on actual events," the events it's based on are a lot less interesting, or rather, less Hollywood, and nearly all the people it was based on were Asian. The Asians in the film are relegated to supporting roles, whereas the protagonist and love interest are both lily-white. There's also a super cliche Hollywood PG-13 love scene.
Rated 17 Dec 2011
kgbelliveaukgbelliveau
Rated 18 Dec 2009
80
51st
Brilliance
Rated 18 Dec 2009
crayonCRAYON
Rated 27 Dec 2009
30
6th
This movie annoyed me a ton. I came in expecting a by the numbers Hollywood movie but I got a ton worse than that.
Rated 27 Dec 2009
garethmgarethm
Rated 09 Jan 2010
68
25th
The best thing about 21 is that this actually happened and that helps to keep your interest, but the film itself doesn't do justice to the events it portrays. It's entirely too predictable and although it is entertaining there are very few moments which really grab you in the exhilarating way a Vegas based gambling film surely should !!
Rated 09 Jan 2010
periklesPerikles
Rated 11 Jan 2010
70
3rd
Nice, fun. Where is Kevin Spacey ?
Rated 11 Jan 2010
akatemossfanAKateMossFan
Rated 24 Jul 2022
13
45th
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
55
8th
????????????????????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
ninagoninago
Rated 17 Jan 2013
47
7th
awful movie also made feel awful and like not going to vegas
Rated 17 Jan 2013
mmschwartzmmschwartz
Rated 23 Apr 2010
50
48th
I thought it was predictable, uninteresting, and there were few moments in the film that pulled me in.
Rated 23 Apr 2010
terrymacterrymac
Rated 24 May 2010
49
17th
There is an interesting story to be told here, but there seemed to be too much focus on style over substance. Empty.
Rated 24 May 2010
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 14 Jun 2010
37
23rd
Never trust Kevin Spacey.
Rated 14 Jun 2010
agentsnipeAgentSnipe
Rated 03 Jul 2010
79
59th
Okay movie, but not completely as advertised. The movie isn't that thrilling and there never seems to be much at stake besides kids losing money at gambling. Big surprise.
Rated 03 Jul 2010
oddlogicodDlogic
Rated 14 Jul 2015
45
2nd
Disappointing. It's everything that I hate about movies and it soured me on Kevin Spacey for a good two years.
Rated 14 Jul 2015
rymRYM
Rated 29 Mar 2015
50
21st
2.49/5
Rated 29 Mar 2015
shoranShoran
Rated 02 Oct 2010
64
32nd
Visually, it was an explosion of bright lights and luxurious excess. Plot wise, it was generic and predictable. Overall, an enjoyable but not memorable experience.
Rated 02 Oct 2010
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 13 Dec 2010
20
41st
"21 is a mini-Ocean's Eleven about, and for, people who are the age of its title." - Nick Schager
Rated 13 Dec 2010
nalmptnalmpt
Rated 26 Mar 2011
65
24th
Nothing to write home about. overall entertaining, but with major plot holes.
Rated 26 Mar 2011

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