The Game (1997)

Stars	User	Rating
8	KasperL	90 _97%
Like most of Fincher's output this is a stylish, moody and unique experience. The plot is less than amazing but the premise is awesome, the mystery fuelling our curiosity throughout. There are two obvious drawbacks: the lack of rewatchability and the somewhat underwhelming ending. The first-time watch is a great one, though.
7	Pickpocket	6 _55%
Worst birthday present ever.
5	Jasongirl67	75 _69%
A non stop keeps you on the edge of your seat film A lot of head game's mistrust and what's reality and what's fiction Very good movie except for that lame ending
5	PeaceAnarchy	91 _95%
Absolutely wonderful, yet all the lukewarm reviews are right, this film takes the concept of suspension of disbelief and stretches it way, way, way beyond its breaking point. It wasn't a problem to me though, because it goes so far out there that it no longer becomes something to believe, it's a fever dream to be experienced. And that experience is a wonderfully created and directed maze.
4	Paxton	70 _63%
The one aspect of this movie that always gets overlooked is that Sean Penn makes an excellent brother to Michael Douglass. You think Tom Hanks could play his brother?
4	djross	40 _26%
Preposterously over-the-top morality fable. Douglas did well, the twists and turns hold interest for a while, there are some amusing lines, but in addition to the fundamental absurdity of the whole thing, it is stretched out far too long, to the point that the viewer ceases to care which of the possible alternatives will turn out to be the filmmakers' preferred choice of denouement. The conclusion on which they settled is possibly the least interesting they could have chosen, and the most trite.
4	frederic_g54	6 _35%
Survives on technique and intrigue alone but is sorely defeated by a plot stretched so far beyond the borders of plausibility, it'll make your head spin faster than a DNA tube in a laboratory centrifuge. If someone pulled that shit on me, I'd punch that person right in the face.
3	HeyDingo	27 _24%
A really well done movie with a really interesting story but it falls flat on it's ass during the last few scenes. Possibly one of the worst endings I've ever seen. Had it not been for the ending I could see me rating this a 75 or 80.
3	PerryStroika	61 _43%
A skillfully manipulative piece of hokum that fails to be something greater only because it ends up letting its yuppie protagonist off the hook at the end. He starts as a self satisfied jerk who thinks everything is about him and...discovers that everybody he knows is in on a huge conspiracy contrived for the sake of his spiritual growth as a person. So apparently he really IS the center of the universe after all. Wow, what a journey.
3	INDYATMN	50 _4%
May be the most implausible film ever. The premise, that somehow this game's designers can take into account every possible variable Douglas might come up with pushes way past ludicrous into ....a new word needs to be invented. If you don't mind thrillers based on levels of coincidence so far fetched that they make a pulpy sci-fi flick look like a documentary, this is the film for you. It somehow becomes even more ridiculous when it's revealed that Penn knew Douglas would take this well.
3	td888	90 _95%
I wish i could see this movie over-and-over again not knowing the plot. Till the last minute this movie keeps you guessing who's real and who's not.
3	Stradivarius	74 _47%
I wanted to love this; the premise and setup are really quite good. Though the suspense is maintained throughout, there's really little to no coherence in the various "events" of the game, and although you're left guessing who is real and who isn't, the "Game" itself never really coalesces into much of anything, leaving the later twists a little shallow. The ending jumps the shark in believability, and really throws off my whole perception of the film.
3	terrymac	74 _68%
A great performance from Douglas (he generally doesn't play likeable characters, but he always makes them compelling) and some very fine filmmaking elevate the interesting premise, and probably help overcome the increasing implausibility of events. It is plenty of fun, though.
2	synthono	80 _48%
A paranoid Christmas Carol, but it often strains at credibility, especially in the big twist ending, which makes it difficult to continue suspending disbelief.
2	Bitch Alert	80 _78%
Even better than I remembered. No one does a tired businessman better than Michael Douglas, and Fincher's style is coherent and cool.
2	mwgerb	60 _66%
Wonderfully twisted entertainment for the audience, but it's a pretty sick gift to give inside the movie universe, and the logic doesn't quite work out.
2	understamp	85 _89%
this film held me completely. i had been awake for 30+ hours when i watched it and i am aware it allowed me to get 'drawn' into it and able to suspend my disbelief far more than i would normally, but fincher seemed totally in control of the medium throughout this meta-cinematic journey. im genuinely surprised by all the middling reviews.
2	Matthew Parkinson (CineMarter)	90 _97%
The Game is a fantastic thriller. It will make you think, it will keep you on your toes, and it is involving for the entirety of its running time. You want to go back and watch it again, right after it finishes, just to look for clues and to see if it holds up. The twists and turns keep things unpredictable, and the whole experience is very worthwhile. It is anchored by a great performance by Michael Douglas, and it is absolutely worth seeing at least twice.
2	Vandelay1	91 _98%
Very Great
2	hellboy76	71 _84%
Some slow moments and twists that don't come off quite right still don't stop it from being a decent thriller.
2	wayofthegun	100 _97%
Atmospheric suspense/thiller that will have you guessing until the very end. Fincher's most overlooked masterpiece.
2	yilb	60 _58%
An idea movie where the idea is interesting enough to keep you watching and wondering. Wondering why Sean received top billing for such a small role, why the editor didn't tighten it up a bit, say 20 minutes or more and why i'm liking it anyway.
2	jmarkthespot	35 _23%
"The Game" is an appropriate title for this movie as I felt completely trolled at the end. Two hours of Michael Douglas running around while looking like he just lost his virginity doesn't make for a very thrilling thriller, and everyone else was a bore; even Sean Penn went unnoticed in his 3 minute cameo. At best, I list this as unremarkably mediocre.
1	ozgurbakar	100 _99%
benim için çok özel... gülmeyin
1	Mist600	82 _56%
BACK-FILLING WHOLE LOT OF FILMS NOT SEEN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME -> Recall/Scores may be 20-30% off. Not at all offended, grateful actually, if anyone wants 2 drop me a cordial msg if think memory dulled a gem or gave a rosy tint to a clunker. IE. Tell me WHY I am wrong & what U think I should've scored. Love film chat/debate
1	FrederikA	65 _59%
A stylish and intriguing thriller, although the premise (as well as the ending) is a bit hard to swallow.
1	mrandersen10	75 _59%
Quite a fun movie. Yes, it's all very implausible and the ending was one of the worst I've seen in awhile, but the journey was enjoyable and that's all I was looking for here. Having the movie downplayed by the hate spewed by internet trolls and friends benefited my experience. Suspend your disbelief (which is quite easy) and the ride can be a hoot.
1	woodoo	75 _30%
A very jokey exercise in how many twists one movie can bear.
1	patman	73 _83%
It's well paced with an attractive style and atmosphere supplemented by great actors. The story is very appealing to begin with and the mystery of the game is truly intriguing, unfortunately it all builds to a slightly unsatisfying ending.
1	Kingjohnbbq	90 _65%
Whaaaaat, David Fincher made this? makes sense. Really good suspense film here. I didn't know what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Michael Douglas is great, as always, as the paranoid protagonist. Give it a chance.
1	myfavchords	86 _89%
This is a great thriller with an excellent script. David Fincher does a great job directing by bringing the script to life and getting great performances by the cast. Michael Douglas is great in the lead role and the rest of the cast is also good. I highly recommend this thriller.
1	CMonster	80 _69%
This was unknown to me until one of my friends started watching a bunch of Michael Douglas movies. I have to say that I thought this was a great thriller.
1	filmseeking	81 _92%
Michael Douglas is great as is the twisty and suspenseful story-telling. It may seem unrealistic and staged too risky, but the ending clearly saves it. It's pretty clever if you think about what the purpose of the game really was.
1	ktulurises	85 _72%
Very enjoyable once through. Too dependent on the twists in the narrative to recommend multiple viewings.
1	eCitizen	80 _83%
Nice ending, but pretty unbelievable.
1	Gatt	88 _81%
I hate Michael Douglas AND Sean Penn but I still managed to put that aside and love this movie. Alot of fun.
1	stuie299	70 _33%
I have very mixed feelings about this film. Fincher's directing is definitely the standout. Douglas, Penn, and the rest of the cast give good performances. The premise is also very interesting. However the screenplay itself was neither realistic enough nor fantastical enough to be believable. The fact that Douglas's character wasn't angry after the events that just transpired was the most unbelievable of all. Also the music was annoyingly repetitive.
1	glumpy_99	94 _88%
Near flawless puzzle of a film, that builds an original, elaborate dream-like world (Alice In Wonderland anyone?) which unfortunately somewhat falls apart at the end (though it's difficult to discern how such a film could be satisfactorily wound up.) Douglas is superb, and in his element; excellent casting in all supporting roles create a vivid array of eccentric, slightly strange characters which makes the film all the more unsettling. Definitely an underrated entry in the Fincher canon.
1	Wezzo	81 _53%
It's probably a little messier and ramshackle than much of Fincher's work, but I still found a whole lot to enjoy here. The core of the film really appeals to me, and the intrigue and mystery surrounding it works well, layer upon layer of confusion building and building. Some fantastic setpieces - the clown, "White Rabbit" - stick in the memory, and I was satisifed by the conclusion, which isn't always easy with this kind of film.
1	Ytadel	1 _5%
I never thought that I would hate - legitimately, full-speed-ahead HATE - a David Fincher movie, but here we are. Look, I love Fincher. Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac, Social Network, all fantastic works. But The Game is not a fucking STORY; it's just a bunch of disconnected, nonsensical STUFF that happens. You could drive a whole fleet of battleships through the plot holes.
1	thefriedone	80 _69%
Incredibly tense and suspenseful the whole way through until the disappointing ending that just doesn't seem to do the rest of the film justice.
1	Quicky	76 _73%
Cool, exciting, tense, mysterious, disturbing movie about a rich businessman finding himself in a game that goes way beyond his fun-limit. It takes quite a few unrealistic turns, but surprising they certainly are! Great entertainment.
1	hojo	90 _87%
David Fincher fucking rules.
1	Bojangles	50 _38%
Woah what a plot twist!.....Woah what a plot twist!.....Woah what a plot twist!..etc. etc., rinse, lather, repeat. The art direction and Sean Penn are the only outstanding things about this. Retarded script, good atmosphere. Average.
1	AFlickering	2 _19%
safe to assume that the omniscient could-be sociopathic overseers represent fincher in all his cold, manipulative perfectionism, while i suppose we're the suckers playing? unfortunately, this scrooge figure and his game relate so tenuously to actual human psychology/behaviour, and to one another for that matter, that any attempt to humanise them is beyond laughable. if the inevitable 'twist' confirms anything, it's that fincher should stick to abusing his characters and audience.
1	MJVmovieMan	86 _88%
An extremely suspenseful thriller from David Fincher, and one of his best and most underrated. Michael Douglas is absolutely terrific here, and the best part about it- you have no idea where this movie is heading.
1	Kojiless	50 _55%
Painfully bends reality with its far-fetched story, but is still watchable for its decent performances and competent directing.
1	crayboy	89 _85%
Excellant mind-games
1	flatluigi	100 _94%
Brilliant. Had my jaw hanging open for the entire finale from the zoo onwards. Fantastically put together and absolutely worth seeing.
1	nandorizzi	85 _88%
An incredible suspense with a very intelligent script. A movie that holds your attention from start to finish, a great performance from Michael Douglas, clearly shows that the tragedy lived by his character that came in a very intriguing game.
1	Dorkovsky	4 _41%
Every time the story moves forward there is a plot hole to be found. The story doesn't stop moving however, making it exponentially more implausible by the minute but at the same time keeping things interesting.
1	Philip	20 _6%
This movie is trying so hard to be smart that its sad.
1	KMcNeil	8 _84%
Second viewing: Impressively structured, well-acted and great premise undone by a disappointingly clean ending that runs completely contrary to the messy nature of "the game".
1	HunterKing	54 _9%
Write up any implausible plot you want and wrap it all up with "haha it was all THE GAME". This whole thing is so obvious, but they draw it out so far that you start to question the obvious conclusion because "there's no way they'd put all that effort in". Well they did, and while they seem to want me to feel surprised I just feel like I wasted my time.
1	purgatos	55 _24%
It's been a while since I saw this, but I remember thinking it was pretty lame and rolling my eyes really hard at the end.
1	XakkMaster	84 _73%
It's amazing, but the type of movie that loses half of its magic the moment it ends.
1	leshii	89 _90%
I know the plot and story are illogical, but this is a fun, tight, suspenseful movie that provides excellent acting from Douglas and Penn, vionary direction, and a great concept. Deborah Unger is a weak spot, however.
1	bycore	85 _80%
Builds on a cool idea...what if it happened to you?
1	Chrisso	85 _88%
This is a really good movie, different then other thrillers with a good ending.
1	pstraslipka	90 _79%
Great idea! Sometimes I've got feeling I'm in "the game" ...
1	moraesfelipe	65 _62%
Sometimes white corporate America just needs a 'true' (cinematic) life experience -- or a shot of adrenaline. Not as playful as I remember, but pretty fun in its high-concept paranoid thriller so typical of the late 90s -- not as good as Enemy of the State or Matrix: as the "old money" world is about to fully enter the digital era, we fear surveillance and end up creating complex layers to feel safer and kind of fight time and space -- all we find is more subtle prisons. Yeah, real life sucks.
1	WWallce4prez	82 _79%
Fincher takes a low brow concept and executes it with stunning mastery. I wouldn't spend much time piecing through the story as I'm sure there are plot holes galore, but the tone is so my jam. The atmospheric score and stark photography make for a classic thriller.
1	Jacs2Cents	90 _78%
Clever and fast paced. I enjoyed it all the way to the excellent ending. I have recommended this movie to at least a dozen people...
1	pompousass	0 _12%
Thoroughly dishonest thriller. The particular service offered is spelled out cryptically as "a profound life experience" and "an experiential Book-of-the-Month Club," or, in short, "a game," the object of which is to figure out the object. In the course of it, the hero is plunged into a sequence of annoying, unsettling, upsetting, hair-raising, life-threatening, sanity-testing events which we watch with rapidly evaporating hopes of a satisfactory explanation.
1	JacoIII	40 _54%
Probably my least favourite of Fincher's. It's quite a ride and I like how Michael Douglas share's the audience's feeling of "what's going to happen next?" but all in all it just felt a bit unsatisfying.
1	ripvicious	81 _85%
Keeps you guessing the whole time. Good mix of action and drama.

Average Percentile 60.66% from 9976 Ratings