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The Game poster

The Game (1997)

Film · 2h 9m · Rated R
DramaMysteryThriller

A ruthless banker's birthday becomes a relentless, mind-bending game where reality and charade blur.

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In honor of his birthday, San Francisco banker Nicholas Van Orton, a financial genius and a cold-hearted loner, receives an unusual present from his younger brother, Conrad: a gift certificate to play a unique kind of game. In nary a nanosecond, Nicholas finds himself consumed by a dangerous set of ever-changing rules, unable to distinguish where the charade ends and reality begins.

How intense is The Game?

Scaremildly scary
Goreno gore
Violencesome violence
Emotional weightheavy

The Game is mildly scary, with no gore and some violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is relentless, and it is a full-attention watch and a late-night trip. Rated R.

What The Game feels like

Tone
suspensefultensecerebralpulpy
Pace
Relentless
Best for
Full attentionLate night

Where to stream The Game

Not on a US subscription service at our last check. Rent or buy may still be an option.

US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.

Is The Game for you?

Is The Game scary?

Only a little. The Game has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.

Is The Game gory or violent?

No gore (0 of 3) and some violence (1 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.

Is The Game sad or heavy?

It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.

Is The Game OK for kids?

It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 0, violence 1, each out of 3.

How long is The Game?

The Game runs 2h 9m.

Where can I stream The Game?

The Game is not on a US subscription service right now (rent or buy may still be an option).

Does The Game have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer

There is a twist, and that is all we are saying.

Cast and crew

DirectorDavid Fincher
StarringMichael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, James Rebhorn, Peter Donat, Carroll Baker

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This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Intensity, tone and pace tags are CouchRot's own.