The Game
Mystery, Thriller
PolyGram Entertainment  (1997) 128 mins R

7.7 (58,202 votes)
There are no rules in "The Game".

And that will make life very difficult for Nicholas Van Orton, a successful businessman who is always in control. Van Orton lives a well-ordered life - until an unexpected birthday gift from his brother destroys it all.

Like it or not, Nicholas has been enrolled in a game - "a profound life experience" that begins quietly but soon erupts in a rush of devastating events. Van Orton has to win this deadly game or lose control of everything in his life....

Play

Cast and Crew
Sean Penn  ......  Conrad Van Orton
Armin Mueller Stahl  ...... 
Carroll Baker  ......  Ilsa
Peter Donat  ......  Samuel Sutherland
Deborah Unger  ...... 
Michael Douglas  ......  Nicholas Van Orton
Director  .....  David Fincher
Producer  .....  Steve Golin; Cean Chaffin; John D. Brancato; Ceán Chaffin
Writer  .....  Michael Ferris; John Brancato; John D. Brancato
Notes
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Nicholas Van Orten's birthday is in October, but in one of the scenes as the car goes by a Hallmark Store it clearly is advertising "FATHER'S DAY" (which is in June). (more)

Trivia:
The real Game is, more-or-less, a Ph.D. caliber scavenger hunt. It's also a team event. There is no prize money. Each team's entry fee is $25,000; limited to ten teams. All of the entry money is donated to charity. The game is actually supported by several wealthy benefactors, including Microsoft's 'Bill Gates' . Each team consists of one van full of players - usually four to six people. A series of clues, often in the form of puzzles, must be solved; each clue's answers lead to the next clue. Teams travel from clue to clue, until reaching the finish line. The winners typically take about 24 hours to finish. Often the clues are so intricate and choreographed that they approximate small theatrical productions, occasionally employing a dozen or more actors. (more)

Filming Locations:
1 Bush Street, San Francisco, California, USA (more)

Quotes:
Nicholas: No, what is this? What are you... selling?
Jim Feingold: Oh. It's a game.
(more)

Awards:
1 nomination (more)