The Game: What Happened to David Fincher’s Most Underrated Movie?

Over the past three decades, few filmmakers have mastered their craft better than David Fincher. With a fastidious eye for framing and a deep focus on directorial details, Fincher has fashioned some of the most precisely orchestrated cinematic outings since his big screen debut in 1992. Yet, for most avid cinephiles and casual movie fans alike, Fincher will almost always be most associated with Se7en and Fight Club in the 90s and perhaps The Social Network and Gone Girl in the 2010s. If that’s an accurate assessment, then it begs the question - what is David Fincher’s all-time most underrated movie? While the recent release of The Killer is a worthy candidate, and a serious case can be made for Zodiac, The Game continues to be a criminally unheralded psychological thriller that, upon repeat viewings, toys and torments the audience with devious plotting and duplicitous tricks as only Fincher can forge.
Often considered the first post-modern mainstream movie on record, The Game has deservingly garnered a lot more love in the past 25 years than when it was released in 1997. With that in mind, there are a ton of fascinating factoids and interesting tidbits behind the scenes of The Game that even hardcore fans of the film may not be privy to, including the movie’s origin, the inspiration for the project, major casting, and character changes, filming locations, on-set injuries and mishaps, alternate endings, Fincher’s ultimate displeasure with the result, and a lot more, let’s leap off the roof and find out What Happened to David Fincher’s The Game!
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#TheGame #MichaelDouglas #DavidFincher

[@ThomasBryant]

Man, I dunno how people couldn't appreciate a movie like this. I loved it. Still love it. And I watch it probably once or twice a year. Its definitely a cult classic.

[@MrJacksspleen]

The idea that a 1997 audience wasn't sophisticated enough to appreciate it is silly. Plenty of people appreciated it then. It's not like later audiences who were raised on reality TV or tik tok have some sort of higher level of sophistication.

[@stornkolson]

Saw that one in the theater way back when. My girl straight jumped on my junk for most of it. Hellz yeh

[@youtubedj9298]

Once or twice a year? How many times have you seen this movie?

[@seancorrigan7448]

I do the same. Completely agree. Great film with a great performance from Michael Douglas. One of Fincher's best.

[@soldatheero]

@@MrJacksspleen i agree, def seems more like the opposite esp since so many movies today are shallow and dumb. ei) popularity of super hero movies

[@debbierussell1495]

As soon as you start thinking of The Game as a dark psychological fantasy rather than a thriller it makes a whole lot more sense. Great movie. 👍

[@Cotton_Eyed_Joe]

I thought Michael Douglas brought the essence of his Wall Street character to this part and was perfect for this movie and the feel and the vibe of if. It's always been a favourite movie of mine.

[@davidgalinat4257]

Yes! The alternate title could have been "Gordon Gekko Gets His."

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

Ditto

[@MrScratch69]

Absolutely! Such a great, entertaining film.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

11:03 - What? Some people really thought the whole thing was a practical joke? At the beginning of the movie, Nicolas - despite his financial success - is a broken man haunted by the suicide of his father. He has no friends, no girlfriend or wife and only socializes with others when he has to. He is terribly unhappy and heading towards the fate of his father. His brother, Conrad, loves him and that's why he gives him the gift of participating in The Game for his birthday - to help change the trajectory of his life. It was never a practical joke. How anyone could see it that way is beyond me.

[@bloodydominations992]

Not sure why people think the ending is contrived but the rest of the movie gets a pass. I remember the first time I watched this, you didn’t know what was real and what was part of the game. The ending lets you know that everything was carefully orchestrated and was part of the game. Anyhow, loved this in 1997 and still love it today…

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I think David Fincher admitted the ending was underwhelming, saying he couldn’t figure out how to pull it off

[@Nickster292]

@@bloomtikbloom9593 Agreed!

[@mrsam0496]

Only Usual Suspects tops this movies end twist

[@wstine79]

The ending felt like an Thriller version of April Fool's Day.

[@creigcoogan5363]

“Discovering the object of the Game…is the object of the Game.”

[@alisdairmckenzie]

"First rule of Fight Club - don't talk about Fight Club"

[@riccee5242]

One of the most intriguing aspects of the game was the company/business that created it and Conrad's convincing ability to sell the lie they wanted him to sell to his own brother. When the business just up and disappears overnight, it was like a conspiracy within a conspiracy. (And also no doubt had the audience questioning the authenticity of actual "businesses" out there in real life) Very very surreal

[@davecool42]

Until this moment, I thought Michael Douglas played his own father in the flashback scenes.

[@anadraham2995]

Right ⁉️⁉️⁉️ I woulda bet money on it...

[@Labyrinth1010]

Same.

[@salvatronprime9882]

I rented this randomly one night from Blockbuster on VHS. I was blown away! Great cult classic!!

[@sylviamueller7365]

Loved it. Loved the ending.

[@user-mg5cm4vs3m]

Honestly, I loved this movie at the time. Well made, solid acting and just fun to watch. I'm definitely going to give it a rewatch in the next week. Thanks for reminding me of it.

[@anthonymerchant2597]

This is when Fincher was on top of his game in making memorable films that you thought about long after watching them. I still want to find that T-shirt he gets at the end of the film.

[@chasehedges6775]

Exactly. 💯💯💯

[@youtubedj9298]

I mean, it's just text. Can't you just get one made?

[@bubububnever]

Hell no. The ending is perfect and hysterical. The t-shirt was the cherry on top.

[@TALCOLMINTHEMIDDLE]

Always love showing this movie to people for the first time.

[@baronvg]

You know you’ve got quite the oeuvre when people just casually forget about The Game, Panic Room, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

[@al5068]

Hands down one of my favorite films. I always have it in a library of some sort.

[@astrostar49]

I'm a bay area native, I like going back to this film just to see how cool San Francisco was in the 90's. The city is a shell of it's glory days now. BTW for any football fans out there, former 49ers linebacker Keena Turner plays a beat cop in this film.

[@markmccarthy7887]

Oh man the game was my real introduction to Fincher …come on Douglas and Penn absolutely love this movie. Seven is a great film but in my experience a lot of people recoil from the subject matter and can’t see the greatness past the horror movie type vibe.

[@MrMegatron85]

I can't even tell you how many times I've watched this masterpiece

[@blatherskite3009]

It would be interesting to see the original 1991 script for "The Game" because I've always suspected that the idea was "borrowed" from a little-known 1988 UK TV mini-series called "The One Game" - which has a very similar concept, with a successful businessman finding himself forced into a "reality game" designed to mess with his business and personal life, and to make him think about his life-choices. The mini-series made a lot more sense (imho) because in that version the protagonist - the Michael Douglas figure - is the boss of a successful video game company, and the antagonist is his former business partner who he forced out of the company just as it hit the big-time. The antagonist is literally a game designer, so taking his revenge on the person who betrayed him by putting him through a "reality game" designed especially for him makes a lot more sense than it being just some joke birthday present. Anyway, I guess it's _possible_ that "The Game" was independently conceived and by total coincidence happened to have a similar name and concept to an obscure mini-series that aired in the UK two or three years before the spec script for "The Game" was submitted.

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

This film has always lingered in my consciousness

[@thecunninlynguist]

He failed to show up to court and now owes millions

[@thedudeabides3138]

My willing suspension of disbelief was pushed to breaking point by the denouement. Too much “had to happen” to Douglas’ character for me to buy the “HaHa! Gotcha!” moment at the end. I remember being bitterly disappointed, because I’d bought into so much of what had gone before. The casting was really good throughout though, and Douglas in particular, knocked it out of the park.

[@WilliamHaisch]

I saw the movie in the theater about a million years ago. I liked the twist ending, the psychological aspect, and the funny t-shirt. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and I’m not sorry. 😊

[@tonybarnes2920]

Loved it when I first saw it in 97, love it now. Will probably watch it again after this, now. It's good stuff Fincher.

[@Alexvander10]

I loved this movie when i first saw it in theaters. Engrossing and well shot.

[@danthsmith]

It's basically a Christmas Carol updated. A night of horror gives obnoxious rich person some experience of humanity etc

[@crazygeorge6993]

Ive always loved The Game my all time favourite Michael Douglas film

[@DNOstalgia]

I have loved this movie since it had me on the edge of my seat in the cinema when it came out. Classic.

[@rogerwalker3969]

A great movie indeed. , Defiantly underrated.

[@nicholasd3990]

Fantastic movie I only watched for the first time a few months ago. HIGHLY recommend the Criterion Collection blu ray

[@jakestatefarm3477]

I remember The Game, picked it up at Hollywood Video, and enjoyed every minute of it.

[@mtothejizzy]

Loved it in ‘97 and still do. Great film! 👍😎

[@RainePhoenix]

The fact that Charles Martinet played Nick's father blew my mind!

[@jb_makesgames2264]

Great Video - this is one of my all time favorites and one of best Douglas's films

[@Silentghos]

So good and remember watching it on vhs from the local rental store. Was blown away

[@thomasbechmann7548]

I love a good thriller and «The Game» is an excellente thriller!

[@chasehedges6775]

Same here. Excellent film

[@mirthenary]

I have to say, blew it off when it came out. Then I happened to catch it on tv, liked it, then got the dvd😁 Same goes for Shawshank Redemption and Dark City

[@georgefuimaono3355]

Great video review 👍

[@VincentVonDudler]

This movie was amazing. I wanna watch it again before watching this video. EDIT: Just watched it again and then watched this video. 'The Game' is pretty much a "what's in the *next* box?" meandering JJ Abram's movie *but* with a much better director. Psychological thrillers *should* be a bit meandering to maintain the audience's states of uncertainty, paranoia, anxiety, and dread. A bit disappointing that Fincher doesn't like it. I bet all it would take is him to make a few changes to the movie for him to be proud of the picture...because it's good. I like it - a lot.

[@glyph2011]

09:32. Proscenium. Pronounced “Pro- see-nee-um” from the theatrical stage design “Proscenium Arch”. The traditional theatrical stage you would see in the theatre. Great video 👍 SUPERB movie. Love THE GAME. Great Criterion Blu-Ray too.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Lol, the pronunciation was pretty funny!

[@ryanmarkley1979]

Saw this in theaters when it came out, and loved it! I remember taking a few friends to watch it after just to get their reactions, never a disappointment. Thank you for the great content as always.

[@jeffgaz]

I loved this movie when it first came out. I was in high school taking a psychology class and the whole premise and idea behind the film fascinated me.

[@youtubedj9298]

This movie is why I don't trust anybody who wants me to take a psychological test.

[@johannaverplank4858]

I LOVE this film. I used to have it on DVD and I watched it all the time.

[@gothicel]

I loved this movie when it first came out so I don't know what the hate was like from the rest of the viewing public, I thought it was smart and was a great adventure for me.

[@jevinday]

Ahh man, my brother and I were going to watch this recently but we didn't. I'm gonna watch it soon and then come back to this video

[@WhiteScarsEmo]

“The Game”, very atmospheric. But very murky as well. I never felt like I was ahead of the story. It took a few viewings for me to start to actually get it. (Or get it as much as I could.) Michael Douglas hits it out of the park. He's perfect for the playing the role of someone who is slowly unraveling and we get to see the process. He did similar slow burn into rage/madness "War of the Roses" and "Falling Down".

[@jaynichols7932]

I never heard of or watched the movie until about 5 years ago - That being said this is an excellent thriller of a movie that I have watched several times now.

[@kimrice394]

It’s great! Edgy, scary, fun. Memorable!

[@DevilDogMuNky]

My Junior year H.S. teacher had us watch this film for theme analysis, and I've loved this film ever since! Just like in the movie when he's at the country club and speaks with the previous players, "I envy you, I wish I could go back and do it for the first time all over again."

[@Ghaleon42]

I saw this in theaters when I was a kid in the 90s! Loved it!

[@zqrahll]

The Game was wonderful and I'm so glad I got to see it in the theater all those years ago. And I love the third act, even with the odd, black comedy aspect.

[@thefunshow2024]

Give Fincher lemons and you'll get the best movie of the year.

[@vespawasp]

"Ladies and gentlemen my brother Nicholas Van Orton" Fades to black, Credits. Could have been one of the most solid thriller movies of the late 90s if it had ended 5 minutes earlier.

[@stuartbagley2586]

I loved this movie the first time I saw it back when it was in theaters. Still great.

[@AliensInc.]

Love it and seen it more than 30 times, usually once a year

[@simonwoodthrillerwriter]

Love this film. There are so issues with the ending but the rest of the film is good that I can forgive its shortcomings. This film looks great and the casting is awesome. Deborah Kara Unger really stands out in the role. Fincher might not like it but it's still a banger.

[@snipppa]

Always loved it.👍👍

[@uhok2584]

I just lost The Game

[@stephenrynerson5530]

A great video for a great film! (I saw it twice in theaters when it was originally released.) My only major critique of it is that I would have preferred a more ambiguous finale that left you uncertain whether Douglas was still "playing" the Game in the end.

[@bazza5699]

one of my all time favourite films.

[@pitpride1220]

The Game is actually my favorite Fincher film. The ending was so surprising.

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

Another True David Fincher Masterpiece! 👍😊👌 The Awesomeness Continues! ✊😊👊🍁♈🍁

[@robertpesa4157]

Downloaded rhis to watch on a flight to Italy, watched it on the way home also. Love this movie

[@TreyIM22]

I'm just now finding out that Fincher did this flick. I honestly knew nothing about Fincher until well after Seven, which I actually didn't like...until the end. That ending just made the whole movie better to me, somehow. He went THERE!! Ha.. The Game is STILL my favorite flick of all time, and in crazy ironies, 2 separate but close friends of mine in 2 separate conversations about what our favorite movies are, years apart - Both said the same movie. My mind was blown but then again, oddly, these type of crazy ironies are par for the course for my life and have increased exponentially since then, which were up to 15 yrs ago. That said, I saw this in the theater, and the rollercoaster ride of a movie was one thing i loved was one thing but the other was the character and his being wealthy and living in that tyoe of "old money" mansion. I was nor had/have neither of those things, but I'm a sucker for stories of ppl growing as ppl and I always wanted that kind of money and home. I was dran to another movie of Douglas' around the same time where he was also wealthy, but another crazy irony was the fact his bday in The Game is the day before mine but his brother actually said my bday in error. My ex at the time looked at me innthe theater with a smile. Might be a part of the draw of the character because of Libra character traits. I will say I have gotten cynical in life which is obviously who Nick's character is but I'm not cold like he...or, well, that cold. Lol. I can be but rather not. Ha.

[@mizer9510]

I loved this movie. It was an edge of your seat thriller. Extremely far fetched at times but still wildly entertaining. Michael Douglas was amazing as always.

[@CountryBwoy]

This is one of my all time favorites! I recommend it to anyone whom I think might like it. This one, Spanish Prisoner and Bottle Rocket are in my top five

[@suicidesamuraiz]

This film was awesome when it came out, and I bought VHS copy as a teen, thinking it was so damn trippy.

[@mattiereid77]

this movie kicked my ass....start to finish. Fincher is legend.

[@Nickster292]

on all sites i saw this movie its always top rated and ppl watch it regularly, i think its very popular today

[@totallypreposterous]

Saw this movie in theaters in my teens and I freaking loved it. Especially the ending! Idk what anyone not liking it is thinking. Do they want the same predictable outcome in every movie? I especailly liked how when Douglas takes the suicide dive you think “ok, now he’s done for. Nothing but glass and concrete beneath him.” Then a few minutes later one of the hired “actors” in the group said “you know if you didn’t jump, I was supposed to throw you over.” Brilliant!!

[@Dr3adKnight]

I just saw it yesterday night. Very good movie. It worths your time.

[@cheradenine1980]

Not to mention the musical score was sensational

[@CornishCreamtea07]

I think Panic Room, is Fincher's most underrated film.

[@dibassarkar2898]

YES

[@sandboxsub333]

I find it wierd nobody got the ending. I mean its laid out pretty straight forward. Is there even a twist? As far as Finchers best underrated work That would be the Billy idol video. Still think about the bed dance scene every time I hear it.

[@Nothingmuch1039]

Awesome movie! I remember the first time watching. So good!

[@gtaman2152]

Se7en and fight club are his top tier films.

[@onetwothreefourfivesixlemo638]

Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, I was so hyped waiting for.... Panic Room....

[@Jason-uw9ex]

Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, Social Network and Gone Girl for me

[@borat656]

I'm trying to find mentions of John Fowles 1965 novel "The Magus" in connection to this film, and they are insanely sparse despite the premises and plots being so insanely similar. If The Magus were a minor, unheard of novel I could understand it, but it's on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels (in 1999). How is the connection between these two pieces of media not more discussed? Even the idea of art as an illusion upon the one who consumes it is right there, in 1965... I feel like I'm going crazy.

[@bensneb360]

This movie is kind like the dark version of It’s a Wonderful Life, and that’s what I like about it

[@xXluluchanelXx]

I cannot believe you just dropped the name of Filoli mansion without mentioning what that is or what the name means! XD it's the house from DYNASTY, the name of the mansion isn't a real name but a portmanteau of several words that are, basically, a cheesy Latin version of "live laugh love" (thanks Maggie Mae Fish)

[@thewebstylist]

I gotta see this one again

[@edvaira6891]

Loved this movie!! Part of the reason it underperformed, though, is that it was released in Early September, for some reason…it probably would’ve done better as an Early October or late September release, as thrillers tend to also play well with horror-centric audiences (and, indeed that was where Se7en was released, as were other Michael Douglas thrillers like Fatal Attraction and Don’t Say a Word)

[@bas6628]

This is my second favourite Michael Douglas film after falling down

[@wabash1581]

I loved this movie!

[@DanRobbinsUM]

This movie is effing fantastic. Whenever people ask me to name a movie thats amazing that they probably have never seen this is usually in the top 5 movies I name.

[@alleahsasseville]

I LOVE this film!! ❤

[@steve_bisset]

Sounds like Fincher is being an auteur about The Game. The ending was great. As soon as you think you finally have the movie sussed, there's a twist on top of another twist. Its a beautifully dark and brooding movie and keeps you constantly on edge. I would easily rate it higher than Seven.

[@dnasty312]

Calling the ending a practical joke by Conrad is a no-no. Conrad was rescuing Nicholas from the same fate as their late father. And like it is said at CRS, the game is different for everyone

[@carlredbird3054]

In my opinion a perfect movie

[@andyzar1177]

The ending is perfect! It’s called The Game after all. People are just dumb.

[@bennygerow]

First movie I ever saw that had my guessing and feeling powerless the whole time. No action hero, no "good guy saves the day", no riding into the sunset. Just perfect mind games all the way to the end.

[@pgk7285]

Nicholas, the selfish and lonely protagonist, is lured into a bizarre "game" with a mysterious and powerful group. The game seems like a harmless adventure at first but soon takes a sinister turn as the game's organizers apparently gain control over every aspect of Nicholas's life. A beautiful young woman who was part of the game seems to switch sides to help out Nicholas, but in a shocking betrayal, Nicholas is drugged and taken away far to the south. When Nicholas finally regains consciousness, he finds himself alone and abandoned among some old dusty ruins, and he has to find a way to get back home.... Yep, that's the brilliant 1965 novel "'The Magus" by John Fowles. It is strange that even those who really like "The Game" seem unaware that it is clearly a loose adaptation of the Fowles novel. Yes, there are significant changes, such as the location, the addition of the brother of Nicholas, and the elimination of the character who controls the game (in Fincher's movie, there is no single mastermind; CRS is just a faceless corporation). But c'mon. Nicholas Urfe in the novel becomes Nicholas van Orton in the movie. In the novel, the elaborate prank played on Nicholas is called "the godgame." My guess is that no one mentioned Fowles's novel back in 1997 because Fowles was still alive (he died in 2005) and his novel was and still is in copyright. The movie likely changed enough to avoid a lawsuit, but it is still a shame that the true source of the film's core plot is largely unrecognized. Fowles's novel was already made into a movie once, a 1968 adaptation that was pretty bad. Fincher's 1997 version, although unacknowledged, is far better. Anyway, love "The Game" as well as the novel it's based on.

[@stilelits]

0:36 it does NOT beg the question. that is not what "begs the question" means. you mean "raises the question"

[@emilholmgrenmusic]

I always liked the movie since I it at the cinema and reboutht it in several formats since.

[@ckotcher1]

Fincher + Walker = 🪄✨ 🌟

[@superdimensionfoto]

I caught the last half of this movie once on cable and absolutely hated the ending. "Hey bro it was all a sick and sadistic prank to make you a better person by making your life a nightmare." They convinced Michael Douglas that he killed his own brother to the point that he jumped off a building. If Sean Penn did this to me, I wouldn't have been so cool about as he was.

[@davidgalinat4257]

I think he was just relieved that the game was over, which is the whole point of the game: survival.

[@baxterwilson368]

This is my favorite Fincher movie.

[@rickbannan7110]

I can't believe I got 13 minutes in without Losing The Game