Gamer

"In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live."

2009 1h 35m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 2,725

ActionThrillerScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Mind-control technology has taken society by a storm, a multiplayer on-line game called "Slayers" allows players to control human prisoners in mass-scale. Simon controls Kable, the online champion of the game. Kable's ultimate challenge becomes regaining his identity and independence by defeating the game's mastermind.

“In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live.”

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Cast

Gerard Butler
Kable
Amber Valletta
Angie
Michael C. Hall
Ken Castle
Kyra Sedgwick
Gina Parker Smith
Logan Lerman
Simon
Alison Lohman
Trace
Terry Crews
Hackman
Ramsey Moore
Gorge

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brian Taylor
Writers: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CAST

Did you know

252+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Brian Taylor, shot by Ekkehart Pollack. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Geoff Zanelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Amundson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Gerard Butler and Amber Valletta and Michael C. Hall carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brian Taylor directs. Ekkehart Pollack behind the camera. Geoff Zanelli scores. Peter Amundson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $50M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 17 years ago.
4252+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
5Directed by Brian Taylor, shot by Ekkehart Pollack. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Geoff Zanelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Peter Amundson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Gerard Butler and Amber Valletta and Michael C. Hall carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "In the near future, you don't live to play... you'll play to live.".
10IMDB entry: tt1034032 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 11 themes, including "mind control", "prisoner", "video game", "dystopia".

The technical file

Cinematography: Ekkehart Pollack
Original score: Geoff Zanelli
Editing: Peter Amundson
Production design: Jerry Fleming
Costume design: Alix Friedberg
Makeup / hair: Georgia Allen
VFX supervisor: James McQuaide
Sound: Bob Beemer
Stunt coordinator: Darrin Prescott
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $50,000,000
Box office: $40,800,000
Return: 82% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Gamer (2009)

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Brian Taylor

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What people are saying

jw2022-01-11
★ 4/10
Running Man with a dash of Facebook Running Man with a dash of Facebook, and not much more. Maybe more the book Running Man, less the Schwarzenegger thing. But essentially, it's that story - bits of which have been filmed numerous times. The logistics and the logic in this story don't add up. Unclear rules and chaotic action scenes permanently maxed-out on violence make it impossible to either feel the danger, or compassion with the protagonists during the battles. And outside the battles, there is not much suspense either, nor acting possibilites, nor dialogue, let alone character development. Even the technobabble is off. Oh, and the CGI at start is sub-par, even for its day. (Hint: If you can't afford to do it with good CGI, use physical effects instead.) If you want your fix on "action without too much brains", watch something like Hardcore Henry; if you want something somewhat clever and entertaining on the topic, read the book "The Running Man". This movie is a waste of time.
JPV8522025-12-02
★ 5/10
Not terrible but pretty weak sci-fi thriller that reminds me of The Running Man meets The Matrix. This is your usual Gerard Butler vehicle and he's at least okay and Amber Valletta and that outfit she sported was wonderful while Michael C. Hall, especially at the end, seemed to be having a great time, but this is one I have no desire to revisit. 2.5/5