Geri's Game (1997)

88% of users liked it
(961 ratings)

John Lasseter and company set out on a mission to perfect human and cloth animation in this Academy Award-winning short film about a playful codger named Geri who challenges himself to a game of chess in the park. As the competition against himself begins to heat up, the eternally youthful chess… More John Lasseter and company set out on a mission to perfect human and cloth animation in this Academy Award-winning short film about a playful codger named Geri who challenges himself to a game of chess in the park. As the competition against himself begins to heat up, the eternally youthful chess player attempts to lighten the mood by playfully feigning a heart attack and finding new uses for his false teeth. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 4 min.
Directed By: Jan Pinkava
Genres: Drama, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy, Special Interest

In Theaters: Nov 25, 1997 Wide

Critic Reviews

Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The effect is rather like speed-reading through a Roald Dahl novel.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Geri's Game certainly doesn't represent the best of Pixar. It's a nice story, ok animation but we've all come to expect far more from them than this but that is to their credit.
Dean M

I recognized a character in this Pixar short film from Toy Story 2. Geri sets up a chess game to play his greatest opponent - himself! Both the story and animations are of extraordinary quality. And also the editing is outstanding.
Cassie H

Sweet Type Of Funny!
Matthew Y

The best Pixar short film ever made (in my humble opinion). The film shows the elderly Geri playing a game of chess with himself. Humorously he gives different personalities and strategies to his two "selves" and when one looks cornered he tries to trick the other. A… More
The best Pixar short film ever made (in my humble opinion). The film shows the elderly Geri playing a game of chess with himself. Humorously he gives different personalities and strategies to his two "selves" and when one looks cornered he tries to trick the other. A delightfully cute, charming and hilarious short featuring easily the most popular and well known character from any Pixar short film to date. Geri was such a fan favorite that he made a guest appearance in Toy Story 2.
Steven V

The overwhelming success of such Pixar features as Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo may mean that's where all the attention's currently going, but their four-minute short Geri's Game is definitely… More
The overwhelming success of such Pixar features as Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo may mean that's where all the attention's currently going, but their four-minute short Geri's Game is definitely an enjoyable and highly original little movie that deserves to dwell up there with the company's finest output. The quality animation aside, and with the European plaza-style music setting it off to a nifty pulse, it's the slick editing that really makes this concept come alive. Unlike other Pixar shorts, including Knick Knack and For the Birds, Geri's Game may not be a laugh-riot exactly, but then laugh-out-loud hilarity has never been the essential ingredient for class entertainment. What makes this movie so engaging is its intelligent story, gentle humour and truly charming sense of character. The cool visuals are a delightful bonus.
Henrik S

Wonderful, lyrical and tender bit melancholy. Pixar's sense for beauty and magic reminds me of the pioneer spirit qualities Disney possessed when they kicked off.