House of Games

House of Games (1987)

  • 96% of critics liked it
    (25 reviews)

  • 79% of users liked it
    (5,938 ratings)

In his directorial debut, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet creates a stylish cinematic puzzle of games within games, as con men are joined by a psychologist in creating the perfect caper. Dr. Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse), the writer of psychological self-help books, meets Mike (Joe… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Jonathan Katz, David Mamet
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
In Theaters
Oct 1, 1987 Wide
On DVD
Dec 19, 2000
HBO Video

Critic Reviews

  • Dan Jardine, Cinemania

    David Mamet's sometimes baffling, never less than fascinating glimpse into the dark underbelly of this world where it turns out that winning games of chance involve more skill (and con artistry) than luck.

  • Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

    O roteiro é mais previsível do que Mamet desejaria e seu primeiro trabalho na direção exibe uma teatralidade que ele gradualmente superaria, mas, apesar disso, a complexidade de seus personagens e a dinâmica de seus diálogos são admiráveis.

  • Kam Williams, NewsBlaze

    Since it would be unfair to spoil a moment of this perfectly-plotted masterpiece, all you need to know is that it landed on this critic's Best Movies of the Millennium List in 2000.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    A conceptual film about con artists, Mamet's feature debut is a deadpan, deviously comic melodrama that proceeds with twists and reversals and builds like a poker game in which the stakes are higher and higher.

  • Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

    fiendishly clever

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • Lady D


    Cheesy, dated and more of a film made for tv, yet, there was something quite interesting about this film, that left me enjoying it.

  • Pierluigi P


    Lindsay Crouse is an eminent psychologist who is desperate for adventure. One day she'll meet Joe Mantegna's character, a swindler that will provide her a few tricks to reach a little excitement in her life. There will be, of course, a few bumps on their way. A tight and… More

  • Drew S


    Okay, so could Lindsay Crouse be any more awful? I know pretty much everyone hates her in this movie but Jesus Christ, that was a dull performance. I don't know if she was attempting sociopathy by way of emotional stunting, but what she really accomplished was sheer tedium. Joe… More

  • Ken S


    Superb Con film from David Mamet.

  • Aaron N


    Mike: It's called a confidence game. Why? Because you give me your confidence? No. Because I give you mine. The directorial debut of playwright David Mamet. While in the same year he wrote the screenplay for The Untouchables, which seemed very un-Mamet, this film has all the… More

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

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