Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Danny Huston

Walter Sparrow becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him. As his obsession increases, more and more similarities seem to arise.

Flixster Users

61% liked it

153,440 ratings

Critics

8% liked it

184 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Joel Schumacher

Release Date: February 23, 2007

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DVD Release Date: July 5, 2005

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Stats: 40,051 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,051)


  • October 15, 2009
    very sketchy. very odd. Jim Carrey is an incredible actor no matter what he touches. The story was odd kind of confusing at a certain point and then it felt like it went on for way too long.
  • December 12, 2008
    Despite it?s depressing tone throughout, The Number 23 develops into an impressive conspiracy, mystery, psychological Thriller. I tend to find Jim Carrey?s serious roles more entertaining and find the films he chooses and the roles he plays very intense and thought provoking.
    ...( read more)
    There was a hint of Graphic Novel style added to some of the film too, which worked pretty well.

    This film, perhaps, isn?t for everyone, but if you like Thrillers, that get into your head and add an element of unpredictability, this film may be your kind of thing.
  • December 4, 2008
    Walter Sparrow becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him. As his obsession increases, more and more similarities seem to arise.
  • September 27, 2008
    23. 3 - 2 = 1. 1 + jim carrey being serious = 2. 2 + an original idea = 3. 3 - a mind numbing search that goes on and on by the protagonist to find the number 23 in anything = 2.5
  • July 24, 2008
    ***WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS***
    I think I've seen this before... oh wait, I HAVE! It's like watching Secret Window all over again, except worse. Jim Carrey didn't necessarily do a bad job, but the movie as a whole was just unconvincing.

    Plot holes were miles long... for insta...( read more)nce, how did that one copy of that book wind up in that book store and wind up in his wife's hands and it just moved her enough (although it had no description on the back) to buy it for her husband as a birthday present (although he never had a previous hobby of reading). This movie relies too heavily on coincidences which only lessens its credibility and makes it look foolish.

    The only aspect of the movie that was enjoyable was the concept of the number 23. I understand that you can do that with just about any number, but it was still a nice glimpse into the world of paranoia. However, the movie does take itself a little too seriously
  • November 6, 2009
    Maybe the creepiest movie Carrey has done since The Cable Guy.
  • November 2, 2009
    It is amazing & crazy
  • November 1, 2009
    It tries very hard to be a tense, surreal thriller. Sometimes is succeeds.
  • October 31, 2009
    This movie sucked! That is all I can say.
  • October 28, 2009
    film yang unik dan seperti tidak menyampaikan pesan apa ? apa selain angka 23 yang begitu misterius. Yang g suka dari film ini adalah keunikannya dan kekreatifitasan dari si pembuat ceritanya, karna bisa meghubung ? hubungkan segala sesuatu dengan angka 23. Satu lagi yg g suka ad...( read more)alah penyelidikan yang dilakukan si jim carey sampe akhirnya mengetahui jawabannya yang cukup mengejutkan.

Critic Reviews


February 23, 2007
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

The author's obsession with the number 23 becomes Walter's, and we're treated to a lot of examples of numbers that add up to 23, which means a lot of scenes in which people say things like, 'What's 14... full review

February 23, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Carrey owns this movie. He's in virtually every scene, and there's no taking one's eyes from him. full review

February 23, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Carrey skillfully leads us on a twisted trek with hair-raising jolts. full review

February 23, 2007
Kurt Loder, MTV

The director, Joel Schumacher, works up a juicy, lurid atmosphere, but the picture feels cramped and airless. You wait for it to really take off, but it never seems able to find its way out of all the... full review

February 22, 2007
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

There's little in this first script by Fernley Phillips but bloodless notions -- nothing that might qualify, by the light of day, as entertainment. full review

February 22, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Here's our homage to the film's tortured permutations of the numerals 2 and 3: 3 minus 2 equals 1. And there is only one reason to see this movie: You have absolutely nothing better to do. full review

February 22, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Let's cut to the chase: Movies don't get much more dunderheaded than Joel Schumacher's semi-psychological thriller The Number 23. full review

February 22, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's so cheesy that it's almost transcendent. full review

February 20, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

There's a mess of things wrong with this suspense thriller. Start with the fact that it's neither suspenseful nor thrilling. full review

February 20, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Shot by computer-enhanced shot, The Number 23 is impressive, but those shots don't come from anywhere or build on one another. full review

View more The Number 23 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • cleopatra2008
    January 20, 2009
    i loved that movie and jim in it ..it's based on a true that bn believed by many ppl many famous ppl ...jim really surprised me in a very good way don't know wy many dont love it but im not one of them..i loved so much the end really jimy goood job
  • sjcole4
    April 22, 2008
    To tetrical: "stupid" is not a vague word. "Stupid" is actually the perfect word for the melodrama employed in this movie. It's fine to think outside the box, there are plenty of movies that do this right. But you can not seriously tell me you LIKED this movie, I have a hunch it was just the subject matter/ premise that intrigues you.
  • thereverendtholomewplague
    February 13, 2008
    Dumb. I didn't like it at all, it was too weird for me.
  • shickabunis
    January 27, 2008
    This was a big disappointment. Clearly they had to spice up the film with sleazy sex scenes and clumsy profanity to keep viewers watching. The plot was in now way gripping and each reference to the number 23 was over reaching. The movie could've been titled after any arbitrary number and it would've been the same unimpressive film. F minus. If you're looking for a movie that will tickle your mind, this is not it.
  • pavacri23
    January 20, 2008
    the movie is a little boring at the beginning, but while the movie is advancing is getting better and more interesting
  • alitamautz
    January 16, 2008
    Hey If you Want to find some Awesome Movie Quotes, and if you like Jim Carey, I just Made a quiz on flixter, Called The Jim Carrey Famous Movie Lines Quiz (I'll give you the quotes and you tell me the movie) so take it and let me know what you think.

    http://www.flixster.com/user/everlastingfulfillme/quiz/the-jim-carrey-famous-movie-lines-quiz?invitorId=810795327
  • tetrical
    January 1, 2008
    To the guy who said 'this movie is stupid' - stupid is a vague word, and this is supposed to be a psychological thriller and it was. The number 23 represents the gateway of Walter's inner conflicted manifestations, which later leads him to paranoia.
    The movie is actually quite deep if you think beyond the surface. I think Joel Schumacher directed terrificly, he truly brought out the spine movingly craziness within Walter's head.
  • sh7anmobile
    September 2, 2007
    i like to see that again
  • randolphtaylor2003
    August 31, 2007
    This movie is not confusing but stupid. I dont know how it got 3 and a half stars from you all. The whole movie was about people being cursed with 23 (not to mention that the preview represented an end the of the world movie) and the strongest theroy ends up being made up in his head. Dont yall get that the whole premise behind the movie was made up. This movie was supposed to be like bible code, the mayan calender, everything then took a stupid turn about 23 chasing him and then it all being fake. I thought this movie wsa going to be deep but turned out to be stupid. Have to admit maybe if not seeing previews the movie might have not been so bad. Good amount of nudity and comedy (laughed a couple times) Give it 2 stars JUST TO BE NICE.
  • beverlycarriebffe
    August 29, 2007
    this movie is kinda confusing and its crazy!! i dont get how the # 23 can make someone that crazy!!!!

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The Number 23 Trivia


  • Walter Sparrow twists his once idyllic life into an inferno of psychological torture that could possibly lead to his death as well as the deaths of his loved ones. Spurred on by a mysterious novel. What is the name of this Novel, Also the name of this Movie?  Answer »
  • What was the exact date that Jim Carrey's film "The Number 23" opened on?  Answer »
  • What movie has the tag line :First it takes hold of your mind ....then it takes hold of your life....?  Answer »
  • What does Walter Sparrow become obssessed within the film The Number 23 ?  Answer »

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