Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- urbane
- ominous
- paranoid
- late night thriller viewing
- crime film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised John Malkovich’s magnetic, sinister performance and the film’s suspenseful retro-noir atmosphere, while noting pedestrian plotting and a weaker final act.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ripley deliberately turns the innocent picture framer Jonathan Trevanny into a hit man.
Ripley’s wealthy villa life, cultivated manners, and murderous manipulation create a polished but threatening atmosphere.
Jonathan’s leukemia and concern for his wife and young son make Ripley’s proposition materially and emotionally coercive.
The Veneto villa, Milanese connections, and Berlin underworld combine domestic elegance with international criminal dealings.
Films like Ripley's Game, and why
The American Friend
shared psychological crime tension, morally compromised protagonists, and elegant international noir atmosphere
The Talented Mr. Ripley
shared patricia highsmith source material, sociopathic intrigue, and stylish identity-driven crime drama
The Thomas Crown Affair
shared cold, urbane thriller tone, criminal manipulation, and suspense built around shifting loyalties
The Limey
shared adult crime suspense, charismatic criminality, and morally ambiguous violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Liliana Cavani
- Release Date
- 2002-09-02
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (323)
Cast
- John Malkovich
- Dougray Scott
- Ray Winstone
- Lena Headey
- Chiara Caselli
- Uwe Mansshardt
- Hanns Zischler
- Paolo Paoloni
- Lutz Winde
- Emidio La Vella
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ripley's Game about?
- A cultivated murderer pulls a terminally ill family man into a lethal underworld game, testing the limits of control, conscience, and survival.
- What is Ripley's Game like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ripley's Game as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Ripley's Game violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ripley's Game as brutal.
- What did critics think of Ripley's Game?
- Critics broadly praised John Malkovich’s magnetic, sinister performance and the film’s suspenseful retro-noir atmosphere, while noting pedestrian plotting and a weaker final act.
- Which films are like Ripley's Game?
- Films with a similar feel include The American Friend, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Thomas Crown Affair, and The Limey.
- How long is Ripley's Game?
- Ripley's Game runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ripley's Game?
- In United States, Ripley's Game is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
