Overview
A ghost-writer uncovers dangerous secrets while redacting a former Prime Minister's memoirs.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- paranoid
- austere
- late night viewing
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Roman Polanski's stylish direction, tense screenplay, atmospheric suspense, and Ewan McGregor's central performance, while finding it less revelatory than the director's finest work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The ghost-writer investigates sensitive material inside an isolated island compound surrounded by security and staff.
The manuscript exposes the lengths to which Adam Lang was prepared to go to preserve the United Kingdom's relationship with the United States.
The anonymous ghost-writer discovers that the memoir draft contains highly sensitive information and begins probing its implications.
The former British prime minister, Middle Eastern wars, and political scandal invite parallels with Tony Blair-era Britain while remaining fictional.
Films like The Ghost Writer, and why
The Parallax View
shared political conspiracy, investigative suspense, and morally ambiguous power structures
The Ninth Gate
shared literary mystery, ominous atmosphere, and escalating paranoia around political elites
The Constant Gardener
shared international political intrigue, secret histories, and restrained adult thriller pacing
Michael Clayton
shared isolated setting, institutional corruption, and slow-building psychological tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Release Date
- 2010-02-12
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (2535)
Cast
- Ewan McGregor
- Pierce Brosnan
- Kim Cattrall
- Olivia Williams
- Tom Wilkinson
- Timothy Hutton
- Jon Bernthal
- Tim Preece
- Robert Pugh
- David Rintoul
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 The Ghost Writer about?
- An anonymous writer uncovering buried secrets in a former prime minister’s memoir is drawn into a cold, international conspiracy.
- What is The Ghost Writer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ghost Writer as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ghost Writer violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Ghost Writer as mild.
- What did critics think of The Ghost Writer?
- Critics broadly praised Roman Polanski's stylish direction, tense screenplay, atmospheric suspense, and Ewan McGregor's central performance, while finding it less revelatory than the director's finest work.
- Which films are like The Ghost Writer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Parallax View, The Ninth Gate, The Constant Gardener, and Michael Clayton.
- How long is The Ghost Writer?
- The Ghost Writer runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ghost Writer?
- In United States, The Ghost Writer streams on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
