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Movies, The

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8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 62 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 35 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Lionhead Studios

Genre(s): Simulation, Strategy

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 8, 2005

Summary

The Movies gives you the opportunity to run your own Hollywood movie studio, ranging from 1920's silent films through to the present day and into the future. Whether you want to pioneer new technology or just make great movies, you'll be in charge of one of Hollywood's dream factories. You decide such facets as content, sets, actors, costumes and more. Hire and fire the people you want as you make the best movies you can. Generate a short promotional trailer for every movie you make. Deal with Hollywood's brightest stars and biggest egos. Introduce special effects, new camera techniques and even 3D. Develop Web pages to hype your movie. Put you and your friends into the film world. Make a cheap, quick production or an epic blockbuster.

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: The Movies: Stunts & Effects

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Guide GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Total Video Games

Most importantly the game’s gradual learning curve, handy tutorials and simple interface is immediately accessible, yet there’s still plenty to learn and discover when it comes to the subtleties of filmmaking 30 hours later.

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100

Detroit Free Press

We're very impressed with this enormous new simulation game, despite the fairly steep learning curve.

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100

G4 TV

The Movies takes Tycoon-style gameplay and brings it to a new level of polish and immersion, not only delivering addicting and challenging gameplay, but the means to create some funny movies to share with friends, too.

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Computer and Video Games

Quite possibly our game of the year. It really is every bit as good as we could have hoped for and every bit as good as the hype would have suggested. [PC Zone]

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Worth Playing

A title that is only limited by two factors, your imagination and the ability of the title to match it.

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Cheat Code Central

A flexible and fun experience which can be overwhelming at times but always manages to entertain.

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Next Level Gaming

Great controls, fun storyline, an addictive game that you just can’t stop playing and top it all with fantastic movie creation and viewing and you have one top notch game that is hard to pass up.

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IC-Games

What Lionhead have done is truly given us the real control we have craved for all this time... The Movies is simply dripping with style and substance, and will reward you long until the inevitable expansion packs hit the street.

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AtomicGamer

Despite some minor problems, The Movies breaks new ground in the sim genre by putting business elements together with people-sim elements to create a wholly unique experience.

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GameShark

A tremendously well done game.

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2404.org

The Movies is an all-around first-class effort. It is easy to learn, fun and addictive to play.

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Gaming Age

The inclusion of the ability for people to make their own movies will surely spark a number of creative movies with endless possibilities, especially with the potential of future additional downloadable content.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

A great management game almost in the same league as Theme Park coupled with a fairly versatile and endlessly amusing movie-making tool makes for a compelling package, but the online options add the kind of polish that’ll potentially keep you coming back for months.

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AceGamez

It's as playable, entertaining and creative as was expected both from the hype and from the type of game we know that only Lionhead Studios could produce.

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PGNx Media

Two very distinct products – a tycoon, studio manager of sorts and a detailed movie making piece of software. The game doesn’t intertwine them as well as it should, but The Movies has enough going for it to make it easily recommendable.

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GamingTrend

I can’t overstate the power of the game engine behind The Movies. The possibilities are almost endless given that this game is mod friendly. Once fans get their hands on this game, we will get to see some incredible movies.

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GameZone

Addictive, entertaining and just plain fun, The Movies gives players creative freedom no other sim has offered.

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Boomtown

From the gorgeous detailed graphics, humour, wonderful on-set animation and the entertaining radio news system, The Movies is a landmark game.

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RewiredMind

The Movies is addictive. The Movies is compelling. The Movies is innovative. The Movies is one of those games that you could become lost in for a very long time – should you devote the time to it.

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ActionTrip

Its intuitive interface allows anyone to grasp the tools necessary to start making films immediately, as well as providing an outlet for the future Stanley Kubricks of the world to get busy working on the world's next great film.

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Gaming Nexus

What would happen if you combined the best aspects of resource management with the personal relationships facet of the ever popular TheSims style of games? Activision has done just that with TheMovies, and as we learned, it’s a winning combination.

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WHAM! Gaming

While film aficionados will get more out of it than your regular Joe who will pay full price to see anything starring Rob Schneider, The Movies is for anyone who not only think they can make movies better than Hollywood, they know they can.

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games(TM)

Easily the finest and most involving product to carry Molyneux’s name in years. A stunning achievement. [Christmas 2005, p.100]

Gaming Illustrated

Tremendously fun title to say the least.

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PC Format

A must-see blockbuster with that ineffable star quality. [Christmas 2005, p.94]

Gaming Target

The only real drawback to The Movies is that, with how deep of a game experience that it provides, it can be overwhelming at times.

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eToychest

The thriving fan community and huge potential of the movie making tools push this game over the edge and really make it an attractive purchase for anyone interested in the theme.

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Game Informer

Offers 500 percent more flexibility than anything that has come before. [Dec 2005, p.185]

Gamer 2.0

It's really to the game's credit that its enormous breadth makes us long for even more sets, scenes, and goodies to muck with.

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The New York Times

The movie construction system is impressive.

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Game Chronicles

From the obtuse system of management, to the lack of total control with the movie making, this game will disappoint somewhat. However, on balance, The Movies contains some remarkable features, that could only be spawned from the likes of Molyneux.

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VGPub

An excellent simulation title, and anyone that is a fan of the genre would be very happy to pick it up.

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Gamer's Hell

There is no other game like it on the market, which proves that Peter Molyneux never ceases in his ceaseless search for innovation.

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PC Gameworld

Lionhead Studios creates a fun movie mogul sim, while giving wannabe Spielbergs the chance to make their masterpieces.

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Gaming Horizon

Offers a unique perspective on moviemaking and its gameplay style is refreshingly original. If you're a movie buff, or love Sims-type games, The Movies is for you.

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PC Gamer

The most innovative sim in years, even with its manageability issues. [Jan 2005, p.66]

Pelit (Finland)

A whole lot of fun. Managing your own studio is a real blast, although things tend to get a bit too simple and straight-forward at times. Creating movies from scratch is intuitive and strangely addictive. [Dec 2005]

DailyGame

Taken too seriously the game can become frustrating and repetitive. But if you're just in it for the fun, fun is what you're going to have.

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My Gamer

The replay value for this game is extremely high, as you are only limited by your imagination.

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Digital Entertainment News

An ambitious attempt at an addictive game, and meets expectations more times than not.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

There's nothing wrong with sweating the details, but hopefully the sequel will focus on the ones that make this game special.

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Gamers' Temple

Like in Hollywood, the real magic in The Movies is in the films you produce and not in the mundane business of making movies.

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GameSpot

The Movies proves to be an accessible and good-spirited tycoon game, and its moviemaking tools offer a surprisingly deep amount of control. But the disconnection between these elements is noticeable.

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IGN

While the studio lots themselves can become wonderful places given the right attention, and stars can be fun to screw with, too many limitations and confusion as to why some things work the way they do can create a tiresome management simulation.

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1UP

In order to work within the mechanics of the sim, only the game-created factors figure into how well-received your movies are. The experience of creating your own movies during the game is rendered hollow by knowing that no matter how much tweaking you do, it doesn't figure into it.

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Thunderbolt

The heavy micromanagement necessary in The Movies may not be for everyone, but it’s easy to see that this is a good game. There are enough unique touches so it never feels stale or derivative, even though parts of it may seem familiar to some gamers.

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GamePro

Like any generic Tycoon sim, The Movies gets a bit over-focused on the trivial aspects of simulation, specifically with studio upkeep and playing constant babysitter to bigheaded actors, though while somewhat satirical, is a continuous bother. But the main attraction here is making short movies, which, if you're willing to spend the time, can be oodles of fun.

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Yahoo! Games

Don't expect challenging financial decisions or careful economic planning, but if all you want is to make your own movies, this game's awe-inspiringly varied toolset should not be missed.

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3DAvenue

The Movies isn't so addictive that it will likely cause you to lose sleep like some management games, but the time you do spend with it will probably prove to be some the most enjoyable "tycoon" style gameplay you've had in 2005.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Enthralling.

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Computer Gaming World

One of the most addictive and enjoyable games you'll play this year. [Jan 2005, p.84]

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PALGN

An addictive tycoon style game which also caters to those with a bit of creative flair.

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Gamenikki

While running the studio does boil down too quickly into lather-rinse-repeat patterns of tycoon-style management, the moviemaking part of the game gives you an almost endless supply of replayability.

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Armchair Empire

It is once the main game is over that the real fun of The Movies begins.

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Game Revolution

A pretty solid, compelling take on the inner and outer workings of the deliciously corrupt film business and should satisfy most who audition - until they invariably freak out and seek rehab, that is.

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Game Over Online

It has all of the elements of a good game, and it can be fun at times, but the endless micromanagement gets a little tedious.

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Computer Games Magazine

When you need a quality action scene, you call on the chicken; Is this a future star? [Jan 2006, p.55]

GameSpy

Few games in recent years have been laugh-out-loud funny, but The Movies generates so much random silliness that - even when things are going wrong - you can still have a good time.

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Edge Magazine

That this is one decidedly average experience and one decidedly great one jammed together becomes clear long before you’re freed to fully enjoy yourself. [Jan 2005, p.86]

FiringSquad

If you are hungering for a good tycoon game, keep looking. The Movies won’t butter your popcorn. But if the idea of making your own short films sounds even remotely interesting, the creation tools and capabilities of the game can provide hours and hours of fun.

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GamerNode

The Movies takes elements of all our favorite simulation games, most noticeably The Sims and the various Tycoon games, and combines them successfully with simple, user-friendly controls.

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GamerFeed

Although the game has some very nice quirks and touches, it fails to provide a strong, engaging experience. The rewards of running a successful studio aren't worth the patience and frustrations involved.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 35 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Dalek gave it an8:
Nice game, I enjoyed it in 2006. Nice graphics, I recommend this for people that like the sims or like to think and spend some time on this game. You can also learn what actors do in real life. The game gets harder when your in the 1990's on the actual thing and not sandbox. Your money gets lower and you need to post a lot of films.

J v M. gave it a9:
Nice if you like to make random movies... Like me!

Travis G. gave it a10:
I absolutely loved this game.

Faisal H. gave it a9:
This game is a one-of-a-kind with an incredibly strong movie making engine. You can virtually make anything it it and that adds hours of gamesplay to it, though the tycoon part will bore you soon.

Sean K. gave it a10:
One of the best PC games of all time.

Bass gave it a5:
This Movies is such a disappointment. What Lionhead have done is create a game that mixes scaled down elements from The Sims and Theme Park, with a poor quality movie editor thrown in as well. It almost feels as if the game was made 5 years ago, and that the developers have rushed its production, most probably to coincide with the releases of Black & White 2 and Fable. Graphics aren't ugly but only ever bland at best, sound is very tongue-in-cheek and quickly becomes annoying due to the insesent narration throughout, and the interface feels like it had been designed for anyone 10 years old or younger. However the real frustration I have with the game is that it could have been excellent. I'm a huge fan of Lionhead and after completing Fable was eager to play the next big release from the developer, however The Movies is not what I was hoping for. I only hope that in the next few years there is a sequel that makes up for the obvious flaws in the game and provides players with a deeper, more pollished movie-making experience.

S. Omer gave it a6:
The tycoon part is pretty boring.. big disappointment... I know people are having fun making movies, but the reviews are right about there not being a connection between the two.... how about if the developer hosted some movies for an in game cost, and the producer got cash for real clicks on their movies? We need more Sid Meier like developers out there.

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