X
  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 53 m
  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 53 m

Summary Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS Agent whose world is turned upside-down when he begins to hear his life being chronicled by a narrator only he can hear. The Narrator, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a nearly forgotten author of tragic novels, is struggling to complete her latest and best book, unaware that her protagonist is alive an...

Directed By: Marc Forster

Written By: Zach Helm

  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 53 m
  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 53 m

Stranger Than Fiction

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 35 Critic Reviews
67
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 282 User Ratings
8.7
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS Agent whose world is turned upside-down when he begins to hear his life being chronicled by a narrator only he can hear. The Narrator, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a nearly forgotten author of tragic novels, is struggling to complete her latest and best book, unaware that her protagonist is alive an...

Directed By: Marc Forster

Written By: Zach Helm

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 35 Critic Reviews
67
83% Positive
29 Reviews
14% Mixed
5 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 35 Critic Reviews
67
83% Positive
29 Reviews
14% Mixed
5 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
In a feat of performing imagination, Ferrell turns his usual extroversion inside out and his usual zaniness into precision, and makes it all work for him.
By Michael Sragow FULL REVIEW
75
With a track record that stretches from "Monster's Ball" all the way to "Finding Neverland," Forster is clearly a director at ease with a wide range of material. He's found confection-land here, setting his beater on ready-whip and mixing the dough just fine.
By Rick Groen FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 282 User Ratings
8.7
90% Positive
255 Ratings
7% Mixed
19 Ratings
3% Negative
8 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 282 User Ratings
8.7
90% Positive
255 Ratings
7% Mixed
19 Ratings
3% Negative
8 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
DawdlingPoet
Nov 20, 2021
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Report
10
Bg9199
Apr 9, 2020
This movie is very touching, and brilliantly thought out, with good laughs too, but not in the traditional Will Ferell fashion. One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.
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75
It has a nifty premise and outstanding performances from Ferrell, as the protagonist-in-progress, and Emma Thompson, as his blocked creator.
By Jack Mathews FULL REVIEW
70
An oddly sweet little tale, and easily Ferrell’s most enjoyable movie in recent memory. And even though his onscreen chemistry with Gyllenhaal fills me with murderous rage, this film goes a long way towards erasing the memory of his more obnoxious roles.
By Pete Vonder Haar FULL REVIEW
70
Sometimes becomes too self-consciously clever, and it doesn't entirely resolve its own central dilemma. But it remains inventive and funny to the end, features fine performances from Will Ferrell and especially Emma Thompson.
By Todd McCarthy FULL REVIEW
63
A boldly original undertaking: It's the first movie ever to come up with the idea of remaking "The Truman Show."
By Kyle Smith FULL REVIEW
38
Watching the movie made me long for the big , risky ideas and entertainingly fearless filmmaking in David O. Russell's "I Heart Huckabees " and Spike Jonze's "Adaptation ," which Kaufman wrote. Both were similarly conceptual escapades, but they let it all hang out.
By Wesley Morris FULL REVIEW
See All 35 Critic Reviews
10
Venegrad
Feb 23, 2018
Realy awesome film, that something new in film industry! Most emmotional film for last year!
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10
jAbMaN
Mar 21, 2011
Stranger Than Fiction is a great comedy/drama film done very well by Will Farrell.
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6
Sosmooth1982
Jan 12, 2023
Kind of a weird movie, still ok. A woman is writing a novel, but Will Ferrell can hear everything she's writing about in his head. Also whatever the woman writes about him happens to him for real.
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6
MrIslamic
Apr 10, 2021
It is a good watch, not amazing but definitely not a waste of time. Overall just a decent film.
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6
ypomoni
Jul 5, 2013
Not one of those laugh out loud ha-ha comedies, yet you cannot watch this film without at least chuckling quite a bit. The film is mixed in with just the right dose of "emotion" and wit. While Ema Thompson, Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gyllenhaal did all put on great performances (as we would expect) it was Will Farrell an actor with whom I had never bothered before that was the show-stopper in this one!
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See All 29 User Reviews

Details

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Production Company Columbia Pictures, Mandate Pictures, Three Strange Angels, Crick Pictures, Ebeling Group
Release Date Nov 10, 2006
Duration 1 h 53 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Tagline Harold Crick isn't ready to go. Period.
Website http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/strangerthanfiction/
View All Details

Awards

Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 5 Nominations
Critics Choice Awards
• 2 Nominations

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