SummaryBen Campbell is a shy, brilliant MIT student who, needing to pay school tuition, finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor and stats g... Read More
Directed By:Robert Luketic
Written By:Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb, Ben Mezrich
21
Metascore
Mixed or Average
48
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
48
21% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
72% Mixed
21 Reviews
21 Reviews
7% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
75
21 makes for some slick escapist fantasy. Even if, and because, the fantasy has its roots in something real.
63
A predictable moral tale enacted by blandly pretty young things who bear little resemblance to the average brainiac.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.6
49% Positive
89 Ratings
89 Ratings
47% Mixed
85 Ratings
85 Ratings
4% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Nov 9, 2021
10
21 is a very funny number, and I think that since 9+10 = 21, I'll take the average and give this a 10/10. While the 21 kid may be stupid he has since inspired several generations to new heights, and that deserves reward. I would give 21 a 21/21, but since that is not the rating system used by this website, I will settle with a 10/10. In no instance will I allow anyone to criticize my opinion about 21, anyone flaming 21, is certifiable stupid, such as the kid in the vine. His words "nana" (no I'm not) have resonated with me for years, and as such, I feel I must leave this review as an expression of my gratitude towards 21 kid. I regret that I am no longer of age 21, but hope that in the future, I may become 21 again.
Dec 3, 2018
10
After that you want start to count cards and win. If you are german you can do that here: ****/karten-zaehlen-blackjack/
50
No movie with Kevin Spacey as a heartless prick can be all bad, but this gambling thriller, based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book "Bringing Down the House," hasn't got much else going for it.
50
A movie with an irresistible premise that ultimately collapses around the whole issue of motivation. Until it does, this is a thoroughly entertaining picture.
50
What a big cheat of a movie. Wanting to be everything to everybody – a tough gambling picture, a revenge-of-the-nerds fantasy, a Vegas caper flick, a sweet little romance, a simple morality tale – 21 is just a bet-hedger dealing from multiple decks, designed to leave you with an occasional tidbit to like but nothing at all to love.
42
Short of counting the cards out loud, these geniuses seem to do everything they can to get caught.
30
A movie that wastes a lot of time and money and really, REALLY shoulda stayed in Vegas.
Jan 11, 2016
10
Excellent movie! Kept my attention for sure! Kevin Spacey at his usual evil best! Going in my favs. Watch it online for free: ****/watch-42-21-online-free
Sep 3, 2016
6
A decent and relatively entertaining movie with a good cast but its not as clever as it would like to make out and the ending relies to much on contrivances.
Oct 28, 2015
6
The emergence of Spacey and Fishburne's rivalry adds a different dimension to the film. Without the historical feud we're left with characters of no substance.
Mar 5, 2014
6
As far as true story gambling movies go, it is pretty good. Even though the plot is predictable and a little dry, the acting and the direction is well done. The explanation of exactly how the counting cards system works is helpful in understanding what is going on in the movie. Overall, the movie doesn't pretend to be anything that it isn't. Kevin Spacey is excellent and Jim Sturgess does a good job playing an innocent youth that is corrupted for the first time.
Feb 27, 2011
1
Someone should remake this film. The book was amazing, but the movie didn't seem real, too Hollywood. Was the end slow walk shot with all the characters really necessary. It also seemed to ignore the whole part that he was still a student while this was going on.
Production Company:
- Columbia Pictures
- Relativity Media
- Trigger Street Productions
- Michael De Luca Productions
- GH Three
Release Date:Mar 28, 2008
Duration:2 h 3 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Inspired by the true story of five students who changed the game forever.
Website:
Awards
Teen Choice Awards
• 3 Nominations
ShoWest Convention, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Nomination
