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Funny Games
SummaryTwo psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement.

Directed By:Michael Haneke

Written By:Michael Haneke

Funny Games

Metascore
Generally Favorable
69
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
60% Positive
6 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
  • All Reviews
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100
Miami Herald
The movie gives you what you think you want, and then gives you some more, and just when you think things can't get any worse, Haneke swoops in and smashes the wall between fiction and reality, turning the viewer into a direct accomplice to what's transpiring onscreen. It is an astonishing film, sure to be controversial, and quite simply unforgettable. [30 Jan. 1998, p.6G]
88
Chicago Tribune
Funny Games is an intellectual's suspense film, which ultimately tries to critique and demystify violence. But, since our responses are never all cerebral, that's not entirely possible.
User score
Generally Favorable
79% Positive
92 Ratings
14% Mixed
16 Ratings
7% Negative
8 Ratings
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  • Negative Reviews
Mar 24, 2026
9
ClownNiko
The title is already a provocation. Because these FUNNY GAMES are neither funny nor harmless. In the film itself, the terror also appears harmless in the form of two boys dressed in white, whose exaggeratedly polite behavior and verbal gestures don't fit at all with what follows. This film is about naked psychological and physical violence. It is senseless, inexplicable and macabre. In his own words, Michael Haneke was concerned with depicting violence as it has always been, namely not consumable. His work is a sharp social criticism that is directed against the trivialization of violence in the media and also pillories its consumers. This happens not only in drastic images, but also with the help of cacophonous music, which can be heard right from the beginning and thus makes clear to the viewer the fragility of the ideal world. Even if Michael Haneke's provocation was probably successful, it should also be noted that he is pillorying exactly those who are essential for his film projects: the film industry and the audience. Furthermore, when watching the film, there is a real risk that it will serve the very secret desires for ever more consumption of violence that it actually branded as abhorrent. What should be highlighted are the acting performances of all the protagonists, who all give an excellent performance here.
Jul 1, 2025
9
Craftnight405
Anna und Georg fahren mit ihrem Sohn Schorschi zu ihrem Ferienhaus. Dort angekommen begegnen sie den jungen Mann Peter, welcher Eier von Anna haben möchte. Doch er ist tollpatschig und nervös. Anna bekommt immer mehr Angst und bittet ihn hinaus. Doch dann kommt Peters Freund Paul und es beginnt ein Spiel um Leben und Tod.Funny Games gilt als ein kontroverser Film. Für einige ist er zu heftig (könnte mir auch in bestimmten Phasen meines Lebens so sein) und für andere ist er genial. Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass einige finden werden, dass hier Geiselnehmer und Psychopathen gefeiert werden und man mit ihnen sympathisieren sollen. Diese Leute haben, den Film nicht verstanden. In Funny Games lässt sich viel hineininterpretieren und um alles genau zu verstehen, muss man ihn mehrmals sehen, was einem aber schwerfällt. Ich sehe diesen Film an Kritik von Sekten, da die beiden Täter typische Merkmale zeigen, die in einer Sekte zu finden sind. Zum einen der schüchterne, menschenscheue und den Psychopathen der Spaß hat Leute zu quälen und gut reden und überzeugen kann. Außerdem tragen beide das gleiche: Komplett in Weiß gekleidet und mit Handschuhen. Der Film weißt, auch Methamomente, welche einem rausbringen kann und an einer Stelle bringt es einem zum Lachen. In diesem Film wird auch lange mit der Kamera draufgehalten. Wenn etwas Schlimmes passiert, hält die Kamera lange darauf, dass man somit genau sieht wie die Charaktere leiden und wie sie das geschehene gerade verarbeiten und was sie gerade vermutlich denken. Die Schauspielleistung ist von allen beteiligten sensationell und mich wundert es, dass dieser Film damals nicht für besten fremdsprachigen Film bei den Oscars eingereicht wurde. Vermutlich liegt es daran, dass er zu hart ist.Funny Games ist ein psychologischer Film, der einen länger beschäftigt und über den man viel diskutieren kann. Während des schauen bekommt man Angst das die Täter zu schlagen oder wiederkommen, wenn sie für kurze Zeit verschwinden. Hier feuert man definitiv die Täter nicht an, was in Slasherfilmen oft der Fall ist. Dieser Film ist kein Slasher, kritisiert dieses Genre ein bisschen.9/10
80
Empire
It's a film you might argue with, but its sparing use of on-screen violence, some extraordinarily protracted scenes and sensitive handling of thorny subject matter make it also a film you ought to see.
70
The New York Times
Funny Games observes the family's excruciating terror and suffering with the patient delight of a cat luxuriantly toying with a mouse that it is in the process of slowly killing. Posing as a morally challenging work of art, the movie is a really a sophisticated act of cinematic sadism. You go to it at your own risk.
50
Variety
The film is shocking and upsetting, but never truly gets under the skin the way this kind of material often can. Whatever reservations are prompted by Haneke's approach, his direction is controlled and edgy. [20 May 1997, p.52]
40
New York Daily News
Denying us any catharsis, Haneke becomes a stern, finger-wagging lecturer; he seems to mean his movie as punishment, conveniently forgetting his own role in the crime. [11 March 1998, p.38]
25
Baltimore Sun
Funny Games condescends to its audience like a pretentious, preachifying graduate student in post-modernism. It would help us out of the cultural quagmire we're drowning in, if only we could understand its highly convoluted and exclusive language. [29 May 1998, p.1E]
See All 10 Critic Reviews
Feb 14, 2023
9
sachineldho
This film invoked unpleasant memories from my high school days. Not recommended for anyone (other than nihilistic psychopaths, ofc).
Apr 12, 2022
9
JeBjBo
I loved this film. I absolutely have to dig into Michael Haneke's filmography now.
Mar 13, 2011
5
luckaks
... its not enough to make a movie mix every kind of violence possible and find that - because violence tends to be shocking - the movie itself will have some impact ... the plot of this film is an empty sequence. No point is madeâ
Jun 8, 2012
0
Petrovita
Horrible movie, pointless plot with endless of pointless violence. The director and especially the actors should be ashamed of even agreeing on making such a horrible movie. In all honesty, this movie is only for those that enjoy violence; The Psycho's. So if you enjoyed it, you're not normal. Freak.
Oct 29, 2010
0
krid23
There's nothing worse then a movie that only exists to shock it's audience, without any valuable substance whatsoever. Funny Games is one of those examples with nothing more to show to it's viewers then a bleak, sadistic state of affairs without a second of hope.
See All 12 User Reviews
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  • Filmfonds Wien
  • Wega Film
  • Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)
  • Österreichisches Filminstitut
Mar 11, 1998
1 h 48 m
TV-MA
Ein Alptraum.
Fantasporto
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Chicago International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
London Critics Circle Film Awards
• 2 Nominations
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