Game theory in film
Each film contains a brief synopsis, highlighting its relevance to game theory. Some films contain links to reviews, discussion, as well as links to the film's page at Amazon.com Some movie clips (
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and sound clips
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are also available.
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Princess Bride |
An exceptionally-told fairy-tale. One scene humorously highlights both strategic manipulation of the rules of the game and the unrealistic assumption of common knowledge.
>> read about how this relates to game theory Movie scene: "You have a dizzying intellect ..."
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Dr. Strangelove |
Kubrick's cold war dark comedy. One five-minute scene explains credible commitment, highlighting the importance of clarity, irreversibility, and public knowledge.
(Dark Comedy, 1964)
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy the fear to attack ..."
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly |
A truel in the final scene, a game set up so that it cannot be lost, and can we really trust Clint Eastwood?
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Western, 1967)
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: The truel
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Memento |
The main character's short term memory loss calls into question one of the most common assumptions made by game theorists - that players have perfect recall.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Thriller, 2001)
Movie web site,
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "OK, so what am I doing? I'm chasing this guy... No. He's chasing me."
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Murder by Numbers |
Two murderers are likely to go free. Each is confronted with the prisoner's dilemma
when placed in separate rooms and threatened with the death penalty.
"Just think of it as a game," the detective tells us, "Whoever talks first is the winner."
(Thriller, 2002)
Movie web site,
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "You think they'll keep talking without an attorney present? ... They want to prove they're smarter than we are."
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Return to Paradise |
A prisoner's dilemma
with a twist. Neither criminal faces jail time if he refuses to confess, but if neither confesses,
a friend will be put to death.
(Drama, 1998)
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: The film's theatrical trailer
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A Beautiful Mind |
The biographical account of John Nash based on Sylvia Nasar's book.
(Drama, 2001)
Movie home page,
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "Adam Smith needs revision ..."
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War Games |
A defense department computer, after repeatedly playing tic-tac-toe, discovers grim trigger strategies and concludes that nuclear war is a "strange game - the only winning move is not to play."
(Thriller, 1983)
Sound clip: "Strange game. The only winning move is not to play."
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid |
The owner of an often-robbed train hires a possy to pursue Butch and Sundance at great expense. Butch laments how this outcome is not pareto optimal.
Another scene highlights the importance of knowing the game's rules.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Western, 1969)
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "Rules? In a knife fight? No rules!"
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Swingers |
The decision as to whether or not to call an ex-girlfriend leads to a pooling equilibrium in which neither those seeking reconciliation or avoiding it ought to call.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Comedy/Drama, 1996)
Roger Ebert's review
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Ransom |
Irrationality improves Mel Gibson's bargaining power as he turns the tables on the kidnappers of his son.
(Drama, 1996)
Roger Ebert's review
Movie scene: "Instead, I am offering this money as a reward on your head."
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The Hunt for Red October |
Captain Ramius informs his officers that he has sent a letter to the Soviet command, announcing his plan to defect.
An example of burning bridges, bad Russian accents aside. Also, references to the game of chicken.
(Action, 1990)
Roger Ebert's review,
Washington Post's review
Sound clip: "The hard part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch."
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Last Year at Marienbad |
This 1961 art-house classic and winner of the grand prize at the Venice Film Festival features the game of nim.
(Drama, 1961)
Roger Ebert's review,
Lawrence Russell's review
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Pi | Contrary to the Chicago School of Economics, the stock market is a "living organism" with exploitable patterns, if only they can be uncovered. Probably the only thriller about number theory. | READ MORE |
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Hudson Hawk |
A cartoon-like comedy contains a scene featuring an English auction. A flamboyant bidder declares "100 million clams" but loses to his wife who bids "100 million and one."
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Comedy, 1991)
Washington Post review
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Rebel Without a Cause |
The original game of chicken on film. The driving-cars-off-the-cliff variation, however, means that even the winner loses his ride.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Drama, 1955) Script,
San Francisco Chronicle's review,
Filmsite, Discussion of game theoretic elements by John Kay
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Wall Street |
Despite (incorrectly) referring to financial markets as a "zero-sum game" ("Somebody wins, somebody loses"), Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) frequently quotes Sun Tzu.
(Drama, 1987)
Roger Ebert's review
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Cry-Baby |
A modern 50s teenage movie with the requisite game of chicken car duel.
(Comedy, 1990)
Roger Ebert's review,
Washington Post's review
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Footloose |
A game of chicken on a narrow road, with ditches on each side for effect, and riding tractors. A stuck shoe lace demonstrates commitment.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Drama / Rock musical, 1984)
Review and Photos
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House of Games |
David Mamet's directorial debut incorporates the finer elements of poker, confidence games, and con artists. What's there for a game theorist not to like?
(Thriller, 1987)
Roger Ebert's review
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500 Nations (vol. 2) |
Volume two of this eight part documentary features the story of the Spanish conqueror Cortez who burned his ships upon landing in Mexico as a form of commitment.
(Documentary, 1995)
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A Brilliant Madness |
A PBS film documentary about the life of Nobel Prize-winning economist John Nash.
(Documentary, 2002)
Movie website at PBS
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Ronin |
Robin Deniro's character, unsure whether "baddies" are hiding in a dark corner, shoots anyway.
"Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt" he says of his dominant strategy.
(Action, 1998)
Roger Ebert's review,
Washington Post's review
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Mystery Men |
Another example of how dizzying the assumption of common knowledge can be.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Comedy, 1999)
Roger Ebert's review
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Bad Manners |
Very reminiscent of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. A primary character is a game-theoretician.
(Drama, 1998)
Roger Ebert's review
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Thirteen Days |
Game of chicken during the Cuban missile crisis
(Drama, 2000)
Roger Ebert's review,
Washington Post's review
Game theory analysis (Steven Brams), historical perspective (Philip Brenner) |
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Stand By Me |
Yet another game of chicken as drivers decide between a head on collision and losing face.
(Drama, 1986)
Discussion of game theoretic elements by John Kay
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Playing RPS to Win |
Mixed strategies taken a bit too far in this comedic training video prepping a new batch of recruits for competitive Rock-Paper-Scissors.
(Short Film, 2003)
Watch an excerpt from the movie.
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RPS 2004: Road to the championship |
A mockumentary about players honing their skills and contemplating mixed strategies for the upcoming rock-paper-scissors championship.
(Short Film, 2004)
Watch the short film at YouTube.
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The Highest Bidder |
An online auction proves frustrating for a new user.
(Short Film, 2003)
Watch the short at the movie web site.
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