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Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson ... see more see more... , Tony Hale , Tom Hulce , Linda Hunt , William Dick , Guy Massey , Martha Espinoza , T.J. Jagodowski , Peter Grosz , Ricky Adams , Christian Stolte , Denise Hughes , Peggy Roeder , Tonray Ho , Danny Rhodes , Helen Young , David Pompeii , Linara Washington , Larry Neumann Jr. , John Mohrlein , Bruce Jarchow , Kristin Chenoweth , Bradley Mott , John Watson Sr. , David Wiegers , Jarret Sleeper , Karen Lloyd , Keith Kupferer , Danny McCarthy , Tab Baker , Mark Buettner , Christian Young , Arraon Hixson , Bryan Kelly , Whitney Sneed , Ray Kurut , Michael Cook , Cheryl Lynn Bruce , Chet Dubowski , Oran "Juice" Jones , Jordan Keller , Herb Lichtenstein , Stacey Jackson , Jordan Teplitz , Ricardo Guiterrez , James Mazza , Oscar Roxas , Nadiera Bost , Sandra Marquez , Lacy Coil , Will Clinger , Albert Samuels , Frank Caeti , Andrew Rothenberg , Rengin Altay , Lucinda Kemp , Donna Watkins , Julien Heron , Bob Papenbrook , Mike McColl

A socially isolated IRS agent whose every move is documented by a disembodied female voice discovers that his life is the subject of a book currently being written by a best-selling author, whose crea... read more read more...tive block has stunted her repeated efforts to kill him off, in a quirky fantasy comedy written by Hollywood hot property Zach Helm and directed by Finding Neverland's Marc Forester. Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) lives a life of solitude. Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson) can't seem to find a way to finish her latest book. Though Harold and Kay have never actually met, their fates are about to become intertwined in a most unusual manner. With her publishers growing increasingly impatient with her apparent inability to put the finishing touches on her latest novel, Kay is assigned a new assistant whose task it is to help provide the creative push needed to get her book finished and into the hands of her many eager fans. The subject of Kay's novel is a lonely and despairing IRS agent named Harold Crick, who believes that his life has lost any real meaning. As Kay continues to weave Harold's woeful tale without realizing that her protagonist is actually a living human being unable to concentrate on his life and career due to the constant interference of the narrator who inexplicably seems to anticipate his every move and read his every thought, her continued efforts to kill her perplexed subject finally provide him with the incentive needed to fully experience life by seeking out the source of the voice that plagues him. Penned by the screenwriter named by Variety magazine as one of the "Top Ten Writers to Watch" and who was also included in Esquire magazine's "Best and Brightest" list of 2004, Stranger Than Fiction features supporting performances by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, and Queen Latifah. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

370,796 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

170 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Marc Forster

Release Date: November 10, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 27, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (36,928)

  • brooklynspo
    April 21, 2007
    brooklynspo
    Meta sugar.

    I loved the bus scenes.
  • fb100002359227440
    April 21, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    It's like a version of Groundhog Day written by Charlie Kaufman.
  • CreedsDelight
    October 27, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Amazing movie. And I mean amazing. It's funny and with lots of heart.

    Will Ferrell (Step Brothers) delivers an outstanding performance as the IRS Agent Harold Crick, whose life has been interrupted by a narrator controlling his every feeling and action, including the way he die... read mores. It sounds completely ridiculous, but what this film really is, shows the intensity of a man, knowing that his life is in the hands of an author.

    The acting in this movie is amazing. This isn't Will Ferrell's normal comedy role, it's actually an emotional breakdown of a normal man. The other actors include Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight), Dustin Hoffman (Meet The Fockers), Queen Latifah (Hairspray), and Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee). All of the actors in this are up to par.

    This is a must-see. You won't regret it!
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 25, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Stranger Than Fiction is a very good drama film. I loved Will Farrell's ability to try something new here. Stranger Than Fiction is a well acted film that has a great story. Stranger Than Fiction is a good film that has the right amount of comedy and drama to create a unique, fun... read more and entertaining story. The cast are terrific, and Will Farrell definitely shines here. Especially I felt that the films he's done during this period weren't as good as his first few comedies, this one renewed my interest in him, and frankly, this is one of his strongest films. Stranger than Fiction has enough comedy to appeal to fans of comedy, albeit the comedy is a tad more serious than what Will Farrell usually delivers. However, that doesn't mean that the film is bad. The film is a strong comedy drama film held together by a good cast and a good script. Stranger Than Fiction is a great film that exposes a different side to Will Farrell, and this film proves that he can act. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and I think it's one of Farrell's best films. I enjoyed the film and Stranger Than Fiction is a terrific comedy that has some great performances and a great story. The film is a different change of pace for Will Farrell, and he delivers something memorable on-screen. A fun, entertaining film that will appeal to anyone looking for a good drama comedy.
  • spielberg00
    August 11, 2011
    spielberg00
    STRANGER THAN FICTION is a brilliant, smart, clever way to break the fourth wall. It is Will Ferrell's most overlooked comedy, because it seems everyone appreciates TALLADEGA NIGHTS and BLADES OF GLORY.
  • fb223580
    August 2, 2011
    fb223580
    I often don't finish movies that I watch alone, but this one kept me hooked because I just *had* to find out how he died! Will Ferrell was surprisingly hilarious and you really felt for him, despite him being a boring taxman. Understatedly lovely.
  • jamers2011
    June 26, 2011
    jamers2011
    This is one of my favorites! I love everything about it. This is my third review I have written for this movie; it's so hard to describe it and do it justice, especially when it's a little underrated.

    First of all, the story is so smart, clever, complex, but all the while comp... read moreletely simple. The execution of it makes the difference, director Marc Forster did a perfect job with this one. It's different, touching, funny, and most importantly...thought-provoking! It really makes you think about life.

    The cast is my absolute favorite thing about the film. I do not like Will Ferrell at all, nor do I like his movies. He's too over the top and rarely funny in my opinion, but here, he acts. He genuinely tries to portray a character, and he succeeds. He really gives a good performance, and to this day, this is the only film of his that I like and will confidently recommend to anyone. Emma Thompson gives a truly remarkable performance as the suicidal author, Karen Eiffel, who is plaqued with writers block. Her performance is so solid that I think she deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, but that's just me. I laughed at her, felt for her, and was even weirded out by her quirkiness. It's a well-rounded and highly memorable performance for me. Then there's the famous Dustin Hoffman who was excellently cast. Then there's Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays one of my all-time favorite movie characters ever, Miss Pascal, a free spirited Baker who becomes the love interest in the film. It's hard to describe her really, but Gyllenhaal is PERFECT! A stunning performance that I will never forget. Also the small roles of Queen Latifah, Tom Hulce, and Linda Hunt are so nice.

    The script is another one of my favorite things about the film. How in the word was this not nominated for Best Screenplay? I'm no expert, but the writing and script of this film is smart, fresh, and brilliant. There are so many memorable and quotable dialogue scenes, it's not even funny. Add to that a brilliant cast and a good director....everything falls perfectly into place.

    Also the locations used in the film are perfect! It gives the film an indie feel that I absolutely love.

    Stranger Than Fiction: a great, near perfect comedy film! Completely underrated, in my opinion. I recommend it!
  • shawnewing92
    June 20, 2011
    shawnewing92
    I was pleasantly surprised to how much I enjoyed this film. In my opinion this is Will Ferrell's best performance even compared to all his comedy hits.
  • binky013
    June 16, 2011
    binky013
    This is the best acting job that Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal have done so far. Ferrell is best when he doesn't Ferrell-out -- like Jim Carrey when he works like he does in The Majestic. A very interesting attempt at examining the interface between fact and fiction.

    ... read more>Emma Thompson is superb as the "blocked" writer, and this is the most I've enjoyed Dustin Hoffman in a good long while. As an English major myself, I have to say that the list of questions to narrow what kind of "story" Ferrell is in is hilarious : )
  • DreamExtractor
    April 4, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A very good movie. This proves Will Ferell has the talent to play a dramatic role while making himself likeable. The plot is great and you would think it would be slow but its not predictable. Stranger than Fiction is one of those rare movies that cannot be missed, go see it i... read moref you haven't.

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Critic Reviews

Bob Mondello
October 18, 2008
Bob Mondello, NPR.org

The actors and the filmmakers all take a more restrained approach than you might expect, keeping the humor gentle, and the jokes mostly as literary as the premise. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
November 15, 2006
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

A film well worth seeing and savoring. Full Review

Peter Howell
November 10, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Stranger Than Fiction seems like an old episode of the Twilight Zone, and the idea would have worked better as one of Rod Serling's half-hour epistles on human foibles. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
November 10, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It doesn't coast on its premise but follows where it leads, which is into some serious territory. What might have been a joke with a tagged-on sentimental ending becomes instead a sensitive movie that... Full Review

Roger Moore
November 10, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Willfully eccentric, odd in tone, it is an English major's comedy, a wry exploration of plot, narrative, character and a writer's imprint on her or his work. Full Review

Lisa Rose
November 10, 2006
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

It seems like the screenwriter may have suffered a shortage of ideas and remedied the problem by watching Charlie Kaufman films. Full Review

Kyle Smith
November 10, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

With its musings on free will and God, the story may not be original, but caring about its hero is automatic for the audience. That's more than most movies can say.

Jack Mathews
November 10, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

It has a nifty premise and outstanding performances from Ferrell, as the protagonist-in-progress, and Emma Thompson, as his blocked creator. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
November 10, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Stranger Than Fiction might be film, but it moves like a novel: a literate, unhurried tale marked by softly wrought reflections on the self-made life. Full Review

Rick Groen
November 10, 2006
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

So, in lieu of the usual cookie-cutter movie, we at least get the cookie itself, a nice-light treat. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Professor Jules Hilbert: Aren't you glad you're not a golem?
    • Harold Crick: Yes. I am glad I'm not a golem.
    • Karen 'Kay' Eiffel: If only he knew that by wednesday he will die.
    • Harold Crick: What? Did you who said that?
    • ER Orderly: Are you suffering from something?
    • Karen 'Kay' Eiffel: Just writer's block.
    • Penny Escher: And I supposed you smoked all these cigarettes.
    • Karen 'Kay' Eiffel: [beat] No, they came pre-smoked.
    • Penny Escher: [deadpan] They said you were funny...
    • Harold Crick: Thank you for forcing me to eat them.
    • Ana Pascal: Mr. Crick! You're here early. Must have a lot of people to extort.
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Stranger Than Fiction Trivia

  • in which movie does will ferrel star as harold crick?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Will Ferrell strar as a man whose life was being narrated?  Answer »
  • In Stranger Than Fiction, when Harold first starts hearing the voice over what does he think is speaking to him?  Answer »
  • in the movie Stranger Than Fiction what was Harolds (will ferrel) last name?  Answer »
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