The Ninth Gate
Directed by Roman PolanskiA rare book dealer finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to find the last two copies of a text, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, capable of summoning the Devil.
- ZokkiieMay 1, 2026The atmosphere completely makes this movie. Dusty old bookstores, creepy castles, rare books, rainy streets — it feels like you’re stuck inside some strange late-night mystery the whole time. Johnny Depp is perfect here too. He plays the role so casually that it makes all the weirdness around him feel oddly believable. It’s definitely a slow movie though, so it won’t be for everyone. It drags in parts and never fully sticks the ending, but it’s still weirdly hypnotic and easy to get lost in if you’re into this kind of atmosphere.
- Patrick WaiJanuary 22, 2026The Ninth Gate (1999) is an intriguingly moody mix of mystery, occult obsession, magic, and the occasional tasteful murder. It’s one of those films that actually improves on repeat viewings, when you start catching the sly details and quiet weirdness Polanski sprinkles in between Johnny Depp looking permanently unimpressed. It’s easily one of Polanski’s stronger late-career efforts, though he famously refuses to connect all the dots. The ending doesn’t hand you answers so much as slide a cryptic smile across the table and walk away, leaving you to argue with yourself about what really happened — which, honestly, feels entirely on brand.
- รҡ૨אρƭเ∂November 5, 2025I was surprisingly satisfied with this film. I'm a fan of the 90s era style of thriller and this held up. Great pace and writing. Johnny delivers with classic "Deppth" in this much prefered non-action role performance more typical of his earlier work. Leaves you wanting more without being obnoxiously abrupt. 7.7/10 🍿
- NiztradamusAugust 21, 2025Great movie similar to the DaVinci Code but more adult themed. The ending is a huge let down though. I wish there was a sequel that explored it further. The suspense and intrigue is real in this one. If you don't mind a slightly open end and appreciate an ending that lets your imagine run wild, this one is a definitive watch.
- Gianni CavuotoJuly 16, 2025What a great performance from Johnny Depp. He is 100% convincing and totally outshines the role witten for him. Polanski does a great job after a few years hiatus from behind the camera. If you are looking for a thriller with a large heaping of the occult this who's who of European actors will fit the bill. After you have watched it wait a week and watch it agian and again and pick up on all the little things you missed the first time around. This is a movie that has flown under the radar of American viewers and should be considered a Johnny Depp classic.
- Scott SmithMarch 12, 2025It's been many years since I saw this last, and it holds up pretty well. Depp plays an atheist book nerd who is charged with finding a rare book that was supposedly written by the devil. Once he tracks down the book, all sorts of strange things begin happening...and the movie does get strange! I'm not a fan of Roman Polanski movies in general, but I do like "Rosemary's Baby" and this one best. Depp is great in it. Worth watching for horror or occult fans.
The Ninth Gate Trivia
The Ninth Gate was released on August 25, 1999.
The Ninth Gate was directed by Roman Polanski.
The Ninth Gate has a runtime of 2h 13m.
The Ninth Gate was produced by Roman Polanski.
A rare book dealer finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to find the last two copies of a text, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, capable of summoning the Devil.
The key characters in The Ninth Gate are Dean Corso (Johnny Depp), Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), Liana Telfer (Lena Olin).
The Ninth Gate is rated R.
The Ninth Gate is a Mystery, Thriller, Horror film.
The Ninth Gate has an audience rating of 5.8 out of 10.
The Ninth Gate had a budget of $38M.
The Ninth Gate has made $58.4M at the box office.