Skip to content
MovieCove
Playing God

Playing God

Joining this deadly underworld was easy. But getting out... deadly!

199794 minRMidcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Director
Andy Wilson
Starring
David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie, Michael Massee

Stripped of his medical license after performing an operation while high on amphetamines, famed LA surgeon Dr Eugene Sands abandons his former life only to find himself crossing paths with Raymond Blossom, an infamous counterfeiter. Employed as a "gun-shot doctor" when Raymond's associates cannot risk visiting a hospital, Eugene is lured deep into the criminal world and becomes entangled with his boss's girlfriend.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Playing God?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Playing God streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

New

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Playing God?

Playing God earns 4 badges, led by Before they were famous and Box Office Flop.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Playing God worth watching?

Playing God's Midcredits score is the 28th percentile of all films, from 11K ratings across 4 sources. 32% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

28th percentile

Better received than 28% of films

27th percentile among Crime31st percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)32nd
Approval (how many liked it)26th

56 /100

32nd percentile of all films

30th percentile among Crime34th percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.7 — solid but not unanimous.

32% liked it

26th percentile of all films

25th percentile among Crime27th percentile among 1990s
32% rated it 7–1068% rated it 1–6

Critics 16% · Audience 33%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 1 noms overall

84th percentile

11K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Crime78th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 27% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$12M
Opening weekend$1.9M
Domestic gross$4.2M
Worldwide gross$4.2M

Returned 0.3× its budget — 67th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The film has a good original concept that is let down by uneven execution and a cast that does its best with the material.

Fans praised

  • strong cast chemistry among leads
  • sharp dialogue with quotable one-liners
  • entertaining premise of doctor-turned-criminal

Detractors panned

  • flat lead performance from Duchovny
  • convoluted script with clichéd twists
  • cheesy visual transitions and voice-over narration

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive60

fresh concept underminded by execution

ActingDivisive55

polarized views on Duchovny's range; Hutton praised by both camps for his villain

DialogueDivisive55

quotable moments but also groan-inducing one-liners

AtmosphereDivisive55

noir style partially works but sometimes feels forced

PacingDivisive48

starts well then drags before hurried ending

Plot and storyDivisive45

premise strong but script becomes muddled and predictable

TensionDivisive42

stakes never feel high enough for protagonist

CharactersDivisive38

underwritten roles, especially for Jolie and supporting gang

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Playing God like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you want something serious and affecting.

It leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholicBittersweet
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Hardboiled · 1% of films: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its crime thriller material straight, with a tough, moody atmosphere.
The rideThe film likely sustains a tense, uneasy atmosphere as Eugene navigates the criminal world, with emotional weight concentrated in the middle acts.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional beginning-middle-end order, following Eugene's descent and confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer with unease about moral compromise and a wistful sense of lost potential.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA disgraced surgeon is drawn into the criminal underworld to work for a counterfeiter, whose tyranny he must ultimately overcome.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 6% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of filmsPurpose · 9% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Eugene's search to reclaim his worth and find a new direction after losing his medical license, driven by his entanglement in a criminal world that both threatens and tempts him.
StanceThe film questions whether a fallen man can reclaim his integrity when circumstances push him into morally compromised roles.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Richard Hartley
SettingLos Angeles crime scene, involving a disgraced surgeon and counterfeiters
MusicA restrained orchestral score likely underscores the moody, tense atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Playing God okay for kids?

R

Playing God is rated R: “Rated R for strong graphic violence, gore, pervasive language and some drug use” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (90/100), sexual content at mild (27/100), language at severe (100/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • South Korea19
  • Czechia12+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Severe
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (28 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Playing God have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Playing God?

Cast

David Duchovny
as Dr. Eugene Sands
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Timothy Hutton
as Raymond Blossom
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Angelina Jolie
as Claire
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Michael Massee
as Gage
Stacey Travis
as Nurse
Bob Jennings
as Dr. Clifford
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Peter Stormare
as Vladimir
John Hawkes
as Flick
newcomer then · star now
Tracey Walter
as Jim
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Andrew Tiernan
as Cyril
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Playing God?

Movies like Playing God include The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008), Wanted (2009) and Sugar Hill (1994). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films about medicine, and half are films about redemption.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its story type: gangster. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Playing God?

1.4K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: doctor. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.