If you loved
Geri's Game
Jan Pinkava · Film · 1997
What hooked you in Geri's Game was the clever way that solitary internal conflict manifests as a high-stakes, playful, and deeply human rivalry.
Books on the same thread
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin · Book · 2022
Much like the creative tension found in Geri's Game, this story explores how the complex, competitive relationship between two partners shapes their shared reality and artistic growth over many years.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
If you enjoyed the crotchety charm of the protagonist in Geri's Game, you will appreciate how this story centers on a stubborn, aging man forced to engage with an unexpected world.
Little Critter
Mercer Mayer · Book · 1975
The playful, observational quality of Geri's Game finds a parallel in these everyday adventures, capturing the same sense of gentle mischief and family-centric discovery that defines Geri's quiet park afternoon.
Big Nate Strikes Again
Lincoln Peirce · Book · 2015
The competitive spark that drives Geri's Game is mirrored in this story, where school-aged rivals must navigate the frustrating yet formative experience of being forced to work toward a common goal.
Series on the same thread
Scissor Seven
Xiaofeng He · Series · 2018
The absurdity of Geri's Game is echoed here as a protagonist struggles to reclaim his identity, turning the mundane into a bizarre and high-stakes battle against his own fractured history.
Teasing Master Takagi-san
Series · 2018
The specific satisfaction of turning the tables in Geri's Game is central to this dynamic, where two neighbors engage in an ongoing, lighthearted battle of wits to gain the upper hand.
Yuri!!! on Ice
Series · 2016
The mentor-mentee dynamic here mirrors the duality of Geri's Game, showing how an aging individual finds a renewed sense of purpose through a challenging, competitive relationship with a younger, sharper counterpart.
Slam Dunk
Series · 1993
Like the determined spirit in Geri's Game, the protagonist here channels his restless energy into a specific pursuit, learning how to overcome his own limitations through intense, focused personal growth.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
The focus on the internal experience of aging and professional identity in Geri's Game is reflected here as the host navigates the boundaries between performance and his own search for connection.
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Just as Geri's Game involves meticulously unpacking a board to understand a past move, this investigative work requires a similar obsession with retracing steps to uncover the truth of a mystery.
Keep exploring
Common questions
How long is Geri's Game?
Geri's Game is a short film that depicts a daylong chess match. While the narrative covers an entire day in the park, the actual runtime of the 1997 movie by Jan Pinkava is approximately five minutes.
Is Geri's Game about a man playing chess against himself?
Yes, Geri's Game focuses on an aging codger named Geri who plays a chess match in the park against himself. The story follows his struggle as he begins losing to his livelier opponent before eventually managing to turn the tables.
Who directed Geri's Game?
Geri's Game was directed by Jan Pinkava. Released in 1997, the film features an aging man playing a daylong game of chess against his own reflection or persona, ultimately resulting in a clever reversal of the game's outcome.
What happens at the end of Geri's Game?
At the end of Geri's Game, the protagonist manages to turn the tables on his opponent. Although Geri appears to be losing the daylong chess match for much of the duration, he successfully recovers just as the game is nearly over.