Synopsis

Walter Sparrow becomes consumed by a mysterious novel called The Number 23, whose violent story appears to mirror his own life. As similarities between the book and his past multiply, Walter investigates its author and the novel's disturbing origins, while his growing obsession threatens his family, his sanity, and his ability to distinguish coincidence from fate.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film opened in the United States on February 23, 2007, deliberately matching its title's number.

• It reunited Jim Carrey with Joel Schumacher after their earlier collaboration on Batman Forever (1995).

• The story draws on the so-called 23 enigma, the belief that the number appears with unusual frequency in important or catastrophic events. This idea was notably associated with writer William S. Burroughs.

• Carrey's production company was named JC 23 Entertainment, a detail that added to the film's numerological publicity.

• Principal photography took place in California, including Pasadena, Monrovia, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California, with additional filming in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

• The dog used in the cemetery sequences was monitored under the American Humane Society's No Animals Were Harmed program. The number of takes for the high-energy scenes was limited to protect the animal's welfare.

• Made on an estimated $30 million budget, the film earned approximately $77.6 million worldwide despite receiving generally negative critical reviews.

• The DVD edition was structured with exactly 23 chapters, extending the film's central motif into its home-video release.