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The Ten (2007) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Ten (2007) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 96 min · English
JustWatch #11,199 2
Starring
Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder

A comedic reimagining of the classic biblical epic "The Ten Commandments," this film celebrates the movie’s 95th anniversary. It pays homage to the original while delivering laugh-out-loud moments and offering a fresh, entertaining perspective on the timeless story. Expect a humorous take on familiar characters and events.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Ten
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Ten (2007)

Where can you watch The Ten? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Ten: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Ten (2007) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Ten intriguing narratives intertwine in this unique film, with each tale drawing inspiration from one of the Ten Commandments. The stories traverse a vast range of themes and emotions.

In one segment, we meet a hapless man, Adam Brody, who inadvertently becomes a hero after a startling incident involving him parachuting from a plane. Then, we are introduced to a librarian, played by Gretchen Mol, who embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery during an adventurous escapade in Mexico with a charming local, portrayed by Justin Theroux.

Another compelling narrative features a rather unconventional doctor, Ken Marino, who shockingly engages in the dark humor of killing his patients, all for a laugh. Following that, we see a police detective, Liev Schreiber, whose obsession with his neighbor's advanced Cat Scan machine leads to unexpected complications in his professional and personal life.

Amidst these tales is a devoted mother, represented by Kerri Kenney-Silver, who, in a bid to provide a father figure for her children, hires an impersonator of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, played by Oliver Platt.

In a more unconventional story, a prisoner, portrayed by Rob Corddry, finds himself caught in a bizarre love triangle, yearning for his fellow inmate's "wife." The story becomes even more whimsical with a heartwarming tale about a woman, Winona Ryder, who falls head over heels for a ventriloquist’s puppet, leading to a series of humorous and poignant events.

Adding a layer of humor, we hear from a Rhinoceros, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin, who learns valuable lessons about the perils of gossip. Meanwhile, a husband, acted by A. D. Miles, decides to break away from his usual routine of attending church, opting instead for a more liberating experience with his friends while enjoying the smooth sounds of Roberta Flack.

At the center of this anthology is Paul Rudd as Jeff Reigert, who guides the audience through these interconnected stories while grappling with his own moral crisis. He faces a heart-wrenching dilemma, as he must choose between his stunning wife, played by Famke Janssen, and his alluring mistress, portrayed by Jessica Alba. The film artfully weaves together these narratives, prompting viewers to reflect on the moral implications behind every decision.

Last updated: December 31, 2024 at 18:09

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Plot questions answered

The Ten Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Ten (2007): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

How do the ten stories in the film connect to each other?

The ten separate stories are linked by Paul Rudd's character Jeff Reigert, who serves as the host/guide presenting each tale. Each story is loosely inspired by one of the Ten Commandments, and while they are distinct vignettes, they are unified through Reigert's narration and the recurring theme of moral choices. The stories don't have direct causal connections with each other but instead平行展开,exploring different aspects of morality and human behavior.

Foreshadowing: The film's framing suggests from the start that these stories are meant to illustrate different commandments, creating a thematic throughline.

  • anthology
  • ten commandments
  • paul rudd
  • interconnected stories
  • framework
Q2

Does Jeff Reigert choose his wife or mistress?

The film does not explicitly resolve Jeff Reigert's dilemma between his wife (Famke Janssen) and his mistress (Jessica Alba). The summary describes his moral crisis but leaves the outcome ambiguous, reflecting the film's structure as an exploration of the Ten Commandments rather than a story with a clear moral resolution.

  • jeff reigert
  • paul rudd
  • wife
  • mistress
  • ending
  • resolution
  • moral dilemma
Q3

Why does the doctor in the film kill his patients?

The doctor character (Ken Marino) kills his patients 'as a goof' - a darkly comedic premise that satirizes both medical ethics and gallows humor. His actions represent the film's absurdist approach to the commandments, in this case exploring themes around murder (Thou shalt not kill) through deliberately shocking comedy rather than serious drama.

  • doctor
  • ken marino
  • patients
  • killing
  • dark humor
  • satire
Q4

Why does Winona Ryder's character steal the ventriloquist puppet?

Winona Ryder's character falls in love with the puppet itself, seeing it as a source of affection and companionship that she's missing in her real life. Her decision to steal it represents her quest for connection, however misplaced, and triggers the chaotic events that follow. This story explores themes around theft (Thou shalt not steal) and the human need for love.

  • winona ryder
  • puppet
  • ventriloquist
  • theft
  • love
  • stealing
Q5

What happens to the man who falls from the plane?

Adam Brody's character survives his fall from the plane and becomes an accidental hero. Despite the bizarre circumstances of his descent, others begin viewing him as a figure of inspiration and bravery. This story appears to connect to the commandment about bearing false witness, as he becomes revered for something that wasn't his intention.

Foreshadowing: The miraculous survival itself sets up the misunderstanding that elevates him to hero status.

  • adam brody
  • plane
  • hero
  • survival
  • fall
Q6

Why does the mother hire an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator for her children?

The mother (Kerri Kenney-Silver) hires an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator (Oliver Platt) to provide a father figure for her children. This unconventional solution leads to comedic situations as the impersonator attempts to navigate real parenting challenges, serving as a humorous take on the commandment about honoring one's father and mother.

  • arnold schwarzenegger
  • impersonator
  • mother
  • children
  • father figure
  • oliver platt
Q7

What happens to the prisoner who becomes infatuated with his fellow inmate's wife?

Rob Corddry's prisoner character develops an obsession with his fellow inmate's 'wife' while in prison. This infatuation highlights the emotional struggles and psychological strain that arise in incarceration settings, complicating his relationships and adding emotional depth to this particular vignette.

  • rob corddry
  • prisoner
  • prison
  • inmate
  • wife
  • obsession
Q8

What happens to the librarian in Mexico?

The librarian (Gretchen Mol) travels to Mexico where she experiences a sexual awakening with a local man (Justin Theroux). This encounter represents a significant turning point in her life, as she explores desires and sensations she had previously suppressed, marking a transformative journey of self-discovery.

  • gretchen mol
  • librarian
  • mexico
  • justin theroux
  • sexual awakening
  • journey
Q9

What is the rhinoceros subplot about?

A rhinoceros voiced by H. Jon Benjamin learns about the social dangers and implications of gossip within his community. This animated segment serves as a humorous moral tale about trust and the consequences of spreading rumors, connecting to the commandment about bearing false witness.

  • rhinoceros
  • h. jon benjamin
  • gossip
  • rumors
  • animated
  • lesson
Q10

Why does the husband skip church with his family?

The husband (A.D. Miles) chooses to skip church and instead spends the day裸体享受音乐,与朋友们自由放纵。这his decision represents他对自由的渴望和对社会规范的逃避,与关于守安息日的诫命形成幽默对比。

  • husband
  • church
  • skip
  • family
  • nudity
  • music
  • roberta flack
  • freedom
Q11

Why does the detective become obsessed with the neighbor's Cat Scan machine?

Liev Schreiber's detective character becomes consumed with envy over his neighbor's advanced Cat Scan machine. His obsession leads to unethical decisions that affect both his professional and personal life, exploring themes of coveting (Thou shalt not covet) and professional jealousy.

  • liev schreiber
  • detective
  • cat scan
  • machine
  • obsession
  • jealousy
  • coveting

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Ten, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Ten tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Satirical Anthology Comedies like The Ten

Absurd, loosely connected stories that playfully mock serious subjects. A collection of movies like The Ten that use an anthology format for satirical comedy. If you enjoyed the irreverent, interconnected sketches in The Ten, you'll find similar playful mockery and absurd storytelling in these films.

  • satirical
  • anthology
  • interconnected
  • absurd
  • playful
  • quirky
  • Tone: whimsical, irreverent, satirical
  • Pacing: variable, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are built from distinct vignettes or sketches that share a common thematic thread. Instead of a single plot, the journey is guided by the variety of satirical targets and the cleverness of the connections between stories.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared structure of short-form satire and their consistently whimsical, irreverent tone. They use humor to dissect topics without becoming heavy, offering a playful and intellectually stimulating comedic experience.

Playful Morality Tales like The Ten

Humorous stories that explore ethical dilemmas with a light, absurdist touch. Discover movies similar to The Ten that humorously explore themes of morality and rules. If you liked the comedic take on the Ten Commandments, you'll enjoy these other films that find the fun in ethical dilemmas and human folly.

  • morality
  • quirky
  • lighthearted
  • satirical
  • whimsical
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, playful, quirky
  • Pacing: variable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories often revolve around characters confronting a set of rules, social norms, or ethical codes, with the conflict arising from their humorous failures or absurd interpretations. The narrative structure can vary, but the core is a comedic exploration of right and wrong.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies that share a central theme of morality, but present it through a lens of whimsy and satire rather than drama. They are united by a light emotional weight and a commitment to making the audience laugh while they ponder.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Ten

Similar movies to The Ten: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The Ten (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Ten in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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