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The Box

2009Movie1 h 55 minPG-13

45
MediocreGoodWatch score

A nerve-racking, gripping thriller movie about the mind and everyday modern life.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

You are the experiment.

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

Feels like

  • Psychological Thriller
  • Moral Dilemma
  • Supernatural Mystery
  • Dystopian Elements
  • Tension & Suspense
  • Technological Intrigue
  • Philosophical Themes
  • Bleak Atmosphere

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Richard Kelly
Written by
Richard Kelly

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 29, 2009 · 1 h 55 min · PG-13

Released
October 29, 2009
Runtime
1 h 55 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Thriller, Science Fiction
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$30 million
Box office
$33 million
Available in
22 countries

Tropes

Alien Fair Folk, Gender Flip, Fantastic Aesop +9

  • Alien Fair Folk
  • Gender Flip
  • Fantastic Aesop
  • Humanity on Trial
  • Aliens Are Bastards
  • Karma Houdini
  • String Theory
  • Unconfessed Unemployment
  • "Friends" Rent Control
  • Here We Go Again!
  • Throwing Off the Disability
  • Red Right Hand

12 of 29 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Box?"

Questions about The Box

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Box?

In the United States, The Box streams on Howdy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 6 other countries.

Is The Box worth watching?

45
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 45 (IMDb 5.6, Rotten Tomatoes 42%, and Metacritic 47).

Is The Box okay for kids?

PG-13ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Can I half-watch The Box?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for complexity and 8 for philosophical.

Will I feel good after watching The Box?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

What tropes does The Box use?

Alien Fair FolkGender FlipFantastic AesopHumanity on TrialAliens Are BastardsKarma HoudiniString TheoryUnconfessed Unemployment"Friends" Rent ControlHere We Go Again!Throwing Off the DisabilityRed Right Handand 17 more

TV Tropes lists 29 tropes for it, including Alien Fair Folk, Gender Flip, and Fantastic Aesop.