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      The Box

      2009, Horror/Sci-fi, 1h 53m

      156 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Imaginative but often preposterous, The Box features some thrills but largely feels too piecemeal. Read critic reviews

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      Movie Info

      A suburban couple, Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden), face a moral dilemma when they receive a gift that bears irrevocable consequences. With the press of a button, their simple wooden box will bestow $1 million; however, a stranger somewhere else will die, at the same time. The box will be theirs for only 24 hours, and as time ticks away, Norma and Arthur confront the depth of their humanity as they consider their choices.

      • Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Disturbing Images|Thematic Elements)

      • Genre: Horror, Sci-fi, Mystery & thriller

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Richard Kelly

      • Producer: Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly, Dan Lin

      • Writer: Richard Kelly

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $15.0M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Warner Bros.

      • Production Co: Darko Entertainment

      Cast & Crew

      Cameron Diaz
      James Marsden
      Frank Langella
      James Rebhorn
      Sam Oz Stone
      Celia Weston
      Deborah Rush
      Lisa K. Wyatt
      Mark Cartier
      Kevin Robertson
      Michele Durett
      Ian Kahn
      Ryan Woodle
      Frank Ridley
      Richard Kelly
      Dan Lin
      Sue Baden-Powell
      Terry Dougas
      Ted Field
      Edward H. Hamm Jr.
      Win Butler
      Régine Chassagne
      Owen Pallett
      Steven Poster
      Sam Bauer
      Alec Hammond
      April Ferry

      News & Interviews for The Box

      Critic Reviews for The Box

      Audience Reviews for The Box

      • Nov 17, 2019

        Richard Kelly has been an interesting filmmaker who has sadly vanished after this film. Critically Kelly has struggled since Donnie Darko and it's a shame. He has unique storytelling style and The Box failures to wrap up the film is an example of what can go wrong with his films. Was it clashing with producers? Who knows, but something was clearly missing here. Diaz feels like a miscast and the incorrect choice for the lead, she obviously helped with the financing of this film. The film is trippy enough to warrant a viewing, there is an almost dream like style to the filmmaking. This film deserved more attention from the filmmakers, it clearly needed added depth. The large budget pushed this into the mainstream market and that is why the film underdelivered. I hope Kelly returns, but he needs to stick to the indie market. 15/11/2019

        brendan n Super Reviewer
      • Oct 08, 2015

        Normally when a film has many bad reviews I get interested since the film is likely very good or very bad. Surprisingly, The Box is only an average film. It is not reminiscent of Donnie Darko since it is not at all stylized. The Box watches like a Twilight Zone episode made into a two hour movie. If you enjoy generally creepy / weird shows and are OK with them not delivering an explanation (e.g. Lost) then you will probably enjoy The Box.

        Super Reviewer
      • Oct 30, 2014

        The Box is a nebulous psychological thriller from writer/director Richard Kelly. Based on a Richard Matheson short story, a young couple is presented with an offer to receive $1 million if they push a button, but as a result someone will die. Starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella, the casting is pretty good. But the script is a convoluted mess. It teases out some fascinating mysteries, but they devolve into inexplicable nonsense. Still, Kelly is able to create an atmospheric mood and builds the suspense incredibly well. Yet ultimately, The Box is a poorly executed film that loses its sense of mystery by getting caught up in minutia.

        Super Reviewer
      • Mar 09, 2012

        The Box is not meant to scare you at all, but its meant to creep you out with its good atmosphere and fine performances from its three leads, but the plot could confuse you and it might bore you because of the lack of scares. But once again, this is not a horror movie, its a suspense/thriller movie! I found it not great, but good, and the ending is tragic and very creepy.

        Super Reviewer

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