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Cell

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for Cell R 2016 1h 38m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
11% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 17% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A graphic novelist (John Cusack) begins a desperate search for his estranged wife (Clark Sarullo) and son (Ethan Andrew Casto) after a mysterious cellphone signal transforms New Englanders into savage killers.
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Cell

Cell

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Critics Consensus

Shoddily crafted and devoid of suspense, Cell squanders a capable cast and Stephen King's once-prescient source material on a bland rehash of zombie cliches.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve Greene IndieWire 01/01/2017
C-
This is the undead equivalent of fast food. Some might find comfort in all these known quantities. Those looking for anything of substance would do better to wait for an upgrade. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 10/10/2016
1/5
A deeply silly horror movie. Go to Full Review
Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 08/28/2016
2/5
The slapdash quality to the plotting is matched by the inept film-making - the dialogue is frequently inaudible, the night scenes murkily lit. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 04/11/2022
0.5/4
The film's lifelessness and sloppiness represent an all-time-low for King adaptations, which is saying something. Go to Full Review
Victoria Luxford City AM 02/18/2022
1/5
Cheap production values underline the suspicion that this started out as an earnest attempt to adapt the book, and devolved into a mediocre zombie film in a world overrun with mediocre zombie films. Go to Full Review
Jason Adams My New Plaid Pants 07/06/2021
It feels like they had one day too few too shoot it, one dollar too little, one hot cappuccino two degrees too cold delivered to John Cusack's trailer just a minute too late to put him in the right mood on the first day of shooting Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Darren F Nov 28 I wanted to like this movie. Steven King, John Cusack, Sam Jackson. It had all the right players. But the premise was pretty weak and the movie didn’t draw me in. I guess it could have been worse…..but I’m not sure how? It’s only worth watching if you can’t find anything else streaming for free See more Stephen C @bob25009 Nov 23 Success in 01 hour, 38 minutes. and 03 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Disturbing Violent Content, Brief Sexuality, Language and Terror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Todor Y @Phantom961 Nov 4 The movie was just okay overall. The CGI effects were quite disappointing and looked unrealistic. However, the acting was somewhat good and made the story a bit more engaging. It wasn’t a terrible film, but it didn’t really stand out either. If you don’t pay much attention to special effects, you might still enjoy it. Overall, it’s an average movie that could have been better with improved visuals and stronger performances. See more Tom C Jul 27 I was so looking forward to this movie coming out. Other than the movies name it has nothing to do with the book. Worst adaption since World War Z. Even as a stand alone movie it was on par with Plan 9 from outspace. Half star because even Samual L Jackson & John Cusack can have a bad day. See more Hughe J @Hughe Jul 16 Cell had a limited theatrical release but was also released on streaming in 2016. It somehow stars John Cusack and Samuel Jackson in what may be the worst Stephen King movie adaption ever. The movie is based on the 2006 novel where a mysterious pulse is sent across all cell phones that turns anyone that hears it into a vicious mindless killer. As someone who at the time was reading every King novel I thought Cell was average at best. I watched this on streaming and laughed all the way through it. The acting was terrible, the special effects were worse, but the plot stayed true to the book for the most part so there's that. This is just hysterically bad and should never be watched by anyone, ever. See more Dacat C Jul 13 The start was decent, but the rest of the movie was horrible. The ending was the worst I ever seen recently, not even giving the viewers the satisfaction of a realistic actions and decisions. Like all the other critics, no suspense or even good horror. See more Read all reviews
Cell

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis A graphic novelist (John Cusack) begins a desperate search for his estranged wife (Clark Sarullo) and son (Ethan Andrew Casto) after a mysterious cellphone signal transforms New Englanders into savage killers.
Director
Tod Williams
Producer
Richard Saperstein, Michael Benaroya, Brian Witten, Shara Kay
Screenwriter
Stephen King, Adam Alleca
Distributor
Saban Films
Production Co
Benaroya Pictures, Genre Company
Rating
R (Disturbing Violent Content|Brief Sexuality|Language|Terror)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 8, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2016
Runtime
1h 38m
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