Cube

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Cube

R

Released Sep 9, 1997

1h 30m

Sci-Fi

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Without remembering how they got there, several strangers awaken in a prison of cubic cells, some of them booby-trapped. There's onetime cop Quentin (Maurice Dean Wint), scientist Holloway (Nicky Guadagni), young math genius Leaven (Nicole de Boer), master of escapes Rennes (Wayne Robson), autistic savant Kazan (Andrew Miller) and architect Worth (David Hewlett), who might have more information on the maze than he lets on. The prisoners must use their combined skills if they are to escape.

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Critics Consensus

Cube sometimes struggles with where to take its intriguing premise, but gripping pace and an impressive intelligence make it hard to turn away.

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Cube is a film boxed in by its own intriguing central premise.

Apr 12, 2003

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Cube was named best Canadian debut feature at Toronto last year, and there's no questioning Natali, clearly a visionary, is an important new talent.

Feb 14, 2001

Full Review

Bob Graham

San Francisco Chronicle

If writer-director Vincenzo Natali, storyboard artist for Keanu Reeve's Johnny Mnemonic, were as comfortable with dialogue and dramatizing characters as he is with images, this first feature of his might have worked better.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

In the end, its possibility is simply too vast to ignore, but the downfalls are simply too apparent to dismiss.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 18, 2023

Full Review

Howard Gorman

NME (New Musical Express)

Vicenzo Natali's provocatively claustrophobic film really kick-started the gaming horror renaissance.

Jun 10, 2021

Full Review

Naila Scargill

Exquisite Terror

Vincenzo Natali's debut holds a beauty in purity that matches the mathematical conundrum its characters find themselves in.

Feb 28, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

Cube keeps you guessing as well as provoking your mind, while simultaneously allowing you to draw your own conclusions & come up with your own hypothesis. Everything that a thriller should have!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

Full Review

Noel L

What an insane and perplexing thriller. Now I know where the idea of Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Season 1 Episode 15 came from. They just made it more child friendly

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

Full Review

Niklas G

Cube never quite amounts to more than just an idea - but somehow still has a lot going for it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

Full Review

Emma T

I was hesitant because these types of movies usually fall flat but it kept going in interesting ways

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

Ralph R

Cube is a fascinating, low-budget sci-fi thriller that makes the most of its minimalist setup. The concept is simple but incredibly effective, a group of strangers trapped in a deadly maze of cube-shaped rooms. The movie thrives on its tension and psychological undertones, diving into how humans react under extreme pressure. It’s a smart, inventive film that doesn’t spoon-feed answers, leaving you to wrestle with its deeper themes about survival, human nature, and systems of control. While the traps and puzzles are memorable, the true focus is on the characters and how they clash as their desperation grows. That said, the film isn’t without its flaws. The constant use of tight close-ups and high focal lengths creates an almost unbearable sense of claustrophobia, but not always in a good way. At times, the cinematography feels disorienting and can pull you out of the moment. Combined with some uneven performances and occasionally stiff dialogue, these elements might not work for everyone. Still, Cube is a must-watch if you enjoy tense, thought-provoking thrillers that make you question everything by the time the credits roll. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with you, even if it leaves you a little shaken.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

Full Review

Marcus K

Great concept. Reminded me of a version of the Saw franchise.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/11/25

Full Review

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Vincenzo Natali

Director

Maurice Dean Wint

Quentin, the Cop

Nicole de Boer

Leaven, the Maths Student

Nicky Guadagni

Helen Holloway, the Doctor

David Hewlett

David Worth, the Architect

Wayne Robson

Rennes, the Fugitive

Cube: Official Clip - Razor Wire

2:03

Cube: Official Clip - The Return of Quentin

2:13

Cube: Official Clip - Sound Activated

2:04

Cube: Official Clip - No Way Out

2:10

Cube: Official Clip - Is He Dead?

1:17

Cube: Official Clip - There's Nothing Down Here

2:13

Cube: Official Clip - Moving in Circles

2:02

Cube: Official Clip - Acid Trap

2:12

Cube: Official Clip - This Room Is Green

2:01

Cube: Official Clip - Prime Numbers

2:00

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Synopsis

Without remembering how they got there, several strangers awaken in a prison of cubic cells, some of them booby-trapped. There's onetime cop Quentin (Maurice Dean Wint), scientist Holloway (Nicky Guadagni), young math genius Leaven (Nicole de Boer), master of escapes Rennes (Wayne Robson), autistic savant Kazan (Andrew Miller) and architect Worth (David Hewlett), who might have more information on the maze than he lets on. The prisoners must use their combined skills if they are to escape.

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Producer: Mehra Meh, Betty Orr
Screenwriter: André Bijelic, Vincenzo Natali, Graeme Manson
Distributor: Trimark Pictures
Production Co: The Feature Film Project, The Harold Greenberg Fund, Odeon Films, Ontario Film Development Corporation, Viacom Canada, Téléfilm Canada, Cube Libre
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $489.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Ultra-Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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