Insert Coin

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2:16

Insert Coin

Released Nov 25, 2020

1h 41m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Video game studio Midway Games pioneers the concept of live-action gaming, kick-starting a new arcade boom and grossing billions of dollars in the process.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Insert Coin doesn't tell gamers anything they didn't already know, and non-gamers won't care - so unless you're a hardcore fan, maybe just save your quarters.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 12, 2020

Full Review

Charles Hartford

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Insert Coin delivers what feels like a well-rounded look at one of the titans of the video game industry in the 90s.

Jan 16, 2023

Full Review

Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

Director Joshua Tsui-a former Midway designer himself-walks us through success story after success story, while never forgetting to clue us into the creative process that was at play at Midway.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 28, 2020

Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson

Films Gone Wild

You can't, as the saying goes, "buy that for a dollar" any more. But Insert Coin offers a glowing look back to the time when you could at least buy one blood-splattered fight for a quarter.

Dec 24, 2020

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Bill Arceneaux

Moviegoing with Bill

Heartening and enlightening. A joyful act of creation, exploration, and treasure hunting.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 7, 2020

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Charles Solomon

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's interesting, but not terribly deep or warm and fuzzy.

Nov 26, 2020

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Jason P

Director Joshua has a tone and a love for the guys he is interviewing and the story he is telling. And this film held may attention from the get-go because there is nothing more fascinating than hearing the story of how these games got made. It's every endearing. We get to see the creation of games like Defender and Smash TV, before striking gold with groundbreaking arcade versions of Terminator 2, NBA Jam and the smash hit franchise Mortal Kombat. We also get to hear from the likes of Paul W.S Anderson, the director of the Mortal Kombat movie, and his reasons for getting involved in the process. We even get a whole section on the Aerosmith starring often lamented Revolution X, I absolutely recommend you guys give Insert Coin a shot if your the slightest bit interested in arcades or gaming in general. It's very open and honest in they way they describe the times.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

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Audience Member

Loved it! Definitely a must watch if you played video games in the 90s.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Joshua Y. Tsui

Director

Joshua Tsui

Director

Eugene Jarvis

Self

Andrew Hayward

Writer

Anthony Burkert

Executive Producer

Jarrett Haedrich

Executive Producer

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Insert Coin: Trailer 1

2:16

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Synopsis

Video game studio Midway Games pioneers the concept of live-action gaming, kick-starting a new arcade boom and grossing billions of dollars in the process.

Director: Joshua Y. Tsui, Joshua Tsui
Screenwriter: Andrew Hayward
Distributor: Cargo Film & Releasing
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 25, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2020
Runtime: 1h 41m

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