Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Cell

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for The Cell R 2000 1h 47m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
46% Tomatometer 168 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
The Cell takes a shocking, riveting mind trip into the dark and dangerous corridors of a serial killer's psyche -- a psyche that holds the key to saving the killer's final, trapped victim who remains alive. Making this journey into the recesses of a killer's nightmarish fantasy world is Catherine Deane, a psychologist who has been experimenting with a radical new therapy. Through a new transcendental science, Catherine can experience what is happening in another person's unconscious mind.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Cell

The Cell

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Cell offers disturbing, stunning eye candy, but its visual pleasures are no match for a confused storyline that undermines the movie's inventive aesthetic.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More (168)
Jake Cole Slant Magazine The film at times feels like an assembly of images that strives primarily for visceral impact, throwing cohesiveness to the wind. Jan 3, 2025 Full Review Andrew Pulver Guardian Jazzy photography and fancy design in no way compensate for a dull, suspense-free screenplay and unwise casting. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer Ultimately, the reliance on a dream world tends to reduce suspense and even narrative logic. Thus, everything is possible and nothing is necessary. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central I used to regard it as exploitation; now, it feels more like a deeply immersive Francis Bacon exhibit. Watching someone’s dreams should feel icky. Rated: 3/4 Aug 5, 2025 Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness ... even with 25 extra years’ worth of life experience that includes becoming a parent, the ambiguity of the ending in terms of whether it’s right or wrong continues to hang in the air as potent as ever. Jan 19, 2025 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Cell is a beautiful picture, which, should the viewer opt to disconnect themselves from its run-of-the-mill formula, will bring a sense of wonderment. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 5, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (1000+)
TheMovieSearch R The Cell is one of those films that surprises you—not because it’s flawless, but because it ventures into something different. Jennifer Lopez, known more for her action and dramatic roles, really steps into a creepy, psychological horror space here. While she isn’t reinventing the wheel as an actor, she carries the film with a presence and intensity that keeps you engaged. It’s weird, visually striking, and at times completely mind-bending, which is something not often seen from her performances. The screenplay, however, has its flaws. It’s uneven, with some sequences that could’ve been tightened or better structured to maintain tension. Certain elements feel overcomplicated, and at times the story’s internal logic gets a little muddled. But for horror movies, there’s always some leeway—you either get a memorable concept or something completely forgettable. Here, the film lands in the former category. Visually and thematically, the movie is bold. The director does a commendable job of blending surreal imagery with horror elements, creating a film that is unsettling in ways that stick with you. The art direction, the dreamlike sequences, and the sense of diving into a warped psyche all work in favor of the story, even if the narrative isn’t perfect. Lopez’s performance is arguably the centerpiece. She brings a credibility and tension to her character that elevates the material beyond what the script offers. She manages to make the audience invested in a story that otherwise might feel hollow. The “creepy factor” is largely her doing, and it’s impressive that she carries this weight effectively. Ultimately, The Cell lands solidly in the “good, not great” range. It’s engaging, unsettling, and visually striking, but it doesn’t quite achieve classic status. The character Lopez portrays could have been more memorable if the story gave her more substance, but her performance alone makes it worth watching. In conclusion, while The Cell isn’t perfect and may fade from memory over time, it’s a standout example of a horror film elevated by its lead actress. Jennifer Lopez gives it a surprising edge, turning a flawed script into something worth experiencing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/08/25 Full Review Larry L Everthing about this was well done. The writing the sets the costumes and the actors make this a top notch movie. It's 25 y/o but this is great moving like nothing now a days Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/31/25 Full Review Gregory S This is a pretty incredible movie. Just truly wish they would have cast someone other than J Lo. She is just not a good actress. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review K W Tarsem Singh's vision in The Cell is unparalleled. It's a truly stunning and gnarly piece of work. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review Audience Member The Cell is one of the most disturbing serial killer movies with amazing visuals and disturbing scenes. It's not a slasher film where many people get killed. It's a deep psychological serial killer horror film. More violent films are less disturbing to me. This film has a very dark atmosphere with no fun moments. Some probably won't like that or understand that. Film has very good characters and cinematography with nice emotional soundtrack. It's a unique film Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Cell

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Lost Souls 8% 22% Lost Souls Watchlist 15 Minutes 32% 37% 15 Minutes Watchlist Under Suspicion 50% 48% Under Suspicion Watchlist The Watcher 11% 28% The Watcher Watchlist The Gift 57% 55% The Gift Watchlist TRAILER for The Gift Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The Cell takes a shocking, riveting mind trip into the dark and dangerous corridors of a serial killer's psyche -- a psyche that holds the key to saving the killer's final, trapped victim who remains alive. Making this journey into the recesses of a killer's nightmarish fantasy world is Catherine Deane, a psychologist who has been experimenting with a radical new therapy. Through a new transcendental science, Catherine can experience what is happening in another person's unconscious mind.
Director
Tarsem Singh
Screenwriter
Mark Protosevich
Distributor
New Line Cinema, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Namibia Film Commission, Radical Media, New Line Cinema, Caro-McLeod, Avery Pix, Katira Productions GmbH & Co. KG
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 18, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.3M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now