The Circle

PG-13

Released Apr 28, 2017

1 hr. 50 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Sci-Fi

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List

16%

147 Reviews

Tomatometer

21%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Mae Holland (Emma Watson) seizes the opportunity of a lifetime when she lands a job with the world's most powerful technology and social media company. Encouraged by the company's founder (Tom Hanks), Mae joins a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes soon starts to affect the lives and futures of her friends, family and that of humanity.

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Premiered Nov 16

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Critics Consensus

The Circle assembles an impressive cast, but this digitally driven thriller spins aimlessly in its half-hearted exploration of timely themes.

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Michael B

Meandering, lost, disturbing NWO luciferian miasma. It reeks a foul stench.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Bob L

It came across like Orwell's 1984 rewritten for the mentally deficient. The first 10 minutes is probably more than you need to know exactly what's going to transpire. No twists, no great scenery or even a single nip slip--not a single thing to make this 8th grade project worthy of the actors in it.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

Christian S

Disappointing. Would have been much better with some simple changes. This is an example of what happens when the delivery isn't there in the end. It had promise.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Mark A

I have never seen so many good actors perform so poorly. Definitely the script and directors fault.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Sylvie C

If you're an Emma Watson fan I'd recommend this movie to you. Her acting is solid in it, and the concepts are interesting. A few elements could have been executed better, and the twist at the end was a bit obvious, sure, but this movie is better than all the one-star haters make it out to be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

Nina M

This was cringe. Script was corny and tacky. But everyone that works in companies like these are like that, fake people, no personality, just acting super nice.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

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James Ponsoldt

Director

Emma Watson

Mae Holland

Tom Hanks

Eamon Bailey

John Boyega

Ty

Karen Gillan

Annie

Ellar Coltrane

Mercer

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The Circle: Trailer 2

2:26

The Circle: Trailer 1

1:49

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Director James Ponsoldt (who adapted the book with Eggers) barely develops any character besides Watson's, piling on narrative complications instead.

Apr 9, 2020

Full Review

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Bland performances from talented actors, and boring direction from a very talented director, and awful editing...

Rated: D

May 12, 2018

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

The Age (Australia)

An idea in a Hollywood thriller is almost an accident now, so The Circle deserves praise for thoughtfulness.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 23, 2017

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Regardless of what it teases, “The Circle” doesn’t really go anywhere and that may be its biggest flaw – lots of potential, practically all of it wasted.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The film never delves into a thorough consideration of its concept; and what's more, the story lacks a narrative thrust to support its otherwise neat ideas.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 4, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The sort of movie that's convinced of its own urgency and importance, even as viewers only see something that's obvious and overbearing.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 1, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Mae Holland (Emma Watson) seizes the opportunity of a lifetime when she lands a job with the world's most powerful technology and social media company. Encouraged by the company's founder (Tom Hanks), Mae joins a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes soon starts to affect the lives and futures of her friends, family and that of humanity.

Director: James Ponsoldt
Executive Producer: Stefanie Azpiazu, Ron Schmidt, Sally Willcox, Steven Shareshian, Evan Hayes, Peter Cron, Marc Shmuger, Federica Sainte-Rose, Russell Levine
Screenwriter: James Ponsoldt, Dave Eggers
Distributor: STX Entertainment
Production Co: Likely Story, Route One Entertainment, Playtone
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|A Sexual Situation|Drug Use|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.5M

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