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The Circle

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for The Circle PG-13 2017 1h 50m Mystery & Thriller Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
16% Tomatometer 147 Reviews 21% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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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The Circle

The Circle

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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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Critics Reviews

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Ben Sachs Chicago Reader 04/09/2020
Director James Ponsoldt (who adapted the book with Eggers) barely develops any character besides Watson's, piling on narrative complications instead. Go to Full Review
Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 05/12/2018
D
Bland performances from talented actors, and boring direction from a very talented director, and awful editing... Go to Full Review
Paul Byrnes The Age (Australia) 08/23/2017
3.5/5
An idea in a Hollywood thriller is almost an accident now, so The Circle deserves praise for thoughtfulness. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 17
3/5
The new pseudo-dystopian thriller “The Circle” incites the over-obvious social media and data-mining fears of our present surveillance society of sharing and shines them up into a shiny and engrossing yarn of mainstream entertainment. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
2/5
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. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 04/04/2022
2/4
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Nov 29 The Circle proves to be a surprisingly engaging film, managing to capture attention despite a number of narrative flaws. While there are moments that feel confusing or uneven, the story generally keeps viewers invested through its central tension and unfolding mystery. Its ability to balance suspense with character-driven development makes it more compelling than one might initially expect. One of the film’s strongest elements is its casting. The ensemble brings both star power and depth, creating an effective dynamic between the younger and older characters. Their interactions feel organic and often entertaining, allowing the audience to connect with the characters’ motivations and emotional stakes. This chemistry is a highlight that elevates the film above its occasional structural weaknesses. The screenplay, while not flawless, provides enough intrigue and movement to sustain interest. There are moments of back-and-forth pacing that keep the story lively, even if some plot points feel underdeveloped or disjointed. The narrative teases ideas that could have been expanded, yet it still delivers enough engagement to make viewers curious about how events will unfold. Direction plays a key role in maintaining this balance. The filmmaker demonstrates an understanding of tension and timing, capitalizing on key moments to heighten drama and intrigue. Visual composition and scene construction generally support the story’s themes, creating an immersive environment that allows the audience to focus on both character and plot. Despite its strengths, the film is not without its flaws. Certain sequences can be disorienting, and the pacing occasionally drags in places, which may leave viewers momentarily disengaged. However, these shortcomings do not overwhelm the experience, as the strong performances and thoughtful direction continue to anchor the story effectively. The Circle is worth a viewing for audiences interested in character-driven thrillers with contemporary relevance. While it may not reach perfection, it delivers enough intrigue, strong performances, and moments of genuine engagement to justify checking it out. For those curious about the interplay of power, technology, and human behavior, it offers an entertaining and thought-provoking ride. See more alyssa b Aug 27 Love for Tom Hanks aside…this movie was a disgrace and injustice to the book. It takes the ole cliché of “the book was better than the movie” to a whole new level by NOT BEING THE SAME STORY LINES WHATSOEVER. Sure, it’s difficult to fit a 500 page book into a movie, but the amount of story building, world building, erasure of complete characters, plots, the haunting and chilling decline of the main character……just poof! Gone. And this movie is supposed to be a representation of all of that? I’ve never seen such a cheap adaption of a book in my life. They could’ve just changed the title and names of the characters, because those are the only remnants of what is a deeply unnerving, thoughtfully crafted, novel. Please read the book. See more S S Aug 23 One of the most disgracefully lazy films I've ever seen. They couldn't even come up with an actual cohesive plot or an ending for that matter. The characters were so under developed however that not knowing what happens to anyone or why doesn't really matter because NO ONE CARES. See more Bethany N Aug 12 A haphazard slopfest. I was praying the end could possibly redeem the slog. Sadly, I was just as disappointed by her ending choice as I was by wasting two hours watching this movie. See more Bat T Jul 30 I completely agree with most other opinions of this movie, it's trash of the highest order. Having said that, I found myself enjoying it purely because of the amount of time I spent venting my anger at my telly box. There's so much hypocrisy and double standards in the story it's ridiculous and I guess plot holes aplenty. My feelings about the movie? Watch it if you want to be angry and feel almost like ripping your brain out (after chucking your TV out the window). See more Dr. Susanne M Jul 20 There is no warranty for automatically becoming a good actress after being a cute little girl. Also, the plot is a logical desaster with no message besides "technology: baaad!" See more Read all reviews
The Circle

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Gary Goetzman, Anthony Bregman, James Ponsoldt
Screenwriter
James Ponsoldt, Dave Eggers
Distributor
STX Entertainment
Production Co
Likely Story, Playtone, Route One Entertainment
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
Runtime
1h 50m
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