The Circle

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2:26

The Circle

PG-13

Released Apr 28, 2017

1h 50m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

15%

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146 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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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Louis S

I didn’t realise how unpopular this movie was! It’s a masterpiece Emma Watson’s acting is spot on and the overall message is perfect!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

Full Review

Cork B

The acting is ok. The premise, while interesting, has been done better with a lot of other big tech gone wrong films. But holy crap the character motivations are SOOO stupid... Hanks is the baddy that wants to spy on everyone and does so by announcing it (maybe this isn't SO blantently stupid in 2024... like how Idiocracy was a spoof until it wasn't). If you are gonna be evil, and least tell everyone you WON'T be evil. It works alot better that way. Boyega is the reluctant founder who hates what his work has become so he... uh, sulks at parties and hides in tunnels and makes the WORST character decisions... probably should have stuck to coding. Gillan is kinda a pointless side show about... something... working too much? Which has nothing to do with the plotline other than 'big company evil'. And Watson... ah Watson... the naive new employee that totally goes along with every 1984 thing the company wants to do until the last 15 minutes of the movie. Yikes.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

Dan B

I liked it. It was different and a "could happen someday" feel to it. One never knows in the day and age of no privacy that we already have.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

Full Review

Marlene A

That's the first piece of stinky I've seen with Tom Hanks in it. I so regret the time I've spent watching this idiotic movie. It tries to make some point, but it doesn't, and the acting is not the best either. I wish I had seen the reviews before I wasted my time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Olivia B

Like others have said, impressive cast lineup and you can tell they had potential for a great movie. Good theme and general concept but the acting was lackluster and it seemed a bit rushed, not enough build time for emotional investment. Bummer.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

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David H

This is a movie that gives you the feeling that it should have been much better than it is

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

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

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The Circle: Trailer 1

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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, 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
Runtime: 1h 50m

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