The Square

R

Released Oct 27, 2017

2 hr. 22 min.

Comedy

List

85%

219 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Disaster strikes when a curator hires a public relations team to build some buzz for his renowned Swedish museum.

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Premiered Mar 20

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Critics Consensus

The Square finds writer-director Ruben Östlund as ambitious as ever -- and delivering an unforgettably unusual work whose challenging themes pay thought-provoking dividends.

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KB B

This movie was a huge jumbled mess with no continuity. It's touted as a comedy thriller but I didn't laugh at all and was not thrilled even once One question remains; how did this get such high reviews by the "experts"? Don't bother with this one.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

MÃ¡tÃ© J

Main topic seems to be the same as for Triangle of Sadness but in different clothes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

BJ M

This film was a groaner. Don't waste your time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Alec B

A bit long, but an effective critique of modern art culture nonetheless.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Jerod S

The acting is good, but the tone of the film is self indulgent. Art curator's life goes nuts because they run an ad of a girl getting blown up. Monkey guy at the fundraiser. Supposed to be a glimpse into society.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Peter G

A load of pretentious & unfocused film making which at nearly 2.5 hours is a real endurance test although the lead character, Christian, has some dimension & is well played. But the social commentary, well meaning as it is, ends up merely off putting due to its haphazard presentation & leaden comedic effects. Worse yet most of the characters are simply not engaging, IMO, & are stuck in this revolving Carousel of mediocrity.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/23

Full Review

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Ruben Östlund

Director

Claes Bang

Christian

Elisabeth Moss

Anne

Dominic West

Julian

Terry Notary

Oleg

Linda Anborg

Linda, Red Carpet

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The Square: Movie Clip - Monkey Performance

2:31

The Square: Movie Clip - Condom

2:35

The Square: Trailer 1

2:18

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Keith Uhlich

(All (Parentheses))

The Square foregrounds a dilemma at the core of artistic practice: as moving and influential as it can be, art too often exists in a realm separated from “real life,” cordoned off as safely “consumable” entertainment. —Guest post by Michael Joshua Rowin

Jun 10, 2022

Full Review

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Firstpost

The Square is actually the sum of its parts, rather than a seamless whole. Viewers are probably going to pick differing scenes as their favourites.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 14, 2019

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

The Hindu

A gentle critique, peopled with eccentric but likeable characters, those who have the warmth and the humanity to redeem themselves.

Jul 12, 2018

Full Review

Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

Östlund has a psychologist’s eye for human nature and the understated comedic touch of Jacques Tati. The end result is akin to virtual slapstick, the emotional equivalent of slipping on a banana peel.

Jul 24, 2023

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

The film’s execution only occasionally reaches its ideological grasp, but Östlund’s such a talented filmmaker that he can cover up the lack of follow-through in his script. That’s tough to do!

Nov 10, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sharpened by a series of corrosive comic moments and provocations, The Square lashes out with a refined blow against both indifference and empty gestures of faux-humanitarianism.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 17, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Disaster strikes when a curator hires a public relations team to build some buzz for his renowned Swedish museum.

Director: Ruben Östlund
Executive Producer: Tomas Eskilsson, Agneta Perman, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas
Screenwriter: Ruben Östlund
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Sveriges Television, Parisienne , Imperative Entertainment, ZDF Arte, Essential Films, Arte France Cinema, Plattform Produktion AB, Coproduction Office, Film i Väst
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 30, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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