Tetris (2023) | agoodmovietowatch

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Tetris 7.6 2023 Movie

Tetris

Dir. Jon S. Baird · United Kingdom, United States of America · English, Hungarian

A playful thriller about the surprisingly political origins of a beloved video game

Our take by Renee Cuisia

Who knew that behind the puzzle Tetris lies a political thriller of a backstory that is just as fun and challenging as the game itself? Tetris, the film, is a playful telling of the game behind the game, a surprising account of the otherwise unbelievable events that had to happen in making Tetris available to the masses. 

Between the 8-bit editing, the immensely likable lead, and the cat-and-mouse chase between heroes and villains, there is much to like about the movie. You put it on out of curiosity (how the hell does a brick game have this much back story?) but you stay for the intrigue, the playfulness, and the irresistible urge to see who wins the race.

What happens

In 1988, American video game salesman Henk Rogers discovers the video game Tetris. When he sets out to bring the game to the world, he enters a dangerous web of lies and corruption behind the Iron Curtain.

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"No, not all the pieces fit together, and it certainly doesn’t speed up as the game winds on (something it might have done well to emulate from the game itself), but it’s got players worth rooting for and a story that keeps leveling up."

— Kate Erbland

"Picture “Tetris” as a lo-fi version of John Le Carré’s “The Russia House.”"

— Peter Debruge

Awards

BAFTA

1 nom

Nominated: Best Director Fiction

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About the author

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.