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The Box

"All you have to do is push the button."

2009-10-29 Thriller 1hr 55m

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

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The Box
Amazon Video

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Storyline

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

  • Released
    2009-10-29
  • Revenue
    $33,333,531
  • Budget
    $30,000,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 55m
  • Genre
    Thriller, Science Fiction
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    5.6
  • Production
    MRC, Radar Pictures, Darko Entertainment, Lin Pictures

Crew

Richard Kelly
Director
Richard Kelly
Screenplay
Sean McKittrick
Producer

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Cast

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz

Norma Lewis
James Marsden

James Marsden

Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella

Frank Langella

Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn

James Rebhorn

Norm Cahill
Holmes Osborne

Holmes Osborne

Dick Burns
Sam Oz Stone

Sam Oz Stone

Walter Lewis
Celia Weston

Celia Weston

Lana Burns
Lisa K. Wyatt

Lisa K. Wyatt

Rhonda Martin
Mark S. Cartier

Mark S. Cartier

Martin Teague
Kevin Robertson

Kevin Robertson

Wendell Matheson
Michele Durrett

Michele Durrett

Rebecca Matheson
Ian Kahn

Ian Kahn

Vick Brenner
Ryan Woodle

Ryan Woodle

Jeffrey Carnes
Basil Hoffman

Basil Hoffman

Don Poates
Robert Harvey

Robert Harvey

NASA Executive
Gentry Lee

Gentry Lee

Chief Engineer
Frank Ridley

Frank Ridley

Detective Starrs
Daniel Stewart Sherman

Daniel Stewart Sherman

Police Officer #1
Matthew C. Flynn

Matthew C. Flynn

Police Officer #2
Patrick Canty

Patrick Canty

Police Officer #3
Mary Klug

Mary Klug

Female Neighbor
Allyssa Brooke

Allyssa Brooke

Suzanne Weller
Cheryl McMahon

Cheryl McMahon

Female 911 Operator
Evelina Turen

Evelina Turen

Deborah Burns
Bill Buell

Bill Buell

Dr. Earl Stupe
Paul Marini

Paul Marini

Santa Claus
Rick L'Heureux

Rick L'Heureux

Chase Employee
Nick Cairis

Nick Cairis

Chase Employee
Robert Denton

Robert Denton

Chase Employee
Paul Locke

Paul Locke

Chase Employee
Danny DeMiller

Danny DeMiller

Chase Employee
Jenna Lamia

Jenna Lamia

Diane Carnes (voice)
Winstead Barnes

Winstead Barnes

NASA Executive (uncredited)
Greg Berney

Greg Berney

Drama Class Kid (uncredited)
Jodie Brunelle

Jodie Brunelle

911 Operator (uncredited)
Danny Carney

Danny Carney

Soldier (uncredited)
Danny Connelly

Danny Connelly

Library Employee (uncredited)
William Conrad

William Conrad

Self (voice) (uncredited)
John Curie

John Curie

Nosey Neighbor's Grandson (uncredited)
John E. Daniel

John E. Daniel

Reporter (uncredited)
Paige Flannery

Paige Flannery

Student (uncredited)
Keith Fluker

Keith Fluker

Military Officer (uncredited)
Steve Flynn

Steve Flynn

Guest at Wedding Reception (uncredited)
John Franchi

John Franchi

Lurker (uncredited)
Jay Gates

Jay Gates

Reporter (uncredited)
Patrick Mel Hayes

Patrick Mel Hayes

Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Benjamin Healy

Benjamin Healy

Bartender (uncredited)
Mark Hetherington

Mark Hetherington

Homeless Library Patron (uncredited)
Steven Howitt

Steven Howitt

NASA Scientist (uncredited)
Jessica Knight

Jessica Knight

NASA Employee (uncredited)
Jon  Korzeniowski

Jon Korzeniowski

State Trooper (uncredited)
Sal Lizard

Sal Lizard

Santa Claus (uncredited)
Tina Mann

Tina Mann

NASA Scientist (uncredited)
CJ McBath

CJ McBath

Photographer (uncredited)
Alex Milne

Alex Milne

Child at Bus Stop (uncredited)
Jason Mulcahy

Jason Mulcahy

Edgy & Hip Family Guest (uncredited)
Roxanne Nichols

Roxanne Nichols

Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Ed O'Keefe

Ed O'Keefe

Norma's Abductor (uncredited)
Richard Pacheco

Richard Pacheco

Joel Reidy (uncredited)
Greg Paul

Greg Paul

NASA Engineer (uncredited)
Dan Perrault

Dan Perrault

The Valet (uncredited)
Drew Rose

Drew Rose

Groomsman (uncredited)
Mustafa Speaks

Mustafa Speaks

Employee (uncredited)
Vyvian B. Stevens

Vyvian B. Stevens

Brainwashed Follower (uncredited)
Franz Strassmann

Franz Strassmann

Wedding Guest (uncredited)
David Struffolino

David Struffolino

NASA Rocket Scientist (uncredited)
Marc Vos

Marc Vos

Banquet Waiter (uncredited)
Jamie Christopher White

Jamie Christopher White

Hotel Follower (uncredited)
Deborah Rush

Deborah Rush

Clymene Steward

Videos and Photos

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Box
reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 6

Written by John Chard on 2015-05-31

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite mo... read more

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite movie. Marmite is a food substance that people either love or hate, The Box is a Marmite movie. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden star as a couple who are visited by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella) who has a bizarre offer. The Box now in the couple's possession has a button (Langella's mysterious Arlington Steward informs them it's called the Button Unit), they are told that if they push the button then a complete stranger will die, they will then receive a life changing amount of money. What to do?. Based on a Richard Matheson short story titled "Button, Button", The Box is an ethereal mind meld of a piece. Morals and ethics are married up to a whole bunch of twists and other worldly ideas, which goes some way to explaining that where once there was a more than adequate half hour "Twilight Zone" episode (Profile in Silver/Button, Button 1986), there is now a near two hour movie crammed to the brim. It's this that hurts an otherwise stylishly produced and potentially thoughtful picture. After the raves and craves for his "Donnie Darko (2001)", Richard Kelly appeared to believe the press praise, that here was a new surreal director on the block. Where "M. Night Shyamalan" had success with the twist gimmick and couldn't let it go until his career went in the swamp, so to Kelly who kept straining to make movies that were needlessly over complex, trying to be smart when it isn't needed ("Southland Tales (2006)" is a car wreck of a movie). The Box does have intelligence and lots of good ideas, but a two hour film it does not make, with the attempts at weaving all the threads together proving to be too problematic come the finale. Incredulity a most appropriate word, plausibility is not. The Box, an intriguing - attractive - failure, but some do and will love it. If you haven't seen it then roll the dice and good luck. 6/10 Footnote: We have yet to actually get an adaptation to screen that contains Matheson's original literary ending!

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by John Chard

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite movie. Marmite is a food substance that people either love or hate, The Box is a Marmite movie. Ca...

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 6

Written by John Chard on 2015-05-31

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite movie. Marmite is a food substance that people either love or ...

read more