The game you couldn’t put down. The story you couldn’t make up.|Mar. 15, 2023|United Kingdom|117 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;History
Description: The 2023 biographical thriller *Tetris* is directed by Jon S. Baird and written by Noah Pink, featuring a cast that includes Taron Egerton, Roger Allam, and Toby Jones. The film had its global premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 15, 2023, and was subsequently released on Apple TV+ on March 31, 2023.
The movie explores the creation of the iconic game Tetris, focusing on the intense legal battles over its ownership during the Cold War. Taron Egerton portrays Henk Rogers, the game’s publisher, in a narrative that draws comparisons to the tone of *The Social Network*.
Production began in Glasgow, Scotland, in December 2020, with additional scenes filmed at various locations, including the University of Aberdeen’s Zoology Building and Seamount Court. Reshoots occurred in 2022, with the film slated for release later that year.
Critical reception has been generally positive, with an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 92 reviews. Critics describe it as an enjoyable and lively retelling of the story behind the 8-bit classic, though it may not match the game’s addictive pace. On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 59 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews.
Henk Rogers, a key figure in the Tetris story, revealed that he and Alexey Pajitnov, the game’s creator, reviewed the script and offered input during its development. However, Rogers emphasized that the final product remains a Hollywood adaptation, crafted for cinematic storytelling.
Cast director: Jon S. Baird
Cast actor: Taron Egerton, Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, Ben Miles, Ken Yamamura, Igor Grabuzov, Oleg Shtefanko, Ayane Nagabuchi, Rick Yune
Original name: Tetris