Code 8 (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Code 8 is a 2019 action thriller directed by Jeff Chan, starring Robbie Amell as Connor Reed, Kari Matchett and Stephen Amell. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $157,209 worldwide on a $15 million budget. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Stream it on Hoopla and Netflix, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Jeff Chan
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Vertical Entertainment
- Budget
- $15M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Code 8 About?
The premise of Code 8 without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In a society that marginalizes people with extraordinary abilities, a significant portion of the population struggles to survive in poverty. Connor Reed, facing a personal crisis due to his mother's illness, is drawn into a criminal network by Garrett. He becomes entangled with Marcus Sutcliffe, a powerful and merciless drug lord, navigating a perilous underworld where survival depends on desperate measures.
Code 8 Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- superpower
- heist
- murder
- robot
- police
- drone
- ill mother
- hospital
- drug
- healing power
- criminal
- robbery
+38 more Show fewer
- police robot
- police drone
- mother son relationship
- sick mother
- money problems
- work
- trespassing
- betrayal
- discrimination
- cemetery
- prison
- poverty
- non comic book superhero
- based on short film
- violence
- male protagonist
- criminal as protagonist
- gun
- gun violence
- life of crime
- telekinesis
- money
- working mother
- construction worker
- f word
- electronic music score
- alternate history
- urban setting
- urban decay
- social decay
- protest
- riot
- fictional city
- lens flare
- slow motion scene
- neo noir
- scene during opening credits
- chase
Where to Watch Code 8
Stream it on Hoopla and Netflix, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 3
Code 8 Cast & Characters
Robbie Amell leads the cast as Connor Reed, with Kari Matchett as Mary Reed and Stephen Amell as Garrett. Directed by Jeff Chan; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jeff Chan
-
Robbie Amell as Connor Reed - Kari Matchett as Mary Reed
- Stephen Amell as Garrett
-
Greg Bryk
Also Starring in Code 8
· 11 more- Kyla Kane
- Laysla De Oliveira Maddy
- Peter Outerbridge Wesley Cumbo
- Martin Roach Captain Milltown
- Shaun Benson Dixon
- Aaron Abrams Davis
- Sung Kang Park
- Alex Mallari Jr. Kingston
- Natalie Lisinska
- JaNae Armogan
- Karissa Strain
Code 8 Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Code 8 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 51/100, strongest in art & craft (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
Code 8 Echo Score Breakdown
In this film, the strongest attribute is its ambitious world-building despite uneven execution across other dimensions. Reviews highlight a credible visual presentation and concise editing that establish the dystopian premise, though budget constraints result in occasional crude effects. Character portrayals offer competent performances but lack depth, and the narrative’s basic plot and pacing sometimes undermine engagement. Sensory elements benefit from realistic design but are hampered by limited production resources. Overall, the film presents intriguing ideas but delivers a moderately uneven cinematic experience.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of art and craft, the film benefits from grounded cinematography and efficient editing that support its small-scale setting. The production design creates a believable urban environment, while succinct cuts maintain narrative momentum. However, limited resources lead to occasional rough visual effects and a lack of stylistic flair. Consequently, the visual execution feels competent but constrained by budgetary limitations.
- Character & Emotion 50
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are uniformly competent but seldom deeply affecting. Protagonist portrayals convey credible struggle, yet supporting roles often lack nuance or chemistry. Emotional stakes are established through the premise, but limited character development results in uneven engagement. As a result, viewers may recognize clear motivations but find few truly resonant or memorable portrayals.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, the narrative is anchored by an interesting central premise but relies on familiar genre conventions. Plot progression occasionally feels formulaic, with generic heists and predictable twists. Pacing fluctuates between concise exposition and sluggish action sequences, which can hinder engagement. Despite the compelling backdrop, the story’s basic structure and limited originality temper its overall impact.
- Sensory Experience 55
When considering sensory experience, the film offers an immersive ambient soundscape paired with a restrained musical score that underscores the gritty setting. Sound design effectively conveys tension during action scenes, though subtlety sometimes muffles key effects. Visually, the color palette remains muted and cohesive but lacks striking stylistic moments. The overall sensory presentation feels deliberate yet occasionally underpowered.
- Rewatch Factor 45
In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s thought-provoking premise may invite renewed viewings for audience members interested in its social themes. However, the straightforward plot and limited surprises offer little incentive to revisit beyond initial curiosity. The concise runtime and coherent setup provide clear structure, but the modest emotional depth and familiar narrative arc reduce long-term appeal. Overall rewatch value remains moderate.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 85% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 62%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 48 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
12 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Code 8 Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Code 8 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a dystopian future, a city has emerged where individuals with special abilities, known as “Powers,” initially thrive but soon find themselves marginalized as the Third Industrial Revolution unfolds. As crime syndicates like The Trust exploit the situation by distributing an addictive substance called Psyke, derived from the spinal fluid of trafficked Powers, the government reacts by mandating the registration of all Powers. This leads to the deployment of robotic enforcers, known as Guardians, to monitor and arrest unregistered individuals, while an ongoing citywide ban on Powers looms in the background.
Full summary
The whole story of Code 8, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Code 8 Box Office & Budget
Code 8 grossed $157,209 worldwide on a $15 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$157.2K
- International
- $157.2K
- Budget
- $15M
Code 8 Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Teaser Official Teaser
- Clip Psyke Raid
- Featurette Indiegogo Campaign Video
How Well Do You Know Code 8?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What are individuals with extraordinary abilities in 'Code 8' commonly referred to as?
Cars in Code 8
31 cars on screen, including the 2007 Chevrolet Express and the 1997 Buick Century.
-
2007 Chevrolet Express Main role -
1997 Buick Century Important role -
2003 Chevrolet Silverado Important role -
2013 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Important role
Code 8 Also Known As
27 alternative titles, including “8号警报” and “Codigo 8”.
- Also known as
-
- 8号警报
- Codigo 8
- Renegados
- Código 8
- Κωδικός 8, code-8
- Săn Lùng Dị Nhân
- Code 8: Renegados
- Код 8
- Kod 8
- Kód 8
- A nyolcas kód
- CODE 8/コード・エイト
+15 more Show fewer
- 8級警戒
- La Khon Khot Phalang
- 八号警报
- Code 8 - Teil 1
- קוד 8
- Код бр. 8
- 코드 8
- Codul 8
- ล่าคนโคตรพลัง
- Aštuntasis kodas, კოდი 8
- كود 8
- Astotais kods
- CODE8/コード・エイト
- Kȏd 8
- Codi 8
Seen Code 8?
Movies Like Code 8
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Code 8: Part II, Section Eight and Runaway.
Code 8 FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Code 8, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Code 8?
Code 8 runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Code 8 released?
Code 8 was released on December 6, 2019.
Who directed Code 8?
Code 8 was directed by Jeff Chan.
More films by Jeff Chan Who is in the cast of Code 8?
Code 8 stars Robbie Amell as Connor Reed, Kari Matchett as Mary Reed and Stephen Amell as Garrett, among 15 credited actors.
Where can I watch Code 8?
In the US, Code 8 is streaming on Hoopla and Netflix and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Code 8 make at the box office?
Code 8 grossed $157,209 worldwide on a budget of $15 million.
How is Code 8 rated?
Code 8 has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Does Code 8 have a post-credit scene?
No. Code 8 has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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