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Action thriller

Escape Room (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Escape Room (2019) movie poster

Escape Room is a 2019 action thriller directed by Adam Robitel, starring Taylor Russell as Zoey Davis, Cornelius Geaney Jr. and Jay Ellis. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $155.7 million worldwide on a $9 million budget. Critics gave it 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
51%
worldwide gross
$155.7M
Echo Score
58
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Escape Room (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
Adam Robitel
Genres
Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$9M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Escape Room About?

The premise of Escape Room without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Six strangers are lured with the chance to win a substantial amount of money by participating in what they believe is the ultimate escape room experience. However, they quickly realize they're trapped in a deadly, intricately designed series of rooms where survival depends on solving dangerous puzzles. As they work against the clock, they must confront their pasts and rely on each other to escape the increasingly perilous challenges and uncover the dark truth behind the game.

Escape Room Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • escape room
  • puzzle
  • teamwork
  • clue
  • code
  • box
  • evil corporation
  • reference to fahrenheit 451
  • chicago illinois
  • trapped under ice
  • parka
  • compass
+38 more
  • mysterious box
  • glass of water
  • fire
  • key
  • fishing rod
  • cigarette lighter
  • billiards
  • survivor
  • oxygen mask
  • falling through ice
  • quantum zeno effect
  • screwdriver
  • reference to rudolph the red nosed reindeer
  • sliding puzzle
  • reference to one direction
  • eight ball
  • pool table
  • smashing a surveillence camera
  • defibrillator
  • singing in a car
  • flashback
  • falling from height
  • drowning
  • telephone
  • snowing
  • snow
  • magnet
  • poison
  • reference to m. c. escher
  • waking up from a nightmare
  • puzzle box
  • confiscating a phone
  • crawling through an air shaft
  • flask
  • christmas carol
  • climbing a tree
  • electrocardiogram
  • survival
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Cast & crew

Escape Room Cast & Characters

Taylor Russell leads the cast as Zoey Davis, with Cornelius Geaney Jr. as College Professor and Jay Ellis as Jason Walker. Directed by Adam Robitel; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Escape Room

· 10 more
From the director

More from Adam Robitel

More films directed by Adam Robitel, best-rated first: Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, Insidious: The Last Key and The Taking of Deborah Logan.

Full filmography
Ratings

Escape Room Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Escape Room 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

58 /100

Escape Room Echo Score Breakdown

The film delivers a visually inventive thriller but struggles with coherence and emotional depth. Many reviews praise the imaginative set pieces and brisk pacing while criticizing the thin character work and a puzzling ending that undermines narrative satisfaction. The balance of creative production design and uneven storytelling results in a mixed reception, with viewers divided on whether the visual thrills outweigh the structural shortcomings. Ultimately, Escape Room offers engaging moments but falls short of a fully satisfying thriller experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Escape Room excels in production design with intricately constructed environments that captivate early on. Reviews frequently commend the spatially inventive rooms and well-executed set pieces for their imaginative visuals. Direction and cinematography are generally praised for their ability to sustain tension, despite occasional unevenness in later sequences. Overall, the film’s design work stands out as its most consistent strength.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film delivers mixed results. Some reviews acknowledge the performances as energetic, but many note a lack of depth and emotional connection that undercuts viewer investment. Chemistry between leads is viewed as forced or minimal, contributing to the thin portrayal of stakes. Ultimately, character development feels underexplored, limiting dramatic impact.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, Escape Room presents an intriguing premise with moments of brisk pacing and inventive mystery. Many reviews appreciate the initial engagement but criticize uneven narrative progression and a perplexing conclusion that undermines coherence. Plot originality is offset by predictable twists and occasional absurdity. On balance, the film’s storyline offers intermittent thrills but lacks consistent narrative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    For sensory experience, reviewers highlight the film’s polished visual style and effective sound design in puzzle sequences. The soundtrack and audio cues are noted for heightening suspense, though they rarely break new ground. Some criticism points to a lack of atmospheric variety beyond the room settings. Overall, the sensory elements consistently support tension, even if they remain conventional within the genre.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s memorable set pieces and tense moments offer some appeal for subsequent viewings. However, the uneven narrative structure and thin character development reduce lasting engagement. The reliance on familiar genre patterns and a divisive ending further limit replay value. Overall, viewers may revisit specific sequences but are unlikely to find sustained enjoyment across multiple viewings.

Plot

Escape Room Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Escape Room 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 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Six individuals from diverse backgrounds find themselves presented with a mysterious puzzle cube. Among them is Zoey (played by Taylor Russell), a dedicated physics student, whose professor, Cornelius Geaney Jr., urges her to express herself more confidently. Jason (portrayed by Jay Ellis) is a wealthy day trader known for delivering substantial returns for his clients, aided by his assistant Charlie, played by Russell Crous. Ben (played by Logan Miller), a struggling stock-boy, pleads with his boss Gary (depicted by Bart Fouche) for more hours, only to be turned down. Joining them is Mike (played by Tyler Labine), a truck driver, Amanda (portrayed by Deborah Ann Woll), a courageous Iraq War veteran, and Danny (played by Nik Dodani), an escape room aficionado with an impressive record of having completed 93 rooms.

Full summary

The whole story of Escape Room, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Escape Room Box Office & Budget

Escape Room grossed $155.7 million worldwide on a $9 million budget, 17 times what it cost. $57 million came from the US and Canada and $98.7 million (63%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$155.7M

17× its budget

US & Canada
$57M
International
$98.7M
Budget
$9M
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Videos

Escape Room Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Escape Room.

Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Escape Room?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What theory does Zoey's professor discuss at the beginning of the movie?

Cars

Cars in Escape Room

13 cars on screen, including the 2006 Dodge Charger and the Ducati Monster 797.

All 13 cars
  • 2006 Dodge Charger in Escape Room 2006 Dodge Charger Minor role
  • Ducati Monster 797 in Escape Room Ducati Monster 797 Minor role
  • 1991 Ford Explorer in Escape Room 1991 Ford Explorer Minor role
  • unknown in Escape Room unknown Background role
Details

Escape Room Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Sala de Fuga” and “Soba za bijeg”.

Also known as
  • Sala de Fuga
  • Soba za bijeg
  • Põgenemistuba
  • Escape Room: Maut Ka Khel
  • Pabegimo kambarys
  • Soba za bekstvo
  • Úniková hra
  • 密弑遊戲
  • Jumboqlar xonasi
  • Căn Phòng Tử Thần
  • 密室逃生
  • 密室逃殺
+21 more
  • Клаустрофобы
  • Escape Game
  • Смертельний лабіринт
  • Végtelen útvesztő
  • Escape Room: Играй или умри
  • 이스케이프 룸
  • אסקייפ רום
  • Scapă, dacă poți!
  • غرفة الهروب
  • กักห้อง เกมโหด
  • Escape Room: Sin Salida
  • Соба за бекство, კლაუსტროფობია
  • Ölümcül Labirent
  • 密弒遊戲
  • Jeu d'évasion
  • Pabėgimo kambarys
  • Izlaušanās spēle
  • اتاق فرار
  • Soba pobega
  • エスケープ・ルーム
  • एस्केप रूम

Seen Escape Room?

FAQ

Escape Room FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Escape Room, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Escape Room?

Escape Room runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Escape Room released?

Escape Room was released on January 4, 2019.

Who directed Escape Room?

Escape Room was directed by Adam Robitel.

More films by Adam Robitel

Who is in the cast of Escape Room?

Escape Room stars Taylor Russell as Zoey Davis, Cornelius Geaney Jr. as College Professor and Jay Ellis as Jason Walker, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Escape Room make at the box office?

Escape Room grossed $155.7 million worldwide ($57 million domestic, $98.7 million international) on a budget of $9 million.

How is Escape Room rated?

Escape Room has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.

Does Escape Room have a post-credit scene?

No. Escape Room has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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