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Biographical thriller

Tetris (2023): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Tetris (2023) movie poster

Tetris is a 2023 biographical thriller directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Toby Jones and Roger Allam. It runs 2 hours and was made on a reported $80 million budget. Critics gave it 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
81%
Echo Score
77
Metascore
61
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Tetris (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h (120 min)
Director
Jon S. Baird
Genres
Biography , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$80M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Tetris About?

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

In the 1980s, video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers discovers Tetris and embarks on a journey to bring the addictive puzzle game to a global audience. Partnering with its creator, Alexey Pazhitnov, he navigates the complexities of Cold War politics and a cutthroat business landscape. Rogers faces numerous challenges and risks everything to secure the rights and launch Tetris as a worldwide phenomenon, encountering double-crossers and seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way.

Tetris Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • japan
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • cold war
  • friendship
  • american in japan
  • based on video game
  • based on true story
  • based on real people
  • tetris
  • reference to tetris
  • game
+38 more
  • job
  • work
  • legal
  • apple tv
  • year 1979
  • year 1984
  • computer
  • puzzle
  • engineer
  • designer
  • corruption
  • arrogant attitude
  • girl wears a school uniform
  • contract
  • lada
  • volga automobile
  • husband wife relationship
  • japanese schoolgirl
  • 10 year old girl
  • father daughter relationship
  • school performance
  • central committee
  • lenin's mausoleum
  • red square
  • miiltary parade
  • translator
  • kgb spy
  • surveillance
  • father son relationship
  • entitlement
  • copyright
  • copyright infringement
  • contract negotiation
  • male star appears in underwear
  • stolen pants
  • discotheque
  • end credits character update
  • photos of actual person in credit
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Cast & crew

Tetris Cast & Characters

Taron Egerton leads the cast as Henk Rogers, with Toby Jones as Robert Stein and Roger Allam as Robert Maxwell. Directed by Jon S. Baird; 12 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Tetris Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Tetris 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (68).

77 /100

Tetris Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Tetris delivers an entertaining biopic experience bolstered by vivid production design and energetic performances, yet its narrative structure feels uneven. Critics note haphazard pacing and occasional clutter, while many viewers appreciate the period reconstruction and visual flair. The soundtrack and occasional nostalgic touches enhance the sensory appeal, and the film holds enough charm to merit repeat viewings despite its tonal swings.

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

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film succeeds in recreating 1990s Moscow and employs a colorful visual palette that many reviewers found engaging. However, several critics pointed to rushed editing and a final act that collapses under contrived action, indicating inconsistency in direction and pacing. The mixed feedback yields a modestly positive assessment of the overall craftsmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When evaluating character and emotion, the performances stand out as a clear strength. Both critics and users highlighted Taron Egerton’s charismatic lead and consistently strong supporting work, describing the acting as superb and emotionally resonant. Few criticisms were raised about character depth, resulting in a high score that reflects the film’s effective cast dynamics.

  • Story & Flow 68

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative demonstrates both engaging moments and notable lapses. Reviewers praised the lively premise and occasional clever twists, yet many noted a convoluted plot, excessive gimmicks, and pacing issues that caused confusion. The balance of praise for entertainment against criticism for coherence leads to a moderately positive rating.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    The sensory experience receives strong commendation. Critics and viewers alike mentioned the film’s vivid color scheme, period‑accurate set pieces, and a soundtrack that echoes the iconic Tetris theme. These elements create a cohesive visual and auditory identity, although occasional technical distractions were noted, resulting in a solidly positive sensory score.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    Rewatch factor is buoyed by the film’s nostalgic appeal and entertaining performances, prompting many viewers to recommend it. While some find the legal‑heavy sections taxing, the overall charm and lively pacing encourage repeat viewings. The consensus suggests a lasting appeal that is sufficient to merit additional watches.

Plot

Tetris Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Tetris from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1988, Henk Rogers, portrayed by Taron Egerton, is at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, promoting his latest video game from Bullet-Proof Software. However, his attention shifts when he discovers the game Tetris, developed by Russian coder Alexey Pajitnov who is employed at ELORG in the Soviet Union. Henk learns that Robert Stein, played by Toby Jones from Andromeda Software, has secured the worldwide licensing rights to Tetris from ELORG. This deal was brokered with media magnate Robert Maxwell and his son, CEO Kevin Maxwell, both positioned to proliferate Tetris through game royalties.

Full summary

The whole story of Tetris, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Tetris Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 featurettes.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette The Story Behind Tetris
  • Featurette The Real People Behind Tetris
  • Featurette 2023 SXSW Film & TV Red Carpet + Q&A
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Tetris?

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

Who is the entrepreneur that became captivated by Tetris?

Cars

Cars in Tetris

27 cars on screen, including the 1993 GAZ 3102 Volga and the 1964 GAZ M-21 Volga.

All 27 cars
  • 1993 GAZ 3102 Volga in Tetris 1993 GAZ 3102 Volga Important role
  • 1964 GAZ M-21 Volga in Tetris 1964 GAZ M-21 Volga Important role
  • 1977 VAZ 21011 Zhiguli in Tetris 1977 VAZ 21011 Zhiguli Important role
  • KamAZ 53212 in Tetris KamAZ 53212 Minor role
Details

Tetris Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “Тетрис” and “俄羅斯方塊:版權爭戰”.

Also known as
  • Тетрис
  • 俄羅斯方塊:版權爭戰
  • טטריס
  • 테트리스
  • Тетріс
  • Տետրիս
  • '테트리스' - Tetris
  • 俄罗斯方块
  • 俄羅斯方塊:版權之戰
  • 俄羅斯方塊:版權爭戰
  • テトリス
  • تتریس
+1 more
  • टेट्रिस

Seen Tetris?

FAQ

Tetris FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Tetris, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Tetris?

Tetris runs 2 hours (120 minutes).

When was Tetris released?

Tetris was released on March 24, 2023.

Who directed Tetris?

Tetris was directed by Jon S. Baird.

More films by Jon S. Baird

Who is in the cast of Tetris?

Tetris stars Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers, Toby Jones as Robert Stein and Roger Allam as Robert Maxwell, among 12 credited actors.

What was the budget of Tetris?

Tetris had a reported budget of $80 million.

How is Tetris rated?

Tetris has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.

Does Tetris have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Tetris has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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