The Box (2009): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Box is a 2009 sci-fi thriller directed by Richard Kelly, starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $33.3 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Critics gave it 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 55m (115 min)
- Director
- Richard Kelly
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $30M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Box About?
The premise of The Box without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1976, Norma and Arthur Lewis, a teacher and NASA engineer respectively, find their quiet suburban life disrupted by a disturbing offer. A stranger presents them with a box containing a button that promises a million dollars, but warns that pressing it will result in the death of another person somewhere in the world. As the couple struggles with the moral implications of such a deal, they must confront a rapidly approaching deadline and uncover the unsettling truth behind the mysterious box and its unforeseen consequences.
The Box Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- moral dilemma
- missing toe
- nosebleed
- alien
- library
- supernatural power
- santa claus character
- cia central intelligence agency
- child in jeopardy
- husband murders his wife
- marriage
- box
+38 more Show fewer
- 24 hours
- decision
- letter
- mysterious stranger
- gift
- death
- consequence
- virginia
- teacher
- million dollars
- key
- december
- briefcase full of money
- suitcase full of money
- boy
- suburb
- kiss
- reference to johnny carson
- television set
- national security agency
- murder by gunshot
- violence
- snowplow
- champagne
- startled
- viking probes
- tuxedo
- arthur c clarke's third law
- dancing
- theatrical play
- hundred dollar bill
- corvette
- rain
- brushing teeth
- back from the dead
- newspaper headline
- newspaper clipping
- sacrifice
The Box Cast
Cameron Diaz leads the cast, with James Marsden and Frank Langella. Directed by Richard Kelly.
- Director Richard Kelly
The Box Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Box 47 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.
-
IMDb 5.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 47 Metascore
User score 5.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB
The Box Plot Summary
What happens in The Box from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with a mysterious CIA memo detailing the recovery of a man named Arlington Steward, who has endured severe burn injuries and is now involved in the Mars project.
Set in 1976, we meet Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur Lewis (James Marsden), who are seen enjoying the comfort of their bed before the early morning doorbell disrupts their peace. After seeing a black car speeding away from their home, Norma opens the door to discover a package containing a mysterious wooden box. Within it, she finds a glass dome-covered button accompanied by a note stating that Mr. Steward would arrive at 5:00 PM. The couple shares a pleasant breakfast with their son, Walter (Sam Oz Stone), blissfully unaware of the profound choices about to confront them.
Full summary
The whole story of The Box, scene by scene
The Box Box Office & Budget
The Box grossed $33.3 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $15.1 million came from the US and Canada and $18.3 million (55%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$33.3M
1.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $15.1M
- International
- $18.3M
- Budget
- $30M
The Box Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 teasers.
- Teaser The Box Spot 3
- Teaser The Box Spot 4
- Teaser The Box Spot 5
How Well Do You Know The Box?
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 is the central moral choice presented to Norma in 'The Box'?
Cars in The Box
28 cars on screen, including the 1970 Buick Electra 225 and the 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3.
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1970 Buick Electra 225 Important role -
1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C3 Important role -
1970 Ford Bronco Important role -
1966 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
The Box Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “La caja mortal” and “Laegas”.
- Also known as
-
- La caja mortal
- Laegas
- La caja
- The Box - Du bist das Experiment
- Посылка
- Nebezpečný návrh
- Kutu
- Presente de Morte
- The Box (La caja)
- 魔盒
- The Box. Pułapka
- A doboz
+17 more Show fewer
- Box
- Το Κουτί
- הקופסה
- Cutia
- 더 박스
- A Caixa
- La boîte
- Посилка
- Кутията
- 運命のボタン
- Kaste
- 百萬殺人實驗
- 100萬連鎖兇殺
- Chiếc Hộp Bí Ẩn
- La caixa (The Box)
- กล่องเศรษฐี!! เปิดรวยเปิดตาย
- Kutija
Seen The Box?
Movies Like The Box
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Black Box, The Box and The Box - 2003.
The Box FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Box, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Box?
The Box runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
When was The Box released?
The Box was released on November 6, 2009.
Who directed The Box?
The Box was directed by Richard Kelly.
More films by Richard Kelly Who is in the cast of The Box?
The Box stars Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella.
How much did The Box make at the box office?
The Box grossed $33.3 million worldwide ($15.1 million domestic, $18.3 million international) on a budget of $30 million.
How is The Box rated?
The Box has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 47 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.
Does The Box have a post-credit scene?
No. The Box has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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