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Sci-fi thriller

The Circle (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Circle (2017) movie poster

The Circle is a 2017 sci-fi thriller directed by James Ponsoldt, starring Emma Watson, John Boyega and Tom Hanks. It is based on The Circle by Dave Eggers. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $40.7 million worldwide on a $18 million budget. Critics gave it 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.

IMDb rating
5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
15%
worldwide gross
$40.7M
Echo Score
38
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The Circle (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
James Ponsoldt
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$18M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Circle About?

The premise of The Circle without spoilers, adapted from The Circle by Dave Eggers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A young and ambitious woman joins the Circle, a powerful and innovative company, believing in its mission to connect the world. However, she soon discovers a disturbing agenda that jeopardizes individual privacy and global freedom. As she investigates, she must grapple with the ethical implications of technological progress and the blurring lines between innovation and intrusive surveillance, ultimately facing a profound moral dilemma.

The Circle Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • video surveillance
  • privacy
  • technology
  • screenplay adapted by author
  • kayaking
  • father daughter relationship
  • new job
  • based on novel
  • company
  • social media
  • corporation
  • falling from a bridge
+38 more
  • criminal
  • smartphone
  • miniature camera
  • female protagonist
  • surveillance
  • drone
  • husband wife relationship
  • customer service representative
  • unlawful entry
  • car accident
  • fitness tracker
  • multiple sclerosis
  • golden gate bridge
  • camera
  • kayak
  • conspiracy
  • cover up
  • ceo
  • founder
  • tunnel
  • reference to paul mccartney
  • reference to john lennon
  • reference to sonic the hedgehog
  • reference to super mario bros
  • montage
  • two word title
  • 2010s
  • electronic music score
  • no opening credits
  • written by director
  • scotland
  • scottish accent
  • british actor playing american character
  • british actress playing american character
  • tour
  • hidden camera
  • mother daughter relationship
  • mechanic
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Cast & crew

The Circle Cast

Emma Watson leads the cast, with John Boyega and Tom Hanks. Directed by James Ponsoldt.

From the director

More from James Ponsoldt

More films directed by James Ponsoldt, best-rated first: The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour, Smashed and Off the Black.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Circle Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Circle 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in art & craft (50) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

38 /100

The Circle Echo Score Breakdown

The Circle presents a provocative central idea but struggles to coalesce into an engaging thriller. Despite its timely themes of surveillance and corporate power, the film’s inconsistent tone and pacing undercut its satirical vision. Performances are uneven, and the narrative often feels lecture-driven rather than immersive. Visually, it maintains a sleek look but falls short of heightening dramatic tension. In sum, the movie’s potential is evident but ultimately compromised by its uneven execution.

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

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits a polished visual design but lacks dynamic direction and cohesive editing. The cinematography offers a clean, sleek aesthetic that suits the technology-driven setting, yet it rarely extends beyond surface-level appeal. Measured shot compositions show technical competence, but the straightforward pacing and subdued framing diminish dramatic tension. Overall, the art and craft feel competent yet unadventurous.

  • Character & Emotion 40

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances range from capable to underdefined, resulting in uneven resonance. Emma Watson delivers a measured portrayal, though it often feels restrained, while Tom Hanks lends charisma but lacks deeper development. Supporting roles suffer from thin motivation and stilted dialogue, limiting emotional engagement. Overall, character depth remains underexplored and inconsistent.

  • Story & Flow 35

    In terms of story and flow, the premise holds promise but unfolds in a disjointed manner. Early setup effectively establishes stakes, yet the narrative frequently stalls with shoehorned exposition and abrupt tonal shifts. Meandering sequences undermine momentum, and the conclusion arrives without satisfying resolution. Overall, the storytelling feels fragmented and fails to maintain engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    When it comes to sensory experience, the score and sound design remain serviceable but lack personality. The musical themes provide occasional support yet feel generic, and ambient effects are unobtrusive. The visual style maintains consistency through a restrained color palette and minimalist soundscapes but does not heighten dramatic stakes. Overall, the sensory elements feel functional yet muted.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers limited replay value. The uneven pacing and fragmented narrative diminish incentive for subsequent viewings, and the thematic presentation feels overemphasized without deeper exploration. While certain sequences demonstrate technical proficiency, they do not compensate for the overall lack of cohesion. Overall, the prospect of revisiting the movie remains low.

Plot

The Circle Plot Summary

What happens in The Circle from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Through her friend Annie (Karen Gillan](/actor/karen-gillan)), call center intern Mae Holland (Emma Watson) lands a customer support role at The Circle, a prominent tech and social media company. After a challenging interview with Dan (Nate Corddry), who focuses on behavioral questions to gauge her character, Mae begins her journey. Under the supervision of Jared (Mamoudou Athie, Mae initially struggles with her work, worrying about her mid-90s satisfaction scores and the possibility of being dismissed. However, Annie reassures her that it takes time to adapt.

Full summary

The whole story of The Circle, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Circle Box Office & Budget

The Circle grossed $40.7 million worldwide on a $18 million budget, 2.3 times what it cost. $20.5 million came from the US and Canada and $20.2 million (50%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$40.7M

2.3× its budget

US & Canada
$20.5M
International
$20.2M
Budget
$18M
US & Canada 50% Rest of the world 50%
Videos

The Circle Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

The Circle | Official Trailer | Own it Now on Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD
  • Teaser The Circle - Official Teaser Trailer - In Theaters April 4/28 [HD]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Circle?

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 plays the character Mae Holland in 'The Circle'?

Cars

Cars in The Circle

9 cars on screen, including the 1998 Ford Ranger and the 1989 Geo Metro.

All 9 cars
  • 1998 Ford Ranger in The Circle 1998 Ford Ranger Important role
  • 1989 Geo Metro in The Circle 1989 Geo Metro Important role
  • 2001 Nissan Frontier in The Circle 2001 Nissan Frontier Minor role
  • 2016 Peugeot 308 in The Circle 2016 Peugeot 308 Minor role
Details

The Circle Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “Melinda's Song” and “Ha'ma'agal”.

Also known as
  • Melinda's Song
  • Ha'ma'agal
  • Le cercle : Le pouvoir de tout changer
  • Kruh
  • Circle: Uzavřený kruh
  • Cercul
  • El círculo
  • Ο Κύκλος
  • A kör
  • Сфера
  • O Círculo
  • Кръгът
+16 more
  • Круг
  • Çember
  • The Circle. Krąg
  • המעגל
  • 더 서클
  • Vòng Xoay Ảo
  • 圆圈
  • 直播風暴
  • Ratas
  • V mreži
  • Sfēra
  • ザ・サークル
  • 圓美圈套
  • الدائرة
  • El cercle, წრე
  • เดอะ เซอร์เคิล อัจฉริยะล้างพันธุ์มนุษย์

Seen The Circle?

FAQ

The Circle FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The Circle, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Circle?

The Circle runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was The Circle released?

The Circle was released on April 28, 2017.

Who directed The Circle?

The Circle was directed by James Ponsoldt.

More films by James Ponsoldt

Who is in the cast of The Circle?

The Circle stars Emma Watson, John Boyega and Tom Hanks.

How much did The Circle make at the box office?

The Circle grossed $40.7 million worldwide ($20.5 million domestic, $20.2 million international) on a budget of $18 million.

How is The Circle rated?

The Circle has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.

Is The Circle based on a book?

Yes. The Circle is adapted from The Circle by Dave Eggers.

Does The Circle have a post-credit scene?

No. The Circle has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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