Zoe (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Zoe is a 2018 sci-fi romantic film directed by Drake Doremus, starring Léa Seydoux as Zoe, Ewan McGregor and Miranda Otto. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $401,912 worldwide. Critics gave it 35% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Drake Doremus
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Zoe About?
The premise of Zoe without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Two scientists specializing in love embark on a groundbreaking experiment to understand and optimize human connection. As researchers, they meticulously analyze the complexities of romance, striving to develop a formula for the perfect relationship. However, their own feelings and personal lives become intertwined with their research, threatening to disrupt the experiment and challenge their understanding of love itself.
Zoe Themes & Keywords
· 34 tags- artificial intelligence
- addiction
- brothel
- robot
- memory
- drugs
- robot human relationship
- love
- scientist
- hit by a car
- false memory
- jumping into a lake
+22 more Show fewer
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- reference to fred astaire
- one word title
- forename as title
- humanoid robot
- emotion
- engineer
- lake
- jumping into water
- sex scene
- bar
- following someone
- kiss
- loneliness
- title at the end
- no opening credits
- low budget sci fi movie
- artificial intelligence sci fi
- male rear nudity
- character name in title
- title spoken by character
- title appears in writing
Zoe Cast & Characters
Léa Seydoux leads the cast as Zoe, with Ewan McGregor as Cole and Miranda Otto as The Designer. Directed by Drake Doremus; 17 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Drake Doremus
-
Léa Seydoux as Zoe -
Ewan McGregor as Cole -
Miranda Otto as The Designer -
Rashida Jones as Emma
Also Starring in Zoe
· 13 more- Matthew Gray Gubler Skinny Guy
- Christina Aguilera Jewels
- Theo James Ash
- Anthony Shim Hideo
- Jordana Lajoie Other Robot
- Donovan Colan Caleb
- Andrea Susan Bush
- Helen Johns Muriel Théroux
- Adam Bernett
- Stephanie Ng Wan
- Richard Brimblecombe Interviewer
- Sarah Levesque
- Arlen Aguayo-Stewart
Zoe Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Zoe 35% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
Zoe Echo Score Breakdown
Zoe presents a blend of affecting performances amid uneven storytelling. While the leads’ chemistry and emotional moments draw praise, critics point to repetitive dialogue and a lack of narrative focus, especially within its sci-fi premise. Visual and auditory elements receive moderate acclaim for their cohesion yet rarely elevate the material beyond its familiar tropes. Overall, the film registers as a mixed drama with notable acting but limited narrative resonance.
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, Zoe displays consistent visual framing and clean editing but seldom ventures beyond familiar stylistic choices. Observations highlight John Guleserian’s emphasis on natural lighting and measured shot compositions, though some reviewers found the lighting motifs repetitive. The production design supports the near-future setting, yet the overall visual approach remains serviceable rather than striking.
- Character & Emotion 65
When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, Zoe is anchored by convincing performances from its leads yet undermined by underdeveloped motivations. Viewers commend the chemistry between McGregor and Seydoux and the film’s intimate moments, but critics frequently cite nebulous character arcs and inconsistent emotional beats. The result is a cast-driven drama that shines in performance but falters in character clarity.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, the narrative is uneven and often lacks coherence. Critics decry overwrought dialogue and missed science-fiction potential, while some users appreciate the premise but note pacing issues and superficial exploration of ideas. Although the film’s central romance yields engaging moments, its reliance on familiar tropes and uneven pacing produces a fragmented viewing experience.
- Sensory Experience 65
Regarding sensory experience, the soundtrack and visual style are cohesive but seldom surprising. Dan Romer’s score complements the film’s tone, and the sound design underscores its quiet moments. Reviewers praise the naturalistic visuals and measured audio cues, yet few sequences achieve a lasting sensory impact. Overall, Zoe’s sensory elements support its mood effectively without delivering standout moments.
- Rewatch Factor 45
On rewatch factor, Zoe offers limited replay value beyond its central performances. While some viewers appreciate its meditative pacing and emotional highlights, others find the film repetitive upon repeat viewings due to shallow sci-fi exploration and narrative redundancy. Ultimately, the movie maintains modest appeal for fans of the leads but lacks compelling discoveries that would reward multiple viewings.
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IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 35% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 61%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 39 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 59% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
9 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Zoe Plot Summary
What happens in Zoe from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the not-so-distant future, romance has become a science: a computerized test can determine the likelihood of a successful partnership, and androids—known as “synthetics”—have been designed as the perfect companions, endlessly understanding and never leaving. Zoe, Léa Seydoux, and Cole, Ewan McGregor, work in the research facility responsible for developing this technology.
Zoe and Cole are friends, but Zoe harbors a crush on him, and her hopes are dashed when the compatibility test shows they have a 0% match. When she reveals the result, Cole gently explains that she is a synthetic. This revelation reframes everything, and the two navigate a world where what feels real is filtered through code and design.
Full summary
The whole story of Zoe, scene by scene
Zoe Box Office
Zoe grossed $401,912 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$401.9K
- International
- $401.9K
Zoe Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Zoe.
How Well Do You Know Zoe?
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
Which actress plays the title character Zoe in the 2018 film?
Zoe Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Зої” and “Aşkın Algoritması”.
- Also known as
-
- Зої
- Aşkın Algoritması
- Зоуи
- Зои
- 佐伊
- Kochanek idealny
- 조
- Zoja
- זואי
- Ζωή
- โซอี้
- ホンモノの気持ち, ხელოვნური გრძნობა: ზოი
Seen Zoe?
Movies Like Zoe
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including My Zoe, My Zoe and Dear Zoe.
Zoe FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Zoe, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Zoe?
Zoe runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Zoe released?
Zoe was released on July 20, 2018.
Who directed Zoe?
Zoe was directed by Drake Doremus.
More films by Drake Doremus Who is in the cast of Zoe?
Zoe stars Léa Seydoux as Zoe, Ewan McGregor as Cole and Miranda Otto as The Designer, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Zoe make at the box office?
Zoe grossed $401,912 worldwide.
How is Zoe rated?
Zoe has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, 39 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.
Does Zoe have a post-credit scene?
No. Zoe has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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