The Circle (2017)
Film · Drama, Thriller, Science Fiction
Skip itunless you are a completionist for the cast or obsessed with surface-level privacy debates.
A paranoid techno-thriller that trades in the dread of a surveillance-heavy future, though it often feels more like a cautionary lecture than a grounded drama. It is a glossy but ultimately frustrating watch for those interested in the darker side of social media.
What The Circle is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this feels like navigating a high-budget corporate orientation video that slowly curdles into a paranoid nightmare. The pace is steady but lacks the sharp edges required for a truly gripping thriller, maintaining a glossy, sterile aesthetic that mirrors the tech campus it depicts. While it attempts to build tension through the encroachment of technology on personal life, the intensity often feels artificial rather than organic.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is intended for viewers who enjoy cautionary tales about social media and big tech, but seasoned science fiction fans may find its observations remarkably shallow. If you prefer nuanced character development, you should probably avoid this; the protagonists often behave in ways that serve the plot's message rather than human logic. A major caveat is that the film raises interesting questions but fails to provide a satisfying or coherent narrative payoff.
The right evening for it
It suits a low-stakes evening where you want a shiny, star-studded production to play in the background. It is better for sparking a brief conversation about data privacy than for providing a deep cinematic experience.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
If you like this, try
Nerve (2016)
the same exploration of social media voyeurism and escalating public pressure
Antitrust (2001)
the idealistic coder uncovering the dark secrets of a charismatic tech giant
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
What it is about
A young tech worker takes a job at a powerful Internet corporation, quickly rises up the company's ranks, and soon finds herself in a perilous situation concerning privacy, surveillance and freedom. She comes to learn that her decisions and actions will determine the future of humanity.
Trailer
More clips
Teaser · The Circle - Official Teaser Trailer - In Theaters April 4/28 [HD]
Stills
Images from TMDB.
Questions people ask
- Is The Circle a tense film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense. A paranoid techno-thriller that trades in the dread of a surveillance-heavy future, though it often feels more like a cautionary lecture than a grounded drama. It is a glossy but ultimately frustrating watch for those interested in the darker side of social media.
- How long is The Circle?
- The Circle runs 110 min and was released in 2017.
- Is The Circle worth watching?
- Skip it: unless you are a completionist for the cast or obsessed with surface-level privacy debates. TMDB users rate it 5.5 out of 10 from 4,656 votes.
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