Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In 1988, American video game salesman Henk Rogers discovers the video game Tetris. When he sets out to bring the game to the world, he enters a dangerous web of lies and corruption behind the Iron Curtain.
Tetris (2023) is a competent, entertaining thriller that dramatizes the surprisingly tense true story of securing the rights to the iconic puzzle game. The plot is engaging and well-paced, translating a licensing dispute into genuine Cold War tension, though it takes considerable dramatic liberties with the facts. Acting is solid across the board — Taron Egerton carries the film well — without anyone delivering a truly standout performance. Cinematography is functional and period-appropriate, with some fun retro video game visual flourishes that add personality but don't elevate it cinematically. Novelty is moderate: using a video game rights battle as a Cold War thriller is a fresh premise, and the pixel-art stylistic touches are distinctive, but the film follows fairly conventional thriller beats once established. The ending is satisfying and crowd-pleasing, tying up the true story neatly, though it leans into sentimentality without subverting expectations. A solidly above-average crowd-pleaser that doesn't quite distinguish itself in any single dimension.