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The Circle

The Circle

Knowing is good. Knowing everything is better.

2017110 minPG-13Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
Director
James Ponsoldt
Starring
Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan

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.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Circle?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Circle to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Circle?

The Circle earns 6 badges, led by Overhyped and Award Winner.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Circle worth watching?

The Circle's Midcredits score is the 15th percentile of all films, from 238K ratings across 6 sources. 24% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

15th percentile

Better received than 15% of films

11th percentile among Drama16th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)20th
Approval (how many liked it)14th

51 /100

20th percentile of all films

15th percentile among Drama22nd percentile among 2010s

Critics 43 · Audience 52

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

24% liked it

14th percentile of all films

9th percentile among Drama14th percentile among 2010s
24% rated it 7–1076% rated it 1–6

Critics 16% · Audience 21%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 4 wins / 1 noms overall

98th percentile

238K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$18M
Opening weekend$9M
Domestic gross$20M
Worldwide gross$41M

Returned 2.3× its budget — 94th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A star-studded film about a powerful tech company's erosion of privacy that has a compelling concept but a flawed execution.

Fans praised

  • timely, provocative theme about technology and privacy
  • Tom Hanks' charismatic, menacing performance as a Steve Jobs-like figure
  • thought-provoking social commentary on surveillance and transparency

Detractors panned

  • underdeveloped, illogical plot with a weak, unsatisfying ending
  • Emma Watson's miscast, stiff performance with a fluctuating accent
  • preachy, heavy-handed script with shallow character development

What stands out

ActingDivisive50

divisive: Tom Hanks and Bill Paxton praised, Emma Watson widely panned as miscast

OriginalityDivisive40

derivative of Black Mirror and 1984, but thematic relevance acknowledged

PacingDivisive30

slow, meandering first two acts, rushed unsatisfying third act

Plot and storyDivisive25

underdeveloped, predictable, abrupt ending, plot holes

CharactersDivisive25

shallow, one-dimensional, main character's motivations incoherent

DialogueDivisive25

stilted, preachy, clunky, cringe-worthy

TensionDivisive25

no suspense; fails as a thriller despite marketing

EndingDivisive20

abrupt, unsatisfying, open-ended climax resolves nothing

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 14 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Circle like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
TenseDreadContemplative
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Cold and cerebral · 4% of films: Detached and precise; keeps the viewer at arm's length.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its cautionary tale with earnest seriousness, never undercutting the drama with irony.
The rideThe film gradually tightens from corporate unease to outright dread, culminating in a climactic confrontation and a haunting night-kayak scene.
StructureThe story is told in a conventional linear order, tracing Mae's arc from hire to disillusionment and confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's warning about surveillance capitalism lingers, leaving a sense of unease and a need to reflect on personal privacy.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% (this title) · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Corporate villainy: A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).

21% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

Why this archetypeMae is drawn into a powerful tech corporation and rises through its ranks, only to discover its invasive surveillance practices; she ultimately conspires with a disillusioned founder to expose its corrupt leadership, freeing herself in the process.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIsolationSociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% · Isolation 5% (this title) · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1% (this title)

Society

Isolation · 5% of filmsTechnology · 1% of filmsIdentity · 14% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how total connectivity, paradoxically, isolates people from genuine relationships and authentic selfhood, turning life into a performance under constant surveillance.
StanceThe film warns against unchecked tech power and the surrender of privacy, with Mae's arc serving as a cautionary tale.

The world

Near futureUrbanInstitutionalDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Danny Elfman
SettingThe gleaming campus of a Google-like tech giant and its surrounding suburban world
MusicElfman's score blends sweeping orchestral lines with subtle electronic pulses, echoing the film's tension between human feeling and technological control.

Content guide

Is The Circle okay for kids?

PG-13

The Circle is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for a sexual situation, brief strong language and some thematic elements including drug use” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (27/100), sexual content at mild (32/100), language at moderate (39/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (32/100) and frightening material at mild (29/100). Overall it is heavier than 14% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland12
  • JapanG
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Austria12
  • Hungary16
  • ID17+
  • ItalyT
  • NetherlandsAL
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • Russia16+
  • Spain7
  • Sweden11
  • Türkiye13A
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 14% of all filmsHeavier than 14% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 21%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 57%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 43%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 54%
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 25%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 43% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Circle have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Circle?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Emma Watson
as Mae
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Tom Hanks
as Bailey
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Boyega
as Ty
Karen Gillan
as Annie
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ellar Coltrane
as Mercer
Patton Oswalt
as Stenton
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Glenne Headly
as Bonnie
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Bill Paxton
as Vinnie
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Poorna Jagannathan
as Dr. Villalobos
Nate Corddry
as Dan

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Circle?

Movies like The Circle include Sleep Dealer (2008), New Rose Hotel (1998) and Automata (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in the near future, and most are films about technology.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its world: dystopian. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Circle?

635 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: dystopian. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.