The Square

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The Square

R

2017

2h 22m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

215 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Disaster strikes when a curator hires a public relations team to build some buzz for his renowned Swedish museum.

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Critics Consensus

The Square finds writer-director Ruben Östlund as ambitious as ever -- and delivering an unforgettably unusual work whose challenging themes pay thought-provoking dividends.

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Keith Uhlich

(All (Parentheses)) (Substack)

Jun 10, 2022

The Square foregrounds a dilemma at the core of artistic practice: as moving and influential as it can be, art too often exists in a realm separated from “real life,” cordoned off as safely “consumable” entertainment. —Guest post by Michael Joshua Rowin

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Udita Jhunjhunwala

Firstpost

Mar 14, 2019

3.5/5

The Square is actually the sum of its parts, rather than a seamless whole. Viewers are probably going to pick differing scenes as their favourites.

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Namrata Joshi

The Hindu

Jul 12, 2018

A gentle critique, peopled with eccentric but likeable characters, those who have the warmth and the humanity to redeem themselves.

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Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

Jul 24, 2023

Östlund has a psychologist’s eye for human nature and the understated comedic touch of Jacques Tati. The end result is akin to virtual slapstick, the emotional equivalent of slipping on a banana peel.

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

Nov 10, 2022

The film’s execution only occasionally reaches its ideological grasp, but Östlund’s such a talented filmmaker that he can cover up the lack of follow-through in his script. That’s tough to do!

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 17, 2022

4/4

Sharpened by a series of corrosive comic moments and provocations, The Square lashes out with a refined blow against both indifference and empty gestures of faux-humanitarianism.

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Lucile F

@lucile_fl Aug 14, 2026

The square is a product of its time. It is certainly shocking and thought provoking, questioning how far modern art can go before becoming completely ridiculous, how « woke » and open minded people can be before it risks condoning behaviours that cross the line of acceptable societal etiquette and morality.

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T M

@RT55749265 Jun 2, 2026

A look at how art can tell us so much about the human psyche. Storylines converge then split again, sound effects intrude, art installations shown in the film provoke reaction ,sometimes strong. And I thought Claes Bang's English voice sounded a tad Bowie. Long film but it kept me there intrigued as to what would happen next.

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Apr 17, 2026

a few good themes, but pacing is tedious

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Craig W.

@MCWaxman Feb 7, 2026

And unnecessarily long movie about indiscriminately nothing for some art curator of weird art. Pointless.

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Joel G.

@TheJoelest Nov 1, 2025

I know this a character study, but I don’t care enough about these characters to stay engaged. Sorry

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Thomas L

@PoodleBoy Oct 3, 2025

This is a vanity piece that reminds me of modern art or runway fashion shows whose intent is to puzzle or annoy, instead of informing or entertaining. It feels incomplete and ambiguous.

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Ruben Östlund

Director

Claes Bang

Christian

Elisabeth Moss

Anne

Dominic West

Julian

Terry Notary

Oleg

Linda Anborg

Linda, Red Carpet

The Square: Movie Clip - Monkey Performance

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The Square: Movie Clip - Condom

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Synopsis

Disaster strikes when a curator hires a public relations team to build some buzz for his renowned Swedish museum.

Director: Ruben Östlund
Producer: Erik Hemmendorff, Philippe Bober
Screenwriter: Ruben Östlund
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: ZDF Arte, Coproduction Office, Plattform Produktion AB, Essential Films, Arte France Cinema, Parisienne , Film i Väst, Sveriges Television, Imperative Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 30, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 2h 22m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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