The Box
“You are the experiment.”
Synopsis
Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The OfferOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-02-27
Top Cast
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Cameron Diaz
Norma Lewis
James Marsden
Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella
Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn
Norm Cahill
Holmes Osborne
Dick Burns
Sam Oz Stone
Walter Lewis
Gillian Jacobs
Dana
Celia Weston
Lana Burns
Lisa K. Wyatt
Rhonda Martin
Mark S. Cartier
Martin Teague
Kevin Robertson
Wendell Matheson
Michele Durrett
Rebecca Matheson
Ian Kahn
Vick Brenner
John Magaro
Charles
Ryan Woodle
Jeffrey Carnes
Basil Hoffman
Don Poates
Robert Harvey
NASA Executive
Gentry Lee
Chief Engineer
Release History & Theatrical Window
Lund Fantastisk Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 6, 2009
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 18, 2010
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$30M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$33.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.11x
+$3.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Kelly
- Screenplay & Story
- Richard Kelly
- Original Score
- Régine Chassagne, Owen Pallett, Win Butler
- Original Title
- The Box
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Production Budget
- $30M
- Worldwide Gross
- $33.3M
- Production Studios
- MRC, Radar Pictures, Darko Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Kelly
Richard Kelly, Richard Matheson
Régine Chassagne, Owen Pallett, Win Butler
Steven Poster
Sam Bauer
Richard Kelly, Dan Lin, Sean McKittrick, Sue Baden-Powell, Terry Dougas
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Kelly
Director
Richard Kelly
Screenplay
Sam Bauer
Editor
Alec Hammond
Production Design
Steven Poster
Director of Photography
Régine Chassagne
Original Music Composer
Owen Pallett
Original Music Composer
Win Butler
Original Music Composer
April Ferry
Costume Design
Richard Kelly
Producer
Dan Lin
Producer
Sean McKittrick
Producer
Kent Seki
Visual Effects Supervisor
Thomas Tannenberger
Visual Effects Supervisor
Blaise Corrigan
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Box.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Box
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Box about?
Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.
Who directed The Box?
The Box was directed by Richard Kelly.
Who stars in The Box?
The principal cast of The Box includes Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn, Holmes Osborne.
When was The Box released and how long is it?
The Box was released in 2009 with a total runtime of 1h 55m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Box?
The Box had a reported production budget of $30M and grossed $33.3M at the worldwide box office (1.11 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Box?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Box was composed by Régine Chassagne, Owen Pallett, Win Butler.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Box?
The Box holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).