The Square
The Square Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 11, 2026
Movie Overview: The Square
| Movie | The Square |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Director | Ruben Östlund |
| Genre | Drama |
| Runtime | 151 minutes |
| Language | SV |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Square (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in The Square are led by Claes Bang . The supporting cast, including Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
The Square stands out as a strong entry in the Drama genre. The film benefits from engaging storytelling, memorable performances, and solid production values that help keep viewers invested.
- Compelling performances from the main cast
- Strong visual storytelling and direction
- Well-structured Drama narrative
- Satisfying emotional or dramatic payoff
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, The Square has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Drama fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: The Square
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2017, The Square is a Drama film directed by Ruben Östlund. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Claes Bang.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit. The screenplay takes time to develop Claes Bang's journey, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Claes Bang's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: The Square
The Square Ending Explained: Directed by Ruben Östlund, The Square wraps up the main storyline while leaving some interpretation to viewers. The ending highlights the core drama themes developed throughout the film.
The emotional resolution focuses on the transformation of its main characters, particularly in scenes involving Claes Bang. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the drama themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of The Square reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Who Should Watch The Square?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Claes Bang or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: The Square
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $9.5M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: The Square
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Where to Watch The Square Online?
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FlixFlingThe Square Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about The Square age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Square is 151 minutes (2h 31m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, The Square is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Square worth watching?
The Square is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Square parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Square identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Square?
The total duration of The Square is 151 minutes, which is approximately 2h 31m long.
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How The Square Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Square
I'm not a great fan of dramas, but this was an entertaining film. I gave this 4 stars just for the ape scene.
I maybe just wasn't in the right mood for this, but after about half an hour I really didn't much care what happened to "Christian" (Claes Bang), or pretty much anyone else. He runs one of those galleries that puts a glass of water on a dusty shelf and calls it art. You know, emperor's new clothes kind of stuff. His latest "exhibition" is designed to remind the public of their responsibilities to each other but his focus is diverted when he is the victim of a pickpocket. No phone. No wallet. He devises an unique way to get them back by putting a note through all of his neighbours' letter boxes delivering an accusatory ultimatum. Curiously enough, that's not the only stupid idea he has as this rather plodding drama meanders it's way from one bad decision to another for 2½ hours. It reaches it's most bizarrely surreal when the entertainment - "Oleg" (Terry Notary) - at a very fancy fund-raising dinner goes quite spectacularly wrong, but there are plenty other daft scenarios as he tries to sort out a marketing campaign, manage a curiously sterile relationship with "Anne" (a dreadfully wooden Elizabeth Moss) and deal with an increasingly exasperating kid (Elijandro Edouard) who seems to think his own family think he nicked the stuff! To be fair to Bang, he does manage to imbue quite a decent degree of insufferable arrogance as his pompous character finds all of his comfort blankets taken away and himself exposed to a society that couldn't care less, indeed is even openly critical, of his obvious double standards. I did like the premiss, but auteur Ruben Östlund indulges himself too completely for me, and I was frankly bored by the end. Maybe a tightening edit could help refocus the humour and the moral of the story? Sorry - not for me.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










