Tetris: how to watch, reviews, cast and everything we know

Nikita Efremov in Tetris
Nikita Efremov in Tetris (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

We've all played Tetris, the classic video game where you try and line up blocks and net a high score. But how many people know the true origin of the game and its ties to the Soviet Union? That's going to be the focus of the new Tetris movie starring Taron Egerton.

Though The Last of Us is a hit on TV and upcoming The Super Marios Bros. Movie has people excited, movies based on video games don't have the best track record. But does that apply to movies based on the creation of video games?

Before we get an answer to that, here is everything that you need to know about the Tetris movie.

How to watch Tetris movie

Tetris is now available to stream exclusively on Apple TV Plus. You need to have a subscription to the streaming service in order to watch, but the good news is that Apple TV Plus free trials, unlike other streamers, are still a thing.

Tetris movie plot

The Tetris movie details the little known origin of the game that has obsessed people for the last 30-plus years. Here is the official synopsis:

"Tetris tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers discovers TETRIS in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, Tetris is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish."

The Tetris script was written by Noah Pink (Genius).

Tetris movie trailer

Check out the Tetris movie trailer right here, which features a lot more political intrigue than you might have initially expected: 

Tetris reviews

Tetris is winning over fans, as the movie is "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critics score of 81% and an audience score of 92%. The New York Times calls the movie "clever, crafty and shockingly entertaining."

Tetris movie cast

Taron Egerton headlines the Tetris movie as Henk Rogers, the man who fought to bring Tetris to the masses. Egerton broke out after starring in The Kingsman and has since had acclaimed roles in Rocketman and Black Bird, the latter also an original title for Apple TV Plus.

Also starring in the movie are Nikita Efremov (Six Empty Seats) as Alexey Pajitnov, Sofia Lebedeva (Vikings: Valhalla) as Sasha, Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air) as Kevin Maxwell and Toby Jones (The Pale Blue Eye) as Robert Stein. Other members of the cast include Roger Allam, Togo Igawa, Ayane Nagabuchi, Igor Grabuzov, Ken Yamamura, Ben Miles and Sofya Lebedeva.

Tetris movie director

Directing the Tetris movie is Jon S. Baird. Baird hails from Scotland and has had most of his major credits on the TV side, including directing an episode for HBO's Vinyl and multiple episodes of Babylon, Feed the Beast and the 2023 series Stonehouse. His previous movie credits include writing and directing the James McAvoy dark comedy Filth and 2018's Stan & Ollie

Tetris poster

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.