Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- tense
- urgent
- action movie night
- thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an energetic, twisty, well-paced chase thriller whose clever phone premise is undermined by gimmickry and implausible contrivances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jessica jury-rigs a nearly unusable phone and depends on Ryan’s cell connection to coordinate her rescue.
The dying phone battery repeatedly intensifies the rescue effort and threatens to sever Jessica and Ryan’s only connection.
Ryan, a young college student, must pursue kidnappers and protect Jessica’s family when police assistance is delayed.
The rescue moves through Los Angeles locations linked by cell calls, police activity, vehicles, and the abductors’ movements.
Films like Cellular, and why
Speed
Shares a high-concept, real-time chase-thriller structure in which an ordinary person must respond rapidly to a dangerous crisis through communication technology.
Phone Booth
Combines a confined hostage situation with urgent telephone communication, escalating danger, and a determined rescuer operating under severe time pressure.
The Call
Features an energetic crime-thriller pursuit driven by an everyday protagonist confronting violent criminals and institutional obstacles.
Movie Details
- Director
- David R. Ellis
- Release Date
- 2004-09-06
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (2173)
Cast
- Kim Basinger
- Chris Evans
- Jason Statham
- William H. Macy
- Noah Emmerich
- Valerie Cruz
- Richard Burgi
- Eric Christian Olsen
- Jessica Biel
- Adam Taylor Gordon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cellular about?
- A young man races across Los Angeles to save a kidnapped mother whose jury-rigged phone call makes him her only possible lifeline.
- What is Cellular like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cellular as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cellular violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Cellular as moderate.
- What did critics think of Cellular?
- Critics broadly found the film an energetic, twisty, well-paced chase thriller whose clever phone premise is undermined by gimmickry and implausible contrivances.
- Which films are like Cellular?
- Films with a similar feel include Speed, Phone Booth, and The Call.
- How long is Cellular?
- Cellular runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cellular?
- In United States, Cellular streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
