I’m watching Rear Window on TCM right now and I was just thinking about Hitchcock really mastered the concept of this one room movie between this and Rope (both with Jimmy Stewart). Two of my all time favorite films
12 Angry Men is a 10/10 movie. Seriously. I wasn't expecting it to be as gripping as it was, with essentially nothing but 12 guys sitting in a room and talking. It's a masterpiece.
And Rope is brilliant as well.
Ahh I love this genre of movies so much.
Technically true because even when he's not talking about concrete it's all just a metaphor for concrete. Or maybe the concrete is a metaphor for relationships and personal responsibility, or both.
That's interesting because I always thought he was a terrific actor who has made some...let's say interesting choices in his career.
He absolutely crushes every scene he's in in Peaky Blinders. And Locke is an excellent movie and is a strong showcase for his talents. Never thought I would be so captivated by someone explaining the cement mixing process.
You should absolutely watch it. It's one of my favorite shows. It takes a little bit to get going, but once it does, buckle up.
Oh and if you're not British, I highly suggest you watch it with subtitles. I'm American and had a really hard time following the plot until I remembered that subtitles exist.
100% the whale. It's so well done you don't even notice you barely if ever leave the living room. Fantastic all around movie that doesn't pull it's punches.
The first Saw gets lumped in with the rest of the franchise, but it's a much more restrained and focused piece. A real hidden gem at this point because of the latter entries and the assumption it'll be a gore fest. It's as different from its followups as the first Friday the 13th and the sequels.
Common misconception, but many, MANY films were plays first. Some that are in one room that I enjoy deeply are “Dinner With Friends” (2001) and “No Exit” (1962)
Also, “Rabbit Hole” (2010) mostly in the house, the park, and the grief support place) “Bug” (1998) and “Plaza Suite” (1971)
Source: theatre professional and double college major that reads more plays than any sane person would. Love to explore any and all movie adaptations! Have run more than one theatre as artistic director, and am working toward buying my own one day to produce some of these classic one room stories. Random unrelated tidbits: am a published playwright, and am currently working on a comedy musical about poop. It’s gonna be a real shit show!
Movies that feel like plays are wonderful. Definitely one of my favorites genres. I had forgotten for a moment ‘Night, Mother is actually performed on stage too. My top choice for this was Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.
Yeah they snuck out, they were in the parking lot, washrooms and there was a scene with the principal and the janitor.
It pretty much mostly took place in the library.
It was a great movie.
It was fantastic, and very disturbing. I think of it often, will have to have a rewatch. The selfishness of those that have never had to think about the people on the lower levels is a perfect analogy of humans in general.
I went and saw Panic Room in the theater when I was a kid with my then 70ish yo grandma and I'll never forget her almost yelling at the screen the whole time. Still one of my all time favorites, and probably because of that experience.
Surprised no one mentioned Gerald’s Game yet. It’s not my favorite but it’s a wild ride and I’d say about 90% of the movie is in one room.
Hateful 8 and 10 Cloverfield Lane would be my favorites but those have been mentioned a lot already.
Assuming you mean Room from 2015...
I can't believe this isn't at the top! This is a thread about one room movies and this about a whole world in a room. And this is a fantastic movie with superlative acting.
Others have already mentioned the classics like 12 Angry Men or Rope. So here are a few more recent entries:
- **Mass** (2021) *(tw: >!discussions of a school shooting!<) - brilliantly acted, psychological, very tense and emotionally charged
- not entirely one room, but one confined location (and it's also single-take) - **Boiling Point** (2021) - super dynamic, tension builds, it's hard to look away
- **The Guilty** (2018) - there was a remake with Jake Gyllenhall in 2021, but it's not as good, definitely watch the Danish original. It's brilliant and the tension is through the roof the entire time. Don't look up too much about it, either, you REALLY don't want to get it spoiled, trust me. All you need to know is that you're following a police alarm dispatcher who receives a call by a panicked woman... and the entire movie takes places there, with him in the dispatching room(?), communicating on the phone... And it's damn good.
(Edit: formatting)
What Happened Was... (1994)
Also my favorite "just a conversation" movie, more so than My Dinner with Andre (another one room movie).
If you're willing to expand a few rooms and go to a diner that wasn't there in the original play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) makes it into my top 10. (If Coherence counts, this does too.)
Another really enjoyable one, also based on a play, is One Night in Miami... (2020)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) is basically a one room movie as well.
The Fall (2022)
It Is lesser than a room, its the top of a tower where they’re stranded. It’s beautifully scripted and executed - super twist at the end too
Oh boy you have no idea the excitement I had seeing this post. I love movies that are minimal actors, minimal cuts, or extremely minimal locations. While I’m not going to fit your singular room scenario, if you’re willing to expand that a bit in the future watch these if you haven’t already.
The Whale - room - emotional drama about death, family and loss.
Carnage - room - two sets of parents play niceties until it unravels
10 Cloverfield Lane - house - abduction mystery/thriller/scifi
Shiva Baby - house - anxiety inducing spiral of a Jewish woman being confronted with her poor choices during a shiva
Pontypool - sound thriller set in a radio station
The Platform - location/structure - sci-fi philosophical horror about capitalism, class structure, greed.
Circle - room - low budget horror about ranking and judging others in society.
The invitation - house - couples dinner gone wrong
It’s A Disaster - house - black comedy about relationships, stress, and impending doom.
Late night with the devil - studio stage - retro horror talk show exorcism/haunting
Oxygen - a small tank - scifi single tank with one singular actress. Mystery and really well made!
Soft and Quietly - multiple locations, but filmed nonstop without cuts 3 days in a row. Cut those best bits into one “uncut” film
The Last Stop In Yuma County - a diner with a couple minimal moves elsewhere. Very Coen brother esque.
The Hateful Eight - essential one cabin - Tarantino western, very talky but violent.
Bad Times at The Bad Royal - neo noir interconnected story about bad people all at one motel.
Buried - coffin - talky thriller of a man buried alive
Saw - technically the large majority of the first is in one specific room
Locke - car - talk thriller
Sanctuary - hotel room - I STRONGLY recommend. A mind thriller of lies, manipulation and sex.
My short INSTANT is out there on Youtube. It started as a joke about a low budget one/room movie. A guy in one room - but he can’t even move because he’s glued down!
Apart from The Man From Earth and Coherence which you already listed:
* 12 Angry Men (1957)
* Rope
* Clerks
* Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes
* Moon
* Dog Day Afternoon
I haven't seen anyone mention this yet so I'm sorry if I am repeating it but Reality (2023) dir. Tina Satter was really really good. It's taken from the actual transcripts of the interview and it's mostly all in one room with 3 people. Sydney Sweeny's done an amazing job.
Rope (1948)
I’m watching Rear Window on TCM right now and I was just thinking about Hitchcock really mastered the concept of this one room movie between this and Rope (both with Jimmy Stewart). Two of my all time favorite films
Dial M for Murder too
Watch Lifeboat too!
The standard by which all other one-room movies are judged.
Rope was so good! I watched it quite recently for the first time and was blown away. I definitely second this suggestion.
Possibly my first exposure to the sub-genre. Media Studies class circa 2005, this and Rear Window.
Came to say this.
Brilliant movie.
Rope (1948) Rear Window (1954) 12 Angry Men (1957)
+1 for 12 Angry Men. Surprisingly relevant and gripping for a 67 year old movie.
It's one of the GOATs.
Righting injustice never goes out of fashion
I just got to see it for the first time a few weeks ago! What an amazing movie!
But an *awful* example of how to serve on a jury.
I must watch 12 Angry Men, been on my radar for 20 years and I've not watched it. Shame on me.
12 Angry Men is a 10/10 movie. Seriously. I wasn't expecting it to be as gripping as it was, with essentially nothing but 12 guys sitting in a room and talking. It's a masterpiece. And Rope is brilliant as well. Ahh I love this genre of movies so much.
I second 12 Angry Men, fantastic movie
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99% of the movie is just guys talking about concrete
The Pour!
Technically true because even when he's not talking about concrete it's all just a metaphor for concrete. Or maybe the concrete is a metaphor for relationships and personal responsibility, or both.
Came here to say this, even though it's a one-car movie. Truly one of the best films I've ever watched. Astonishing how it holds you the entire time.
A car is just a room that moves.
That's interesting because I always thought he was a terrific actor who has made some...let's say interesting choices in his career. He absolutely crushes every scene he's in in Peaky Blinders. And Locke is an excellent movie and is a strong showcase for his talents. Never thought I would be so captivated by someone explaining the cement mixing process.
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You should absolutely watch it. It's one of my favorite shows. It takes a little bit to get going, but once it does, buckle up. Oh and if you're not British, I highly suggest you watch it with subtitles. I'm American and had a really hard time following the plot until I remembered that subtitles exist.
No,it's amazing. Watch it
It’s good but it definitely has some dodgy seasons. The quality dipped in some parts IMO.
The Whale
A very well done movie I will never watch again
I hear a lot of people say this, but I recently had the urge to rewatch it. Maybe at least just the opening.
You want to watch Brendan Frasier jerkin’ it again?
100% the whale. It's so well done you don't even notice you barely if ever leave the living room. Fantastic all around movie that doesn't pull it's punches.
I did not even realize it was only in his house, mostly in one room, until these comments.
Trying not to repeat any: Saw Phone Booth The Breakfast Club 'night, Mother
Thank you for reminding me to put Phone Booth on my wish list. I love audiocentric films.
Check out Pontypool (2008), it’s really good and strange, about a radio station.
That’s an underrated banger!
If you haven't watched already, The Coversation (1974)
Oooo, a ‘night, Mother always gets me going. Greatness. This and ‘Tape’ would be my favorites. Yeah, ‘night, Mother is a MUST watch. For everyone.
Kind of hard to find on tv though.
Unfortunately, yes. You’d have to know it to see it. What an amazing little gem, though.
I loved Ann Bancroft in it. A few of her others I liked were: The Graduate Homecoming Agnes of God
I've only seen/read the play of /Night, Mother and omg it always makes me sob. So good.
The first Saw gets lumped in with the rest of the franchise, but it's a much more restrained and focused piece. A real hidden gem at this point because of the latter entries and the assumption it'll be a gore fest. It's as different from its followups as the first Friday the 13th and the sequels.
Still not a great answer to this topic, considering only like half the movie takes place in the one room.
‘Night, Mother yes! I was thinking movies that are like plays too. lol
Common misconception, but many, MANY films were plays first. Some that are in one room that I enjoy deeply are “Dinner With Friends” (2001) and “No Exit” (1962) Also, “Rabbit Hole” (2010) mostly in the house, the park, and the grief support place) “Bug” (1998) and “Plaza Suite” (1971) Source: theatre professional and double college major that reads more plays than any sane person would. Love to explore any and all movie adaptations! Have run more than one theatre as artistic director, and am working toward buying my own one day to produce some of these classic one room stories. Random unrelated tidbits: am a published playwright, and am currently working on a comedy musical about poop. It’s gonna be a real shit show!
Movies that feel like plays are wonderful. Definitely one of my favorites genres. I had forgotten for a moment ‘Night, Mother is actually performed on stage too. My top choice for this was Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.
The Breakfast Club was a great movie but it did not take place in one room.
Meh, I'll allow it.
For the most part they did except when they snuck out.
Yeah they snuck out, they were in the parking lot, washrooms and there was a scene with the principal and the janitor. It pretty much mostly took place in the library. It was a great movie.
Don’t forget the gym, where Bender mentions the possibility of getting a scholarship Or the drop ceiling
I want to be an Air Force Major!
Also don’t forget that the library contains a number of smaller rooms in itself. It also comes equipped with fire exits at either end
Shooting hoops in the gym, broom closet, crawl space, driveway, football field….great movie. Definitely not one room.
‘night, Mother is one of the best. So underrated. It’s definitely one that makes you think
1408
Agreed.
One of his best movies imo
The outfit
Had to scroll too far for this: *excellent* film.
This was so good. Slid mostly under the radar I feel like
Oh I forgot about this one. Excellent suggestion.
Good answer! Surprisingly good movie for a one location feature .
Thank god I finally found this!!! Such a good movie
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Carnage 2011 what a great movie
My choice as well. Such great performances all around.
I would consider The Platform (2016) a one room movie. I really liked it a lot, but will mention that some people find it pretty disturbing.
This movie has stayed on my mind since I watched it. I think about a lot. It was disturbing but well made.
It was fantastic, and very disturbing. I think of it often, will have to have a rewatch. The selfishness of those that have never had to think about the people on the lower levels is a perfect analogy of humans in general.
Yes it's very smart with that analogy. A pretty interesting form of punishment.
My dinner with Andre
Kiss Of The Spider Woman (1985) Panic Room (2002) Buried (2010)
Oh yea to buried, i think it’s a brilliant movie that got me hooked and claustrophobic at the same time
I went and saw Panic Room in the theater when I was a kid with my then 70ish yo grandma and I'll never forget her almost yelling at the screen the whole time. Still one of my all time favorites, and probably because of that experience.
Hateful 8 by a lot
I was going to say Reservoir Dogs but Hateful 8 is gold
Reservoir Dogs used a few different locations
I mean so did Hateful 8. There's the transportation, the arrival, the feed store and Jamie Foxx's fantasy
[Tape (2001)](https://letterboxd.com/film/tape/)
Came here to say this
I second this, much love holy shit
I knew I could count on someone to post this
Life Boat and Rope by Hitchcock are great! Does 12 Angry men qualify?
If Twelve Angry Men counts…then add Glen Garry Glen Ross.
The Sunset Limited (2011) Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones
The man from earth as well and fermats room
Cube
Came here to say. Especially because the used the same “cube” for every room, changing the lighting and number to make it look like a lot of cubes.
I didn't know that. I liked this movie a lot.
I think they made two cubes, so they could film shots looking from one through into the next. But I could me remembering that wrong.
astronomical
I met the antagonist a few times at the bar. Great dude. Bought him beer and asked him questions lol.
Swimming to Cambodia, and Stop Making Sense.
I love the technicality that is Stop Making Sense here. Well played
Would also put Grays Anatomy and Monster in a Box in there if we're taking Spalding Gray
Mass (2021)
Great performances pulled this one off.
Had to scroll way too far to see this. Phenomenal film.
First one that came to mind. Incredible performances and writing.
Reservoir Dogs
Rear window is one of my favorites
Same Time Next Year: Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn Deathtrap: Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve
I'm split between these 2: - 12 angry men - rear window
Rear Window is _Wonderful!_
Surprised no one mentioned Gerald’s Game yet. It’s not my favorite but it’s a wild ride and I’d say about 90% of the movie is in one room. Hateful 8 and 10 Cloverfield Lane would be my favorites but those have been mentioned a lot already.
Sleuth (1972) The Killing Room Nine dead
Sleuth is such a good movie that, seemingly, not allot of people are aware of these days.
- Buried - phone booth (kind of?) - 12 angry men - breakfast club - 1408 Edit: just watched “the autopsy of Jane doe” last night and it works as well.
I liked all 4 of those so you may like: Circle (2015) • The Immaculate Room (2022) • Oxygen (2021)
I love love love Circle.
1408
Dave Made A Maze! The entire Maze is filmed in the apartment. Everyone they went to a different room they tore down and re built a different room.
Hateful 8
Room
Half of that movie isn’t a one-room movie.
Assuming you mean Room from 2015... I can't believe this isn't at the top! This is a thread about one room movies and this about a whole world in a room. And this is a fantastic movie with superlative acting.
Gotta give it to 10 Cloverfield Lane. It's got a couple rooms, to be fair, but it's very contained.
I love tape with Ethan Hawke
The Platform (2019 Netflix) Technically not a single room but It blew me away.
Freefire
Tape
I’m not sure I’d call it my favorite, but Tape (2001) was an experience.
Rope
Key Largo
A redditor likes man from earth, shocker
Sleuth. The 1972 version is a classic but I like the remake too
Le Prénom (2012) also set in just one evening.
Come Back To The Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean.
If you liked Coherence, I recommend The Invitation (2015). Similar vibe.
12 Angry men (1957) for suree
Circle Very cool
Others have already mentioned the classics like 12 Angry Men or Rope. So here are a few more recent entries: - **Mass** (2021) *(tw: >!discussions of a school shooting!<) - brilliantly acted, psychological, very tense and emotionally charged - not entirely one room, but one confined location (and it's also single-take) - **Boiling Point** (2021) - super dynamic, tension builds, it's hard to look away - **The Guilty** (2018) - there was a remake with Jake Gyllenhall in 2021, but it's not as good, definitely watch the Danish original. It's brilliant and the tension is through the roof the entire time. Don't look up too much about it, either, you REALLY don't want to get it spoiled, trust me. All you need to know is that you're following a police alarm dispatcher who receives a call by a panicked woman... and the entire movie takes places there, with him in the dispatching room(?), communicating on the phone... And it's damn good. (Edit: formatting)
Infinity Chamber (2016)
Conspiracy
I don't remember what it's called, but there is one, and the whole thing is just 2 guys trapped in a car surrounded by zombies.
Saw and The Thing (if that counts?)
Rear window is one of my favorites
Phone booth (kinda)
The Whale
Does a boat count? All Is Lost (2013)
12 Angry Men (1957)
My Dinner with Andre 1981
Four Rooms (really four single room shorts put together. Tarantino... did the screenplay? Involved with it, I forget exactly how)
Mass
What Happened Was... (1994) Also my favorite "just a conversation" movie, more so than My Dinner with Andre (another one room movie). If you're willing to expand a few rooms and go to a diner that wasn't there in the original play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) makes it into my top 10. (If Coherence counts, this does too.) Another really enjoyable one, also based on a play, is One Night in Miami... (2020) Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) is basically a one room movie as well.
Climax by Gaspar Noe
Mother! Not sure if it counts as one room, but it stays in one house for 2 anxiety inducing hours.
Cube (1997) A budget indie movie shot entirely in one room.
I love Cube 💪
Some good ones with a looser definition: Green Room 10 Cloverfield Lane
12 Angry Men
12 angry men
Cube
Would Life of Pi count?
The Immaculate Room (2022)
The original saw is mainly one room. Other than flashbacks
Hateful eight I guess?
2LDK
Resolution. I'm a sucker for high concept on a low budget so I love a lot of the others in the comments too.
it's super fucking stupid but a comfort film I have is *London* starring Chris Evans, Jason Statham, and Jessica Biel. Mostly a one room bottle film.
Glorious happens entirely in a truck stop bathroom! It’s such a masterpiece
10 cloverfield lane
Locke and The Hateful Eight probably
The Fall (2022) It Is lesser than a room, its the top of a tower where they’re stranded. It’s beautifully scripted and executed - super twist at the end too
Any of the Open Water films, if you count the ocean as a room. Fall (2022) La Cabina (1972)
A recent one : Knock at the cabin. Just incredible
12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men
Murder Party (2007)
the persecution and assassination of jean-paul marat as performed by the inmates of the asylum of charenton under the direction of the marquis de sade
Locke
Oh boy you have no idea the excitement I had seeing this post. I love movies that are minimal actors, minimal cuts, or extremely minimal locations. While I’m not going to fit your singular room scenario, if you’re willing to expand that a bit in the future watch these if you haven’t already. The Whale - room - emotional drama about death, family and loss. Carnage - room - two sets of parents play niceties until it unravels 10 Cloverfield Lane - house - abduction mystery/thriller/scifi Shiva Baby - house - anxiety inducing spiral of a Jewish woman being confronted with her poor choices during a shiva Pontypool - sound thriller set in a radio station The Platform - location/structure - sci-fi philosophical horror about capitalism, class structure, greed. Circle - room - low budget horror about ranking and judging others in society. The invitation - house - couples dinner gone wrong It’s A Disaster - house - black comedy about relationships, stress, and impending doom. Late night with the devil - studio stage - retro horror talk show exorcism/haunting Oxygen - a small tank - scifi single tank with one singular actress. Mystery and really well made! Soft and Quietly - multiple locations, but filmed nonstop without cuts 3 days in a row. Cut those best bits into one “uncut” film The Last Stop In Yuma County - a diner with a couple minimal moves elsewhere. Very Coen brother esque. The Hateful Eight - essential one cabin - Tarantino western, very talky but violent. Bad Times at The Bad Royal - neo noir interconnected story about bad people all at one motel. Buried - coffin - talky thriller of a man buried alive Saw - technically the large majority of the first is in one specific room Locke - car - talk thriller Sanctuary - hotel room - I STRONGLY recommend. A mind thriller of lies, manipulation and sex.
Death and the Maiden. 1994. Incredible film. One room. Three characters. Absolutely riveting.
It's not one room, but it is one building. Free Fire (2016)
My short INSTANT is out there on Youtube. It started as a joke about a low budget one/room movie. A guy in one room - but he can’t even move because he’s glued down!
Moon (2009)
Reservoir dogs
Apart from The Man From Earth and Coherence which you already listed: * 12 Angry Men (1957) * Rope * Clerks * Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes * Moon * Dog Day Afternoon
12 Angry Men
The Exam is great so is The Killing Room. I also liked Phone Booth..Whole movie takes place in a Phone Booth
Buried. It’s not a room but it’s similar.
Phone booth
The Man from Earth
Devil
Buried
Exam 2009 is pretty intense, good one!
The Cube Trilogy!
If cube counts then I'll say that
Circle
Conspiracy
I haven't seen anyone mention this yet so I'm sorry if I am repeating it but Reality (2023) dir. Tina Satter was really really good. It's taken from the actual transcripts of the interview and it's mostly all in one room with 3 people. Sydney Sweeny's done an amazing job.
Mass with Jason Issacs, two families meet in the aftermath of a school shooting
Coherence Moon The Man From Earth hidden gems rarely mentioned in every thread.
- Noises Off - Secret Honor - Passover - Sunset Limited - The Hateful Eight
Would reservioir dogs count? I feel it's pretty much in one room