Puzzle

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2:08

Puzzle

R

2018

1h 43m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

133 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

A woman who has a talent for assembling jigsaw puzzles sneaks away from her suburban town and goes to New York City, where she partners with a man for a puzzle tournament in Atlantic City. As she experiences independence for the first time, she begins to view her value and the pieces of her own life in a whole new light.

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Critics Consensus

Puzzle transcends its quirky premise with honest emotion -- and Kelly Macdonald, whose nicely understated performance proves she's too often underutilized.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Mar 20, 2020

In case you were wondering, the jigsaw puzzles are a metaphor for the wife's identity.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Sep 18, 2018

4/5

Always strong in supporting roles, Macdonald achieves her own mid-career breakthrough with a fascinatingly complex lead performance that pitches natural inhibition against a growing inner confidence.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Sep 6, 2018

2/5

What's to dislike here? Hardly anything - it's finding things actively to like that poses more of a problem.

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Nyle Coleman

InSession Film

May 9, 2024

C-

Puzzle is too messy and patchy in its storytelling to recommend.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 11, 2022

3/4

This performance, arguably the best in Macdonald's career, is masterful and elevates the modest pleasures of the film.

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Fletcher Powell

KMUW - Wichita Public Radio

Feb 9, 2021

The movie takes a few shortcuts that make for some abrupt plot points, but it hardly matters given Macdonald's performance.

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Caitlyn T

@Caitlyn695 Sep 19, 2025

The music, directing and acting in this film are all fantastic. It’s mesmerising, one of those movies that leaves you pondering life long after you’ve watched it. Hauntingly beautiful.

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Chatgirl R

@RT76311292 Sep 17, 2025

Beautiful movie. I love Kelly McDonald. She can do roles that communicate the essence of life. It’s real, painful and you can change what you don’t like. Absolutely loved it

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eyeof h

@RT91432124 Sep 12, 2025

Loved it...it's slow and rich and layered. This is more a play than a movie and MacDonald gives a stand out performance ... she does nuance in spades and this movie (play) is all about nuance. The framing, the cinematography, the melancholic music, the lighting, even the jaded decor of their house...her parents house..it's all packed with allegory. The subtle subtext of hope and potential for self-actualization is the real puzzle Give this movie time.. and attention..it deserves it but if you don't get it, that's on you

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Steve S

@RT54218535 Jun 28, 2025

Probably the worst film I've ever watched, dreary boring and slow i'd have more excitement in a confessional box! A film about jigsaw puzzlers, desperate or what!

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Joel D

@JD2025 Dec 1, 2024

Great acting. Mediocre to bad storyline. Melancholic souless selfish ending that pokes a jibe at sacrifices of father/mother hood.

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Kevin L

@Lakeman Aug 21, 2023

Kelly McDonald is criminally underappreciated and under-employed. She's a fantastic actress. Irrfan Khan gives a fine performance as well in this smart, well-directed movie. 3.3 stars

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Marc Turtletaub

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Synopsis

A woman who has a talent for assembling jigsaw puzzles sneaks away from her suburban town and goes to New York City, where she partners with a man for a puzzle tournament in Atlantic City. As she experiences independence for the first time, she begins to view her value and the pieces of her own life in a whole new light.

Director: Marc Turtletaub
Producer: Wren Arthur, Marc Turtletaub, Guy Stodel, Peter Saraf
Screenwriter: Polly Mann, Oren Moverman
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Big Beach, Olive Productions
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 27, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 43m

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