Everybody knows Tetris. To this day, it is one of the most successful games ever and it is still loved by many. But what a lot of people don’t know is the story behind its creation.

The year is 1988 and Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) is going after Tetris. Unfortunately for him, there’s a long line of people who want the game for exactly the same reasons as he does. Deciding to travel to the Soviet Union, he hopes to join forces with creator Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses.

I was one of the many kids who grew up playing Tetris on my Gameboy. That adrenaline that would be pumping through my veins when I’d be close to beating a level – there was nothing like it. I never stopped to think of what went on behind the scenes to get this game into the hands of everyone around the world.

While at times the events in the movie were exaggerated, it did help move the story along at a nice enough pace that I never felt bored. Instead, I became invested in what was unfolding in front of me and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, even if I couldn’t stop myself from thinking all of this over a game? But then again, what do I know?

Egerton was brilliant in the role of Henk Rogers. Not only did he exude a charisma that sucked in the audience, his passion for the part helped make everything that much more authentic. I’ve always liked him as an actor and I believe he chooses projects that you would never expect. Another standout for me was Efremov who, as a native, was the perfect fit for Pajitnov. Additionally, his chemistry with Egerton was spot on and I kind of wish we’d seen more of them together.

Paired with a brilliant soundtrack filled with fun covers of popular hits to the way in which each chapter was broken up into a video game design, Tetris was a much better watch that I’d given it credit for. The delightful performances, twisty storyline and fast pace made it an enjoyable watch.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5