Rubik's cube appearances in feature movies

As a devotee of both Rubik's cubes and movies, I like it when a Rubik's cube appears in a feature movie. To keep a bit track of them, I started this list. If you have any suggestions, do not hesitate to email them to me or @ them to me on Twitter.

Armageddon

A 1998 disaster/science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Screencap of Rockhound, holding a solved Rubik's cube in his hands.

Rockhound holding a solved Rubik's cube. Copyright Touchstone Pictures, 1998

Appearance

In an interview, a few main characters are asked to solve a Rubik's cube. Rockhound (Steve Buscemi) solves a Rubik's cube. We only see him solve the final move.

Quotes

Piece of cake.

Rockhound (After solving the Rubik's cube.)

Dude, Where's My Car?

A 2000 comedy film directed by Danny Leiner. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Screencap of Chester, who found a Rubik's cube in the pocket of his blue jogging suit. He is looking numb at it in a cloathing sture.

Chester just found the cube. Copyright Alcon Entertainment, 2000

Appearance

Two groups of aliens and a group of space-wannabe-nerds are searching for a Continuum Transfunctioner. For some reason they think Jesse (Ashton Kutcher) and Chester (Seann William Scott) have this device that can destroy the planet. The Rubik's cube appears in the movie after a while, and turns out to be the Continuum Transfunctioner at the end of the movie.

Comments

  • On the images you can see that white is next to yellow on their cube. Usually, white is apposite yellow on the cube.

Quotes

Cool!

Chester (After finding the Rubik's cube in his pocket.)

Dude, you're never gonna figure that thing out.

Jesse (When Chester is trying to solve the cube.)
Composition of four screencaps where the Rubik's cube transforms in a Continuum Transfunctioner. On all the four pictures Chester and Jesse look numb at the Rubik's cube. The Rubik's cube itself spins sides and the mini cubes inside it kind-of blow up. The end result is a sphere-shaped bomb with LEDs on it to indicate that it is a bomb.

Composition of four screencaps where the Rubik's cube transforms in a Continuum Transfunctioner. Copyright Alcon Entertainment, 2000

Transcript

Chester
Look dude, I almost got it!
Jesse
Dude, you're really starting to urge me with your Rubik's cube!

Duplicity

A 2009 romantic comedy spy-thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Screencap of Ray's hand, holding a Rubik's cube keychain.

Ray with the Rubik's cube keychain. Copyright Laura Bickford Productions

Appearance

The Rubik's cube appears in one scene, where Ray (Clive Owen) hold a Rubik's cube keychain in his hand to allow Claire (Julia Robberts) to recognise him. Later in the scene Claire has a similar cube in her handbag.

Hellboy

A 2004 supernatural action-thriller film directed by Guillermo del Toro. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Abe Sapien is floating in an aquarium upside down holding a Rubik's Cube only solved for two sides. A girl named Liz Sherman is sitting in front of the aquarium.

Abe Sapien complaining about his inability to solve the Rubik's Cube. Copyright Revolution Studios, 2004

Appearance

A merman-like creature called Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) is recovering in his aquarium and tries to solve a Rubik's Cube. He talks with Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) and complains about his inability to solve the Rubik's Cube.

Comments

  • Frankly, Abe is not able to solve the Rubik's cube. Earlier in the movie he is introduced as an intelligent creature with psychometric abilities.
  • Abe states that it took him three decades to solve two sides. The movie was released in 2004. If we suppose the movie does not take place in the future, that means he already had the cube in 1974. 1974 was the year the Rubik's cube was invented by Ernő Rubik. However, the Rubik's cube was released six years later in 1980 by Ideal Toys.
  • Almost all scenes in the sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, were shot in Hungary. Hungary is the homeland of the Rubik's cube. Ernő Rubik was born and lived in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. Hellboy itself was shot in the Czech Republic.

Quote

Listen, I'm not much of a problem solver. Three decades… and I've only completed two sides.

Abe Sapien

Låt den rätte komma in Swedish, "Let the Right One In"

A 2008 romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Screencap of Eli who is trying to solve the Rubik's cube. The shot is made of only the hands and the Rubik's cube.

Eli is trying to solve the Rubik's cube. Copyright EFTI, 2008

Appearance

There are three scenes where the Rubik's Cube appears.

  1. The first is when a girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson) looks at Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) trying to solve the cube. She asks about it, and Oskar lends her the cube. In the scene is visible that Oskar is only able to solve one side of the cube.
  2. In a scene without spoken words, Oskar finds the cube on the spot where he met Eli earlier. The cube is solved.
  3. In a later scene, Oskar asks Eli how she solved the cube. She states that she just twisted it, and starts explaining how she solved the cube, before the scene ends.

Comments

  • The explained method is a corners-first method. This is usually not a method beginners practice.

Transcript

Eli
What's that?
Oskar
This? It's a Rubik's Cube.
Eli
Is it some kind of puzzle?
Oskar
Yeah… Want to try? You can give it back tomorrow.
Eli
I might not be here tomorrow.
Oskar
The day after, then. But that's it. Oskar hands over the cube to Eli.
Eli
How do you do it?
Oskar
You want each side to be a solid color. Like this…
Screencap of Oskar with a solved Rubik's cube in his hand. There is a certain amount of snow on top of the cube, since it is winter.

Oskar finds the Rubik's cube. Copyright EFTI, 2008

Oskar
How did you do it?
Eli
I just twisted it.
Oskar
Then you don't get any birthday presents, do you?
Eli
No.
Oskar
You can have this if you want.
Eli
It's yours.
Oskar
I don't get how you did this…
Eli
Want me to show you?
Oskar
Here. Go ahead.
Eli
Start with the corners. Then this part. And you put… Like this… No, like this. Then this…

The Persuit of Happyness

A 2006 American biographical film directed by Gabriele Muccino about the on and off-homeless salesman-turned-stockbroker Chris Gardner. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Screencap of Chris who tells Mr. Twistle how he thinks the cube works. The angle is set so, that Chris is at the back and Mr. Twistle is in front.

Chris explains to Mr. Twistle how he thinks the cube works. Copyright Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2008

Appearance

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is trying to get a internship to become a stockbroker at Dean Witter Reynolds. A scene where Chris solves a Rubik's cube plays a key role in Chris' attempts to get real contact with Mr Twistle (Brian Howe). Important to note is that this movie takes place in the year 1981. The Rubik's cube appears in the following scenes:

  1. Chris finds a Rubik's cube in the kitchen while having supper with his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) and son Christopher (Jaden Smith). He asks what is is, and what to do with it.
  2. Later that evening Chris is not able to sleep. He gets out of bed, and on his couch he is trying to solve the Rubik's cube. He is able to make a white cross, then solve the first layer of the cube, and shortly later the second layer.
  3. A few scenes later Chris and his son watch a program on the television about the Rubik's cube. The news reporter (James Finnerty) states that he is not able to solve much of it. Also, he says that a professor in Mathematics was able to solve the cube in 30 minutes.
  4. During a taxi ride with Mr Twistle, Chris says that he is able to solve a cube after Mr Twistle states that is is impossible. Chris solves the whole cube being very lucky, but Mr Twistle does not see that. This opens Mr Twistle's eyes, and Chris is later invited for an interview.
Screencap of the news reporter holding a Rubik's cube while presenting his report. In the shot is also an antique television set visible.

The news reporter, Jim Finnerty Copyright Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2008

Comments

  • The Rubik's cubes in the movie have a Rubik's logo on the white center piece. However, in 1981 those stickers were not yet sticked onto Rubik's cubes.
  • The cube was solved using the Tyson Mao's beginner method. The method was not yet invented in 1981. In fact, Tyson Mao was born in 1984. The method is very similar to the Fridrich method. This is a method developed by Jessica Fridrich, she started developing this technique after she met the cube face-toface Rubik's cube (…) in March 1981. [1]
  • The news reporter didn't do a real good job if he was real. The Guinness Book of World Records organized the first world championship on March 13, 1981. The record was set at 38 seconds by Jury Froeschl. This is contrary to the 30 minutes the reporter says the Math professor took it to solve.
  • It is not known to me, if the real Chris Gardner solved a Rubik's cube in order to impress someone else. And if he solved it, how did he solved it?
Screencap of Chris holding a Rubik's cube while his wife Linda is doing the dishes.

Chris meeting the cube for the first time. Copyright Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2008

Transcript

Chris
What that?
Linda
Eh?
Chris
What is this?
Linda
That's a gift for Christopher.
Chris
From who?
Linda
Sent here from work. It's for Dulls, Chris can't us it and she didn't know. (Note: she speaks too fast, I guess she says this ;)
Chris
What are you supposed to do with it?
Linda
Make every side in the same color.
Screencap of Chris trying to solve the Rubik's cube, while sitting on the couch. The shot is made van up-front.

Chris trying to solve the cube. Copyright Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2008

Jim Finnerty
It's a puzzle measuring just three inches by three inches on each side, made up of multiple colors that you twist and turn and try to get to a solid color on each side. This little cube is the gift sensation of 1981. Don't expect to solve it easily, although we did encounter a Math professor at CSF who took just 30 minutes on his'. This is as far as I've gotten on mine and as you can see I still have a long way to go. This is Jim Finnerty reporting from KJSF in Richmond.
Chris
So, when I was in the Navy I worked for a doctor who loved to play golf, hours every day. I would actually perform medical procedures when he'd leave me in the office. So, I'm used to be in a position where I have to make decisions and eh… Mr. Twistle is too focussed on the Rubik's cube Mr. Twistle, listen, this is very important.
Mr. Twistle
I'm sorry I'm sorry. This seems impossible.
Chris
I can do it.
Mr. Twistle
No you can't, no one can. Bullshit.
Chris
No, I'm pretty sure I can do it.
Mr. Twistle
No you can't.
Chris
Let me see it. Give it here. Mr. Tistle hands over the cube. Oh! Oh! You really messed it up. Heh.
Mr. Twistle
Sorry.
Chris
It looks like it works around a swipple. The camera moves away to the cabdriver who listens intensely. He holds an unsolved cube in his hands. Chris does not stop speaking: The center pieces never move. So if it's yellow in the center, it is the yellow side. If it's red it's the center of the red side. To the cabriver: You can slow down.
Mr. Twistle
Listen, we can drive around all day. I don't believe you can do this.
Chris
Yeah I can.
Mr. Twistle
No you can't.
Chris
Yeah I can. Nobody can. Chris solves the white cross. See, that's all I could do. Chris almost solves the first layer. You almost have the center! Ah, you almost had that one. Look at that! Chris solves the first two layers, and Mr. Twistle is amazed. The cab stops and Mr. Twistle and the cabdriver look at Chris. You're almost there. Chris solves the cube.
Cabdriver
$17.10
Mr. Twistle
This is me. Nods. Good job. Goodbye.
Chris
See you soon!
Cabdriver
Where are you going sir? Excuse me sir, where are you going?

WALL·E

A 2008 computer-animated-science fiction-romance film directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. IMDb, Wikipedia.

Robot WALL·E has eyes like a binocular. He looks interested with them at a Rubik's cube.

WALL·E inspecting a Rubik's cube. Copyright Pixar Animation Studios, 2008

Appearance

A white robot called EVE shows the solved Rubik's cube to WALL·E. WALL·E looks again very interested at the cube.

EVE has solved the Rubik's cube. Copyright Pixar Animation Studios, 2008

There are various appearances of the Rubik's cube in WALL·E.

  1. In the future WALL·E systems are left on earth to clean up the then very dirty earth. Over time, lots of WALL·E systems died, except one. He (in the movie just called WALL·E) has developed a strong personality, including a habit of collecting interesting pieces of garbage. In the movie we see WALL·E unpacking a Rubik's cube he collected on duty. He takes a look at it, and then puts it in some sort of locker.
  2. Later on, when a robot called EVE has arrived on earth, WALL·E takes her to his 'house' and shows the (unsolved) Rubik's cube. The camera moves away following WALL·E and returns only a few seconds later. EVE has a solved the Rubik's cube. It is not shown how she solved the Rubik's cube.
  3. At the end of the movie WALL·E does not recognize EVE any more after an accident. EVE tries various ways to bring back his memory, without immediate success. One of the things she tries is showing him the Rubik's cube.
  4. The end credits feature a pixel-art animation showing WALL·E trying to solve a Rubik's cube. EVE flies by and in a flash the Rubik's cube solves itself (see also the figure).
There are three screenshots. The first one shows WALL·E with an unsolved Rubik's cibe. In the second EVE flies by and there is a

Three screenshots of the animation in the end-credits. Copyright Pixar Animation Studios, 2008

Comments

References

If I do not cite my sources, I have the information from either IMDb or Wikipedia.

  1. [1] 20 years of speedcubing by Jessica Fridrich.

Thanks

Thanks go to the following people for giving useful comments and additions to this page (in alphabetical order): Jan Paul Posma, Kilian Valkhof, Lars and soyuzw.