What is Cinematrix?
Cinematrix is a daily movie trivia grid from Vulture, the entertainment site. The board has three clues across the top and three down the side, and every square in the grid needs a film that matches both its row and its column. A clue might be an actor, a director, a decade or an award, so one square could ask for a film from the 1990s that starred a particular actor. The challenge is that the clues cross over in ways that make you dig deep into your film memory, and each film can only be used once, so you have to plan which answer goes where. If you prefer television, its sister game Telematrix works the same way with TV shows. It suits film buffs, people who always know which actor was in what, and anyone who loves settling movie arguments with friends.
How to play
- Pick a square and enter a film that matches both its row and column clues.
- Each film can only be used once.
- Fill all nine squares to complete the grid.
Quick facts
- Typical time
- 3–8 min
- Difficulty
- Medium–hard
- Price
- Some or all of the game may need payment on their site.
- On a phone
- Works in your phone's browser. Nothing to install.
Tips to get better
- Do the hardest square first. Find the crossing where you can think of only one film, and fill it while that film is still free.
- Remember that each film is used once. If a film fits several squares, put it where you have no alternative.
- Think of busy actors. For an actor's square, a long career gives you more to choose from. Sequels help too, since a series gives you several films in one decade.
- Check the year. Films released around the turn of a decade are easy to misplace. Was it 1989 or 1990?
- Go beyond the obvious when you can. The most famous film for a square is the one everybody picks. If you're sure of a lesser-known one, it makes for a more interesting grid.
Who it's for
Cinematrix is for film buffs who can list an actor's films without looking them up. It rewards breadth: knowing a little about a lot of films beats knowing a few films inside out. It's hard if you only watch now and then, and Vulture may ask you to sign in or pay. If television is more your thing, Telematrix is the same game for TV shows.
