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A tense underrated sci-fi thriller movie is on TV tonight

Published 17:40 9 Jul 2026 BST

Updated 17:40 9 Jul 2026 BST

Stephen Porzio
A tense underrated sci-fi thriller movie is on TV tonight

Homemovies & tv

Its story was previously made into a Twilight Zone episode.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Thursday, 9 July) is The Box, the underrated sci-fi thriller from cult writer-director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales).

The 2009 film is based on the short story 'Button, Button' by Richard Matheson (Duel, I Am Legend), which was previously made into an episode of The Twilight Zone.

Kelly's take on the story stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. They play a suburban married couple under financial strain in 1970s America.

One day, however, a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella) shows up at their house with a box and a sinister offer - one which, though frightening, could alleviate their money woes.

"If they press a button in the box, someone they do not know will die, and they will receive one million dollars," a plot synopsis adds.

While it earned mixed reviews upon release and was not a box office hit, we'd argue The Box deserves a revisit, thanks to its gorgeous cinematography, its unsettling mood, its haunting story and its memorably dark ending.

The Box is airing on TV tonight on the channel Legend Xtra at 11pm. It is also available to rent on Apple TV and the Sky Store.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

Imposter - Legend Xtra - 9pm

A decent sci-fi thriller based on a Philip K. Dick story about a man (Gary Sinise) in a near-future who is accused of being an alien replicant.

Transporter 3 - Film4 - 9pm

Jason Statham's final outing as the transporter.

Blade Runner: Director's Cut - BBC Four - 10pm

Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic.

Elvis - BBC One - 10.40pm

Austin Butler is 'The King' in this hit music biopic.

The Artifice Girl - Film4 - 11.05pm

This 2022 sci-fi psychological thriller about a rapidly advancing AI has a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Chicago - Sky One - 11.10pm

The Oscar Best Picture winning musical.

Jane Eyre - BBC Four - 11.50pm

A 1943 adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's gothic novel.