The Sweatbox

The Sweatbox

Directed by Trudie Styler, John-Paul Davidson

Produced by Xingu Films

200295 min7.0 / 10

A behind-the-scenes documentary capturing the creative turmoil, conflict, and artistic compromise that defined the troubled production of an animated film.

Trudie Styler, a documentarian, had been allowed to film the production of 'Kingdom of the Sun'/'The Emperor's New Groove' as part of the deal that originally brought her husband Sting to the project. As a result, Styler recorded much of the struggle, controversy, and troubles that went into making the picture on film (including when producer Fullmer called Sting to inform the pop star that his songs were being deleted from the film). Styler's completed documentary, The Sweatbox, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 13, 2002. Disney owns the rights to the documentary and has not released it on home video or DVD.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Sweatbox violent? No. Less violent than 92% of films.

  • Is The Sweatbox sad? Somewhat. More sad than 70% of films.

  • Is The Sweatbox scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.

  • Does The Sweatbox end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.

  • Is The Sweatbox easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

71/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity64

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise79

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love70

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Sweatbox

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Sweatbox

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Sweatbox, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Sweatbox, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Sweatbox, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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