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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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The Belko Experiment

The Belko Experiment is a 2016 American horror-thriller film directed by Greg McLean and written by James Gunn.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Belko Experiment is a 2016 American horror-thriller film directed by Greg McLean and written by James Gunn. It follows employees trapped in an office building in Bogotá, Colombia, who are forced by an unknown voice to kill one another in a deadly social experiment.

Plot

The story follows employees at Belko Industries who are locked inside their office building and told by an anonymous voice to participate in a lethal game of survival. As the violence escalates, the workers form alliances and turn against one another.

Production

The film was directed by Greg McLean from a screenplay by James Gunn. It was produced by James Gunn and Peter Safran, with a cast that includes John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, John C. McGinley, and Melonie Diaz.

Release

The Belko Experiment premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. It later received a U.S. theatrical release in 2017.

Reception

The film received mixed critical reviews and was noted for its violent premise and bleak satire of workplace dynamics.

Key facts

  • The film is set in a corporate office building in Bogotá, Colombia.
  • Its plot centres on 80 employees trapped inside the building and ordered to kill each other.
  • James Gunn wrote the screenplay and also served as a producer.
  • Greg McLean directed the film.
  • It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016 and was released theatrically in 2017.
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Canadian context

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, giving it a direct connection to Canada’s major film-festival circuit.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Belko Experiment about?
It is about office workers trapped in a building and forced to kill each other under threat of death.
Who directed The Belko Experiment?
Greg McLean directed the film.
Who wrote The Belko Experiment?
James Gunn wrote the screenplay.
When was The Belko Experiment released?
It premiered in 2016 and was released theatrically in 2017.
Where is the film set?
The story is set in a corporate office building in Bogotá, Colombia.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1082807/
    Supports: Plot premise and basic film identification
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belko_Experiment
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, premiere, release, and plot details
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-belko-experiment-2017
    Supports: Film premise and critical framing
  4. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/movies/the-belko-experiment-review.html
    Supports: Plot description, director, and screenplay attribution
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_belko_experiment
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, and release information