Black Button - Short Film

Click here to watch our latest short film, 'Of Land and Bounty':
• Of Land and Bounty - S...
PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING
'The Box' is NOT a rip off of 'Black Button', nor vice versa. More details below.
-KZbin Awards 2007 - Top Six Finalist, Best Short Film
-WINNER: Fitzroy Short Film Festival (Melb, Aus)
-WINNER: DearCinemaFest Short Film Festival (Int.)
and more...
Mr Roberts finds himself awoken inexplicably in a white room. A man sits before him at a desk and in between them stands a black button. If Mr Roberts pushes it, he will receive a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. Or he can take the key to the door and leave penniless. The catch? Pushing the button will result in the death of a human being. What would you do?
EDIT 1: Some people have observed a similarity in the premise of this film and an revival episode of The Twilight Zone in 1986. Please note (1) We had never seen the episode and only learned of it long after we'd finished the film. (2) The Twilight Zone weren't the first to do it. There was a short story before that, which was in turn based on an old premise called the 'Faustian Bargain', around since the 16th century (deal with the 'devil'). An almost identical premise exists in several cultures. Richard Kelly is even making a film with this premise called 'The Box'. (3) Our film is similar in premise, but different in plot, characters, dialogue, aesthetics, setting, moral meaning, religious undertone, twist etc. Each version, including ours, aims to bring something new to an old idea. Please have the respect to not accuse us of plagiarism.
Additionally, we have no particular religious affiliation; this is a fictional work and its ideas are designed to encourage thought and debate, not comment on any particular theology.
Our first professional short film. We made it for $200 and shot it on the stage of our old school in Melbourne, Australia. Fortunately, professional actor Robert Grubb agreed to act in it for free after reading the script. This film took nearly a year to put together, working on it in stages and creating the 'white' effect on a home PC. Please note that the younger actor, unlike his father Robert Grubb, has no formal acting training whatsoever.
The Making of "Black Button" is now on KZbin.
Two of our other shorts have been released on KZbin, 'Campsite' and 'The Window'. Click on our profile if you'd like to see them and subscribe for updates on new films. Thanks!

[@dannymunch4633]

I would've got there, first thing I'd do would be "Wow! A button." *press button* "What does it do?"

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

It blocks the chest to get to the heart

[@HondenWoef]

Like if teachers showed u.

[@kevinwadham3071]

GUILTY

[@MrHungry777]

Couple days ago a teacher did show the class this video I was there he asked us the same question then showed us this video

[@BoundlessDrop]

"...I'll be seeing them next." Best line!

[@felicitymatrix9924]

I watched this video 6 years ago and I have seriously been trying to find it ever since. I didn't remember the title; i thought it was gone. I was so excited when I found it! It's a great piece, I wish there could've been a movie made based on this idea.

[@edmundr9618]

Cameron Diaz was in a similar movie.. never saw it thou, I believe it was called "the box"

[@felicitymatrix9924]

Edmund R really? ! Thanks, I'll be watching that!

[@mistrydul]

+Lindsey Kimball dont its a horrible movie this shot film is wayyyyy way better, i hope its not too late and u havent wasted an hr or more watching it.

[@felicitymatrix9924]

+mistrydul lol no, it wasn't on Netflix, and I forgot about it. is it really that bad?

[@mistrydul]

+Lindsey Kimball yea to be honest i watched it, way too many questions unanswered same idea as this short film which is good just poor script and editing, suggest u read some reviews on rotten tomato to see if u will like it ; )

[@Michelo17]

After viewing this a 2nd time the number of people he said died in car crashes has an even more sinister meaning.

[@garrettreven5144]

I voted for this way back when it was nominated for best short film

[@mechanixis]

"My god..." "He's not yours, Mr. Roberts." Niiiice.

[@ballard420]

Yo this comment is 12 years old

[@DannyBPlays]

I remember this being HUGE when it first came out. I'm stunned that it actually only has 2M views

[@slimbullet96]

This is one of the most influential film I have ever seen. The whole thing itself is such a powerful message I was literally stunned by it. 10/10, wait no. 11/10

[@yyourmoma]

"You had the key to salvation. You chose comdenation" O my gosh that is such an amazing line..you guys are brillant

[@celamantia]

2020 version: "If you press this button, you can go to Applebees, but someone will die." (slams button) "Honey, if we leave now we can make it in time for half price appetizers!"

[@Blenderis123]

I would press it without thinking. With so much money, I could not only satisfy myself and all who are close to me, but also fund lots and lots of charities, that way improving life for more people, than 1 RANDOM person ever might.

[@sneider3]

In Christianity better good doesn't exsist. You cannot sacrifice anybody or anything to do even more good things (like this one person for 10 milion dollars). You can only sacrifice yourself, like Jesus did.

[@bashar31]

I have to say that this is a great short film. The acting the story and the shooting. Great job. Perfect ending.

[@nichoudha]

I highly recommend Death Parade (Anime) as it has this type of scenario except presented in a more complex fashion.

[@Shippiddge]

At first, I thought "The Box" was ripping this video off. But now I'm learning that neither had the original idea. Here I thought the people making this were clever and original. =/ Still, I doubt the movie will have an ending as good as this.

[@Muhammad-Dagestan.]

Емае 11 лет 🥺🥺🥺

[@maxcrime3105]

5:29 Omae wa, mou shindeiru

[@cusickju]

An absolute work of Art. As others have said, Brilliant! And you should have won the KZbin Short Film Award. This was by far the best. Keep up the good work. You don't find pieces of art like this as much anymore, and that is really sad.

[@DambustaAnimations]

Man: you have a choice, press the button and somebody dies, but you gain the million pounds, or you take the key, and you leave with nothi- Me: *grabs key* bye

[@Deemerowy]

Yeah i wouldn't like to be that fat either

[@emw1994]

We'd all like to think that, wouldn't we?

[@Anonymous-lf7he]

I watched this when it first came out and still come back to it now and then. Roberts acting is brilliant.

[@Glaceon_Guy]

I've been watching this on and off ever since it released half my lifetime ago. Let's be real: Most of us -- at least *half* of us -- here would've pushed the button. We say we wouldn't, but really... we would. We're corrupt, we suck, we're animals, and that's all wrapped up in a word: humanity. I'm no better. No one else should assume they are either.

[@SuperEd86]

this is great.

[@heartofdavidpictures]

I really enjoyed this film. Great casting of the antagonist. Good score. We may have needed to see a life "hanging in the balance" in order to intensify the dramatic feel behind pushing the button, but as a short narrative, the concept was great and the story compelling given the time frame. Keep up the good work.

[@jacobparker6090]

but i would just grab the money and the key and haul ass with it lol

[@Nathan20XX]

I think you missed the point

[@gabrielzeiger979]

Yeah it's not like Heaven has stores where you have to buy things with actual money!

[@JJBMXISCOOL]

The plot twists were so good! How he was actualy dead and how he said I’ll be seeing them next…. OMG! So good

[@Cushpot]

Nice idea but pretty poor acting from the guy playing Mr. Roberts

[@suburbanindie]

I wouldn't say that; it's just that the person opposite him was fantastic so it made him look worse by comparison.

[@Gg-zd8xz]

One's a veteran professional actor, the other isn't

[@kienbien6998]

One of the best short film I've ever seen so far. Thanks bro👍👍👍

[@SiliconBong]

Along with GUNFIGHTER .

[@frozen1black1rain]

Money can buy alot of things but a life of a person is priceless.

[@DanielKaspo]

We play games with a friend of ours who's younger than us and Mr. Beast recently made a Tweet about this. We were surprised so many people would push the button (including our friend), but I also now realize that this video came out when they were just kids so they didn't get to experience this moral conundrum video

[@jacobparker6090]

this is creepy and eerie as shit

[@mandavid1875]

oh gee that quality

[@Mollgan_Middlesex]

the older guy, "gods filter" played fantasticly. I almost got the same thrills as I get when I watch anthony hopkins play Hannibal in silence of the lambs.

[@xdaparix]

this makes so much more sense than the box.

[@k6yardotcom]

I've watched this video multiple times. Everytime i see it, it makes me realize the true nature of life. What would the world be without ego ? For some, it's good, it leads them to wealth and happiness, and for some exactly the opposite. The reason I had this one in my playlist is simply because it's powerful and sends a good message at the end. cheers to the team. take care guys, your subscriber and friend, -- ruben

[@masterkaran4u]

"Who do i killed " Ohh Don't worry about it Mr.Roberts i am seeing them next " Ohh God , it shows true face of everyone , everyone chooses to press the button .

[@plusplusplusplusp]

Wow! It's been YEARS since I've seen this. Great to be back!

[@moonmoon2479]

“You can’t put a price on life, and yet so many people will say otherwise. Remember, you didn’t hear that from me!”

[@ditzylilshorty]

amazing! i've seen this clip countless times and it still gives me the chills!

[@mmelopee]

This is so old!Are u still active?

[@JJBMXISCOOL]

Damn, this comment was written when I was 1 or 2 😯

[@Solocturnus]

This comment was made when I was 1

[@JJBMXISCOOL]

@@Solocturnus are you coming from a reply on a comment on Onlyjayus’s poll?

[@Solocturnus]

@@JJBMXISCOOL Yeah lol

[@chrisw443]

everytime i watch and hope he chooses the key.....

[@a2pha]

Simply. Superb. I have seen and shared this video so many times. It never loses its meaning. It never loses its dark and very dark humor.

[@michaelsboyd]

I have watched this one a few times, this is VERY well done. Story, Acting, Shooting. great Job!

[@jonathan_lol]

I found this video on the Wayback Machine...

[@fleafrusciante6274]

me too !

[@volkath5436]

X2

[@weexplode]

"my god!"

[@Gg-zd8xz]

oh, he's not yours...

[@charles8910]

Saw this video two years ago and I still love it!!

[@polishpunk911]

i love the twist at the end. "i'll be seeing them next."

[@cesarmelchor619]

Like si Vienes Por "JuegaGerman":v creo que soy el único que le puse pausa.

[@lirikovideoreaccionesyfree3631]

Pensé que sería el único

[@cesarmelchor619]

Liriko Videoreacciones y Freestyles hahahaha!

[@ComputaSezNo]

If the framing, shots and "Mister Robert"'s acting was done better this could have been a lot more of a hit. But great story

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

wow this is what the box should have been

[@Hammerai]

He thought it was a trick at that point. You wouldn't make the same decision if you knew it was a trick the whole time. The results would be inacurate.

[@wuchtigeklebe]

Matrix. Mr Smith: "You are here to make a choice.... Mr. Anderson."

[@GlobalGamingSociety]

The old man is a really great actor!!

[@postetha]

*grabs key and case*

[@fetch877]

It took him thirty seconds to decide... thirty-one... thirty-two... But we digress. Very nice film! It's been favorite for a while, glad to find it again.

[@musclepunched]

this is great, i love the subtle acting of the guy in the chair

[@FreeHankook]

this movie really makes you search yourself and question yourself. "Would i press the button if I was him?" or "Would I have taken the key?". saying that, this movie was a mission success

[@homer8all]

I have to be honest, when I first saw the previews for The Box I thought you guys made it! Today I saw The Box and I have to say that your short is so much better. I would pay to your short before I sit through that movie again. I want to thank you, the first time I saw this short I was inspired to make movies myself. We won audience favorite in Phoenix for our film. I look forward to seeing more from you.

[@plusplusplusplusp]

This was one of the first videos I watched on KZbin seven years ago, and it's still a great film

[@Gg-zd8xz]

PLOT HOLE SPOILER! At 2:41 he says that pushing the button could kill Roberts, but the odds are 6 billion to 1(ie he says that Roberts is still alive) But then at 5:31 he says that Roberts is already dead, which is why they are having the meeting.

[@tvbnine793]

+giles leigh he was lying

[@Gg-zd8xz]

TVBnine I know. Technically, he shouldn't do that. The whole point here is that Roberts is being asked to make a choice completely under free will, no aspersions cast

[@TheDragoninacan]

Let me play devil's advocate here (quite literally!). Mr Roberts asked ''How do I know pushing this button won't just kill me''. This is exactly what had happened, since the previous visitor pushing the button had in fact killed Mr Roberts (according to the very last words in this film). Therefore the response ''Well, it could...'' was not a lie. Of course saying something like ''it could and it did'' would have been the whole truth, but misleading someone through a carefully worded half-truth is just what you'd expect from a smug demon lord.

[@rawesome1000]

or he meant that by pushing the button he will go to hell and in effect be a second even worst death

[@dank6617]

There is no plot hole. He is not lying, he is very skillfully dodging the question by using a strawman. He asks how does he know that he is not going to die by pressing the button, the question by itself is invalid as he asks based on the premise is that he is alive in the first place, but he is not, so he asked the wrong question. On the other hand, the judge's answer is about odds, which is completely unrelated to the original question. Essentially, answering a question that wasn't asked, which is a clever technique for dodging questions. It is a technique that I used to use when I was a kid, my parents would ask me if I got good grades, and I would say that I was above average. It sounds like I am answering the question, but I am actually avoiding to answer (Especially if the average grade was an F and I got an D..)

[@RYNO2511]

The ending made this so much better. Excellent!

[@Poooopie]

My memory of this is always in HD, watching this in 240 is so weird

[@charles8910]

Just came across this one again. Great stuff. Great job!

[@bjggjb]

New take on an ancient meme, the morality play. It's timeless!

[@rockinoutpopstargirl]

pure brilliance.

[@joysweetcandy10]

I'm loving this..

[@FreakOZoidProduction]

one of the best short films I've ever seen

[@101lifescience]

YES! So glad to see this video is back to watch! Outstanding performance and story.

[@ERMM1307]

I think this was great! I know the idea of the plot goes way back but these guys did a good job with their own version, while holding on to the message behind the plot.

[@AspieGirlArianaHale]

I truly don’t care how fake it sounds … NOTHING in this entire universe & beyond would EVER make me push that button!! 😨🙅‍♀️

[@purewish]

Not gunna lie, I probably would have pushed the button if i hadn't already been dead. However if I am ever put in a strangely white room with a guy in a suit I'll know to pick the key now... Just as great as the 1st time i watched this, love it.

[@loknloll]

the Matrix, the Box, and Saw, all in one ill conceived short. brilliant

[@capsaicinrain]

I saw this long before previews for "The Box" and think this is much much better.

[@HungryLikeT3hW00t]

Wonderful! I loved it, simple, but brilliant!

[@ekblompower]

realy great work.

[@rkimball6]

Outstanding!

[@opachuo]

Yes! Fantastic!

[@disparky]

I was expecting Mr.Roberts to say "Don't hurt me, I've got so much to give!"

[@2Low317]

lmfao he was counting how many people getting in car accidents as it happens lmfao

[@JustGotCrucified]

Amazing.

[@theandrew1319]

love it!

[@PursuitsOfxHappiness]

I love this. Has so much meaning to it.

[@billythemav]

Outstanding as far as shorts go and i hope to see you credited on a box office hit in the next 10 years or so.

[@misterpants338]

i thought of this video when i saw the preview for the box! Very well done short. had to come watch it again!

[@Flopsaurus]

Exactly the same thing I was going to say. You took the word right from my mouth. lol

[@xelnagaus]

It just implies that he wasn't the only judicator because someone else died in a car accident mid-interview. That was the point of him counting "40,764... 5" So that other person that died had to go to someone else because the person that Mr. Roberts killed was next in line.

[@3LANCER]

Props to Robert, excellent acting

[@ZTVProductions]

I enjoy this film so much that I have to come back and watch it again.

[@TheHolyHarlequin]

i did NOT see that ending coming. Well done

[@parastoumanteghi8165]

Beautiful

[@cctemo2588]

I had a dream and in the dream someone came to me and told me to push the black button. This is how I found this.

[@Ashyboy1992]

I saw this in 2007 and when I heard about that new film in 2009 it got me thinking where I saw this the idea for that film.......... This is far greater and better than the film

[@deusproductions2176]

back when camera was 144p but content was 2160p. now camera is 4k and content is 144p

[@Sunnycream09]

loved it!

[@Vxllen]

My teacher showed me this during class

[@michaelsboyd]

Awesome short. Great story, acting, shooting. i have watched this a few times!

[@resington]

still as good as ever

[@arthurandgwen]

That robert scrared me he was so calm and content and then suddenly so evil and condemning amaxing film great job!

[@WedshankProductions]

the ending should have been that he gets the money but the door is locked, so he has to stay in that room forever.

[@lobstersrs]

Excellent short film.

[@sciifii1978]

Brilliant!!

[@NedMcPhie]

SOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo freaking good :) Thank you!

[@CairoSBTT]

This is great! I wouldn't have used the white afterlife-looking effect, the ending would have been more surprising.