Tetris Creator Alexey Pajitnov & Henk Rogers on What the Movie Gets Right

In 1984, a computer programmer in Moscow, Alexey Pajitnov, created what would soon become one of the world’s most iconic puzzle games. A working relationship with Henk Rogers, head of a software company at the time, would see this simply genius game skyrocket to the masses in a licensing agreement with Nintendo. Almost four decades later, the two would serve as executive producers for Jon S. Baird’s feature film, starring Taron Egerton, aptly-titled Tetris, which tells the incredible and unbelievable story of how they retrieved the rights to this game from the Soviet Union. Before the world premiere, Pajitnov, who is portrayed in the movie by Nikita Efremov, and Rogers (Egerton) sat down to chat with Collider’s Steve Weintraub.
During their conversation, they tell us how Tetris, now available to stream on Apple TV+, was a moving and touching experience to see on the big screen and how impressive it was to see a year and a half of their lives condensed to what Rogers called a “thriller on steroids.” They tell us their favorite way to play Tetris, what levels they’ve reached, and Pajitnov reveals which of his games he’s “really proud of.” The duo tease plans for the game’s upcoming 40th anniversary, share how the videogame development industry has changed since it’s infancy in the ‘80s, and how things they did then are “unthinkable” today, and touch on the psychology of why Tetris’ legacy has lasted decades.
You can find out more in the player above, or read the full conversation below. For even more on the film, check out Ross Bonaime’s review that promises this wild biopic “...proves that truth is stranger than fiction.”
#Tetris #AlexeyPajitnov #HenkRogers
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[@Demial_Sparda]

The best part, is that they still both friends.

[@jhoeofhoe]

I mean life and death is a make or break in any relationship. Itll either ensure a life long bond or destroy it in one go

[@GeekMasterGames]

Aleksey looks so happy. Content. It still warms my heart that he has been collecting royalties and credit for creating such an amazing game for so, so long. Henk is a hero, and I'm glad he's still good friends with Aleksey. That they have a good opinion of the movie.

[@BarnoRenfro]

Wikipedia says he doesn't collect any royalties 🤔

[@Bobbyroberts310]

⁠@@BarnoRenfroit’s worded a bit weirdly, but he started to get royalties after 1996 when they finally got the full rights back for Tetris

[@BarnoRenfro]

@@Bobbyroberts310 alright thanks

[@chineduokafor1918]

We called it “Brick game” in Nigeria growing up. We all need a friend like Henk. Great movie!

[@Quincy_Morris]

Good name!

[@christianseberos6024]

@@Endsentrois not really but i think tetris is a big influence for candy crush

[@kurenan4564]

I played Brick Game in Brazil as well. It's a standalone handheld device that exclusively played Tetris-like games. Something like 10 different variations. It was not the official version but it was more accessible and man was it fun.

[@hm-wg9ei]

In Russia we call Brick Game console just "Tetris (rus:Тетрис)" because most of us played in Tetris only on Brick Game. It was very popular and cheap twenty years ago

[@vuthanhtu3067]

yeah we call it "arrange brick" game in Vietnam too :))

[@yingxu3859]

In China, it was called "the Russian cubes". I grew up playing it and had so much fun. The Tetris movie is awesome.

[@davidbrennan5]

Alexey Pajitnov is a brilliant programmer, Thank You for creating such a masterpiece. I will never forget playing Tetris for the first time. I think it is one of the best games ever made.

[@ResillyusXD]

My grandma played Tetris on the Nintendo 64 and was able to launch Saint Basil's Cathedral. Every day I'd visit was a fun filled day trying to beat her high score. Sadly, she died last year of heart failure. So... Thank you, Alexey and Henk for giving me those special memories with her.

[@AJ-2k24]

Sorry to hear about your grandma, hold onto those fond memories, im sure she up there somewhere having a great time bossing the high score charts on tetris 👍🏻

[@solidsnake58]

Great movie. Alexi and Tetris are international treasures.

[@henokhsatrio8804]

These guys are legend! The movie is maybe the best movie I've seen in a while

[@Artificial_Intelligence00]

Same here

[@blazenchula]

I'm here after watching the movie and I must say Alexey glad everything worked out for you and as well as Roger

[@wartekk472]

I absolutely loved the movie, I’m so happy Alexey was recognized and rewarded for his amazing game. Henk is man of his word and I’m happy he made a lifelong friend. Tetris to infinity & beyond! 🫡

[@CrunchySpon]

What movie

[@odontowork]

@@CrunchySponTetris, it’s on Apple TV

[@roxydzey]

@@CrunchySpon did you even watch the clip lmao

[@jsunnydaze]

5:08 Holy shit. Brain just exploded. Alexey also created Hexic?! I've played Tetris since I was 5 y.o. but Hexic is an underrated puzzle, I loved it. I had no idea!

[@BarnoRenfro]

He is a genius genetically 👾

[@BayAreaBully7667]

Wait that's the one with the gems ain't it!?

[@BayAreaBully7667]

Dude wholey fuckin shit. I used to have a Zune ! It was a Microsoft MP3 player prob back in 2007-8? Maybe. An I had that game on my ZUNE! LMAO I played that shit all the time !!!!

[@bland9876]

Hectic is the game that was installed on every 360 hard drive and is actually free to download on a 360 right now. It's kind of like bejeweled but with hexagons so you have a grid of hexagons and then your cursor covers three hexagons and when you push one of the buttons the hexagons will rotate all the way around in a circle clockwise or counterclockwise. If three of the same color touching then they will disappear and then there are other combinations you can make to get some special items or bonus points.​@@BayAreaBully7667

[@MrHeMan1001]

Alexi seems like a genuinely lovely guy!

[@victoriagannaway7753]

Great movie! Really enjoyed playing Tetris on the Game Boy. Thank you for creating a great game!

[@Armymedic3]

Always been a huge advocate of Tetris since the 80’s. I played just about every version of Tetris. Alexey, a huge thank you for your contribution to the game software. Tetris is not just game, it’s a way of life. I believe Tetris is the first real brain training game. Tetris is the ultimate universal game that allows everyone to play, compete, and meditate. A true panacea. I purchased an Apple + subscription for the first time so I could watch the movie and it didn’t disappoint. It made me appreciate Tetris even more. All these years and we all took this game for granted. You risked your life and family for a game you loved just to share with the rest of the world. You deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. Henk, thank you for all your sacrifices and assisting with bringing Alexey to America and keeping your promise. Unsure of what’s true and untrue in the movie but damn it was an adrenaline rush just like playing Tetris at the zenith.

[@CASLOAcademy]

" Tetris is not just game, it’s a way of life. I believe Tetris is the first real brain training game. Tetris is the ultimate universal game that allows everyone to play, compete, and meditate." ...Do you think that? then you should try to play chess :)

[@Armymedic3]

@@CASLOAcademy let me rephrase, I believe Tetris is the first “electronic game” that helps train the brain… the video game with proven cognitive benefits

[@clashatdemonhed9554]

@@Armymedic3the dude who replied knew what you meant and was being an ass 😊

[@DreBourbeau]

it's enlightening to hear pajitnov talk about his other non-tetris games. i always thought he was a one-hit wonder - now i realize that he had an exceptional career.

[@pie_g]

I LOVED THE MOVIE I CRIED I LAUGHED I CHEERED FOR THE GOOD GUYS! MOST IMPORTANTLY I REDOWNLOADED TETRIS ON MY PHONE!

[@Artificial_Intelligence00]

Same here!

[@EverlastingEclipses]

i remember fond memory of playing tetris on gameboy... damn so these two gentlemen are the reason why i have such a fond childhood huh... thank you ..

[@AlonsoValenciaJ]

Congratulations to Collider for such a great interview. This is the perfect companion for the movie and the whole history of Tetris.

[@dannymartial7997]

I love the Tetris story because it’s refreshingly positive. The creator wasn’t completely ripped off or had his life ruined. Henk is responsible for a lot of that, making sure Alexey got the credit he deserved

[@xnadave]

I'm a coder. I'd love to buy Alexey a drink or a coffee and just sit back and let him do the talking. (And Henk, as well. :))

[@stadoblech]

pandoras box was brilliant game!! I didnt know that mr Pajitnov was behind it but now knowing this fact it actually makes a lot of sense

[@MarvillDigitalPresence]

i cried watching the whole movie, it was a roller coaster ride!

[@vangoghsseveredear]

Aleksey seems like such a positive person, man. Absolutely deserves his success. Such a crazy story too

[@jackieburkhart3268]

honestly, tetris will never get old. there will never be such thing as too much tetris.

[@dannydetonator]

Pfp checks out..

[@KT37915A]

Henk Rogers has a heart of gold. Good on you dude. You made the world a better place.

[@DerHerrMitR]

I remember, in 1989, when I was 5 years old in the former German Democratic Republic, someone had installed a version of Tetris on the computer which was used to control the CAT scan machine at my mom's workplace. That was my first experience with this timeless game, and when I got the GameBoy in 1990, it was heaven!

[@dannydetonator]

Two countries further East at the same time we somehow got small Tetris-only devices craze. Can't remember if that was '89 or '91, probably the latter, no PC for ordinary people though.

[@MaxBarashev]

It's a most coolest inerview with Tetris creators! Your questions was amazing - not a single question was unmissed a target! Awesome!

[@Artificial_Intelligence00]

I just watched this movie! Such an important monument to the gaming culture and community!

[@thelucabrazzi]

What's so great about the story is they say there's only so many stories to tell but this had such a unique dynamic, it felt so fresh because we haven't seen a situation like this ever before in a film.

[@shtorrent]

I saw the shuttle once too! was amazing! it is always great to play a game you know has an "end."

[@raquelzaraujo]

It was pretty big in Brazil too. Remember playing it with my dad all the time.

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

I'm glad to hear that they love Tetris Effect, it's my personal favorite version of Tetris. Both for the legendary aesthetics and because of the Zone mechanic that lets you clear a whole board at once.

[@regenerate2427]

One of the best movies I have seen I a long time. These 2 are legends.

[@rsz90182]

I never knew anything about Tetris's origins and the movie. It was suggested to me today by KZbin. I thought Nintendo wrote the program. It amazed me that these guys risked their lives to put food on the table by using everything in their power to never give up and try and try again. They succeeded.

[@bhoqeem1975]

A fellow Indonesian there. Go Henk!

[@tonysmario817]

good stuff... how do you not love these two...especially alexy? it’s some kind of pure heart that is so proud of the achievement, but doesn’t measure, or hardly recognize, the difference in dollars! wow...makes me happy to see such things these days.

[@068LAICEPS]

Now we need a second part about the "9999 in 1" console.

[@CakeInMyPockets]

The movie was amazing, absolutely brilliant!

[@RahulR-nm3kd]

This movie was way better than I thought it would be.

[@peterkop3099]

When u think Hard about this game, it is fairly Simple, doesn't take much programming, storyline & graphics BUT very Addictive. Simpleness & Basic Strategy that makes this game suit Everyone who loves Challenge. It is a very Unique piece of Art that lasts Decades & probably Century. Sometimes things dont have to be complex & full with gimmicks to be great, it's about hitting & nailing the Sweet Spot & this game does it Best. Kudos to Both of them who create One of the Classiest Games Ever Made. Cheers

[@itslechico]

Let's take a moment for our people out there that didn't even know about the tetris rocket 😢

[@galgalonce]

These guys are absolutely amazing

[@IMZY-_-96]

🥺🤧who else came after watching the movie.

[@toebeexyz]

Same, almost blew through a whole box of tissues 😪

[@IMZY-_-96]

@@toebeexyz 🤣nice

[@phathizwemashaba3581]

Same😂

[@Artificial_Intelligence00]

Same

[@anthonyc.7605]

That relationship damn, I'll never know what it's like

[@MagklJellyBeanPastelLucidDream]

Yeah, that ending with Alexi saying how he played his game with friends really made me break down n cry a bit. The madness of former SUR.

[@CallousCoder]

It’s such a wonderful game. I’ve been into computers since 1983 but the first time I played Tetris was on 1990 on my GameBoy. I later realized I had copies on the ST and C64 before that (sorry Henk and Alexey but it was what we did on the 80s) and for almost every console I’ve owned since I bought a version. And Tetris effect is amazing in VR. So relaxing. There are few games that are perfect and this is one of them!

[@JCMaldonado13]

So there could potentially be a sequel made about the creation of The Tetris Company.

[@manciamusic]

I love Tetris!!! The perfect example how a simple game idea can unite the world!!!!

[@bimmyfrizzo3988]

I never knew henk Rogers went through so much hell just to get Nintendo the right's to tetris. Great movie. These guys are truly heroes.

[@oscopin74]

I just watched the movie 🍿 and really enjoyed it. I've seen documentaries on the story before but never laid out in a movie. I liked it. It was definitely Hollywood'd up, but good.

[@khaleel96]

I love the movie was so enjoyable to watch I'm a kid of the 1980s & when I played for the first time Tetris on my Nintendo Famicom I was instantly hooked but not just me but my whole family we all couldn't stop playing I remember we all challenge each other who can go the furthest in game & the first time I saw the Game Boy and Tetris was so cool the humble beginnings of the game Tetris wow just awesome 👏👏👏👌

[@BarnoRenfro]

I love playing Tetris while i fly on the airplane, time flies fast 😅. Would be great to see a movie on who created a tanks game 🤔

[@TheSicilianMelody]

very great guys, amazing game and movie. i grew up with tetris

[@DreamseedVR]

We cried too!

[@KingBowser77766]

True Legends

[@chefffs]

perfect thing to watch after seeing tetris

[@seanjohn14]

im just watch the movie...great movie

[@metalboy50]

I still love the tengen nes version of tetris.

[@Mart9]

I really love Tetris DX on the game boy color

[@kevincozens6837]

I watched the movie after someone told me about it. I have never owned a handheld gaming console or a game machine. I was aware of Tetris but it never appealed to me. I still found the movie interesting. It was a different time for games back then and it was also interesting seeing some of the other versions of the game, including the text based version.

[@matTmin45fr]

Just watched the movie. Russians weren't joking, damn.

[@BenjaminGroff-qi6lc]

Alexey Pajitnov will always be the god of the puzzle genre.

[@scottvaughn9]

I wanna know if Henk helped influence the gameplay the way the movie shows - like clearing 4 lines at once, etc.

[@deftcoleman0552]

I like Pajitnov’s accent. :)

[@iamasagao]

I really love the movie both of them are impressive

[@rrrrliberty]

we call it the russian bricks, and my mom loves playing it , she normally spent hours on the handheld and show off her new records lol

[@alexbras]

Tetris is the most hard core game there is... pure math and quick thinking comes in even memorizing the sequences.

[@deviandrianto]

the TETRIS movie is very entertaining. I like to watch the movie.

[@adelalvin]

what a movie , i am blown up

[@jal051]

I always thougth the arcade machine was the first. It's definitely the first one I tried, years before any other version for me.

[@johndeverson3533]

Revive Tetris battle/ Tetris friends on mobile phones

[@thesupremeginge]

Next time ask them about Tetrisphere. (N64)

[@ukwuebubeemmanuel3726]

Great movie

[@jackfrost9451]

Good movie 👍

[@gabzpot]

Legends.

[@anglerev5832]

w movie what a grind

[@iamasagao]

I watch the movie because my idol aespa get honoured to sing Tetris OST song called Hold On Tight and boom the movie is so great great!

[@paolabueso]

I love Tetris! 😀🙌✨

[@Quincy_Morris]

I knew the original maker of Tetris was Russian but I didn’t know he was THIS Russian.

[@goldenhime8404]

Why is this special?

[@Slowmo896]

It’s so funny, I thought they weren’t who they were, I looked and thought the guy in the blue would be the America, and didn’t dawn on me that Henk was a throw back hippy, lol…the movie was great, one of my favorite movies to be honest about gam8ng if not the best..

[@Hellshonor2]

great movie!

[@AllanAdamson]

RIP Jonas.... Long Live Thor

[@dariamoiseenko8396]

They are so nice ❤

[@CuriousChronicles82275]

I thought the movie Tetris would be a fad but Im loving it and will watch again .

[@arpadloov6461]

Tetris is pivotal for the future

[@nostalium]

Jesus! How hard is it to adjust your webcam's brightness? 🥴

[@christhed8679]

Simple games age well

[@CopingContinuous]

Henk’s daughter should have been in the interview

[@venomenace]

I'm sure Alexey made some money off his other titles and he's being modest of his Tetris earnings but imagine just having a bunch of money and "splurging" on a $100 watch. 😂 Being that frugal definitely insures his family for many, many, MANY generations.

[@astridkjellberg]

henk IS like eddie van halen haha amazing

[@achonxnesta5179]

to be honest tetris movie is soo goooooddd....

[@omegalink314]

I want to hear an interview of alexey in Russian so he will be able to express himself fully

[@HistoryUnlocked-fi3er]

I didn’t know Sonny Crockett made Tetris

[@Goochbag8]

I love Hexic.

[@Tegui4]

I have a question, all Roger did was to get a license to start selling Tetris in America? Or did he create the same game? i'm confused

[@thelucabrazzi]

Too much to explain did you not watch the movie. You did not but it's also about driving ambition. Bill Gates did not create Windows but 90% probably would think so

[@kuronoch.1441]

Co-founder of The Tetris Company after Pajitnov reacquired 50% of the rights to Tetris. The other 50% was then sold to them by ELORG while Belikov was still in charge.

[@jimbo5_7]

I've not enjoyed a movie as much for a long time.

[@Slowmo896]

Henk, like it’s a movie A REAL MOVIE, LOL are there fake movies ? lol

[@johnbeal839]

It was an interesting video but the title of it is simply not true.

[@nurebad]

why Henk is White on the movie

[@Todsturm]

In china it’s called the Russian blocks lol