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Culture

Black Phone

What is black phone?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Term black phone[2]
Meaning a mobile phone that is predominantly black in color[2]
Film title The Black Phone[1]
Film year 2021[1]
Director Scott Derrickson[1]
Author of source story Joe Hill[1]

Black phone can mean a black-colored telephone or mobile phone, but in culture it commonly refers to The Black Phone, a 2021 supernatural horror film based on a 2004 short story by Joe Hill.

Context

The term 'black phone' can refer to any black-colored telephone or mobile phone [2]. In culture, it often points to The Black Phone, a 2021 horror film directed by Scott Derrickson [1]. The film is based on a 2004 short story by Joe Hill [1]. In the story, a boy uses a mystical black rotary phone to talk with ghosts of the killer's victims [1]. Ethan Hawke plays the Grabber [1].

Documented claims

  • In the film, the black phone is a mystical black rotary phone. [1]
  • The phone is used to communicate with the ghosts of the Grabber's slain victims. [1]
  • Ethan Hawke plays the Grabber in the film. [1]
  • The film is based on a 2004 short story. [1]

Questions and answers

Is that Black Phone based on a true story?

No, it is not based on a true story; it is based on a 2004 short story by Joe Hill [1].

Is Black Phone a really scary movie?

It is a supernatural horror film, but the sources do not specify how scary it is.

Was The Black Phone a flop?

The sources do not provide box office figures, so it is not known if it was a flop.

Was Black Phone 2 the last Black Phone?

The sources do not mention a sequel or a final installment.

Sources

  1. black phone - High Altitude Science — tools.highaltitudescience.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. How did 'Black guy on the phone' become a viral meme? History and meaning decoded — soapcentral.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture