The Time Machine

Play trailer

The Time Machine

PG-13

2002

1h 36m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Scientist and inventor Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce) is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination is turned to desperation by a personal tragedy that now drives him to want to change the past. Testing his theories with a time machine of his own invention, Hartdegen is hurtled 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that mankind has divided into the hunter ... and the hunted.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

This Machine has all the razzle-dazzles of modern special effects, but the movie takes a turn for the worst when it switches from a story about lost love to a confusing action-thriller.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/29/2010

4/5

A good movie based on H.G. Wells' classic novel.

Go to Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

03/27/2009

Although it gets off to a decent start, this "Time Machine" breaks down when it gets to the distant future, which in this case isn't a good place to be stranded.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

11/06/2002

2.5/4

If H.G. Wells had a time machine and could take a look at his kin's reworked version, what would he say? 'It looks good, Sonny, but you missed the point.'

Go to Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Apr 20

3/5

…this 2002 edition wasn’t quite the definitive version of the HG Wells time-travelling story we were looking for, but it’s not awful; there’s a few vestiges from a bigger, better film, a few sly grace notes which make it worth the watch….

Go to Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/26/2022

4.5/5

An underappreciated movie anchored by a fine lead performance by Guy Pearce.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

06/26/2021

2/4

While I appreciate the ambition... all it made me do is want to watch the one from 1960.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Hunter P

@im_not_like_you 6d

Fantastic. Scary. Whimsical. Intriguing. Thought Provoking. Sad. Satisying. 8.3/10

See more

Shellie S

Nov 11

I know why people don't like the movie, but the soundtrack is fantastic.

See more

Andrew C.

@TerryHoitz550 Oct 18

I really like this movie, but maybe for the nostalgia. I remember watching it as a kid. The concepts are awesome. The effects, the makeup, sets. All really good. Sad to see it has a poor rating.

See more

tiny u

Oct 13

This Was Awful. In the beginning, this movie was really interesting, with the man wanting to save his partner, but after the time travel mishap, it took a corny, and idiotic turn, by going into a future pre-historic time, meeting some weird star wars looking dude and everything, fighting to the death. Had they stayed with him trying to prevent his lovers death, growing more and more insane with how and why cant he save her, eventually letting her know she'll die if he doesn't save her, but her saying she's OK if its her time, then that would've been interesting. Maybe popping in and out of the future with new ways to prevent her death. Then at the very end, it shows his former colleagues visiting his home, like huh????? This movie was awful and made 0 sense.

See more

Dave P

Aug 10

A very underrated film. Despite being directed by the great grandson of H.G. Wells and written by John Logan, who has been nominated for 3 Oscars, film critics decided they knew better and tore it to shreds. Respectful to the original source material and makes use of outstanding visual effects. I enjoyed this movie.

See more

Korra N

Jul 19

A fun blockbuster adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic from his great-grandson, the movie is still visually breathtaking, rousing & thoroughly enjoyable, even if it never fully explores the dangers of time travel or of the toll taken on our protagonist.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Simon Wells

Director

Guy Pearce

Alexander Hartdegen

Samantha Mumba

Mara

Mark Addy

David Philby

Sienna Guillory

Emma

Phyllida Law

Mrs. Watchit

The Time Machine: Official Clip - All the Years of Remembering

2:02

The Time Machine: Official Clip - What If?

2:11

The Time Machine: Official Clip - Going Forward

2:12

The Time Machine: Official Clip - The Morlocks' Diet

1:17

The Time Machine: Official Clip - Time Travel, Practical Application

2:12

The Time Machine: Official Clip - 800,000 Years of Evolution

2:07

The Time Machine: Official Clip - The First Attempt

2:13

The Time Machine: Official Clip - The Morlocks

2:13

View more videos

Reign of Fire

41%

49%

Reign of Fire

Watchlist

X-Men

82%

83%

X-Men

Watchlist

TRAILER

for X-Men

X2

85%

85%

X2

Watchlist

TRAILER

for X2

Iron Man

94%

91%

Iron Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Iron Man

Star Trek

94%

91%

Star Trek

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Star Trek

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Scientist and inventor Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce) is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination is turned to desperation by a personal tragedy that now drives him to want to change the past. Testing his theories with a time machine of his own invention, Hartdegen is hurtled 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that mankind has divided into the hunter ... and the hunted.

Director: Simon Wells
Producer: Walter F. Parkes, David Valdes
Screenwriter: John Logan
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, DreamWorks Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Action Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.7M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now