The Time Machine

Play trailer

The Time Machine

PG-13

Released Mar 8, 2002

1h 36m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

155 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

Buy 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

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

Rated: 4/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

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.

Mar 27, 2009

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…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….

Rated: 3/5

Apr 20, 2025

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

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

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 26, 2022

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

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

Rated: 2/4

Jun 26, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

This Old G

Not terrible but I'll take the magic of the 1960 version anytime over this

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

Al P

good film! watched it so many times !

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

Full Review

Thomas S

I don’t get the downers on here. This is a great film of love lost and found again, with a heartfelt performance by Guy Pearce.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Keith C

This is one of my favorite movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

Full Review

Yash B

"The Time Machine" genuinely starts off being interesting and engaging. The movie had a solid premise and I wanted to see where it would go next. I feel like it all of a sudden changes halfway and then the movie feels like a mashup of a lot of underdeveloped ideas. I do think the movie moves at a good pace and is entertaining to watch, but it feels unfocused and pretty messy. Overall, this is a decent sci-fi movie but I feel it doesn't really know what it wants to be, and it makes it also a bit forgettable, despite being pretty fun at times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

Angel M

The movie is highly underrated and under appreciated. Many Criticize the movie for starting as a love interest Tragedy that turns into a thriller action movie. Basically complaining that it switches genres and tone so quickly. However the switch in tone helps Resonate and bring the core theme/ plot down to earth . It brings the theme of letting go and ultimately getting over the death of a loved one down to earth by giving Alexander a new unfounded purpose that life threw at him to give him purpose. This grounds a time travel movie and truly gives us a more adult feeling to the movie. Not to mention the amazing acting from the protagonist and easy to pick up and watch feeling that the movie Facilitates by its short but sweet 1hr and 30 minute run. One things for sure, it most definitely doesn’t deserve a 28% at its worst it’s an average movie sitting at around 5/10 or 6/10 but at its best it’s easily a 7/10 a well rounded movie that’s a fun watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

Full Review

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

Superman Returns

74%

60%

Superman Returns

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Superman Returns

Iron Man

94%

91%

Iron Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Iron Man

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