Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Darkest Minds

Play trailer 1:31 Poster for The Darkest Minds PG-13 Released Aug 3, 2018 1h 44m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
15% Tomatometer 139 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. One of the most powerful young people, Ruby, escapes from her camp and joins a group of runaways who are seeking a safe haven. Betrayed by the adults in power, this newfound family soon realizes that running is not enough -- they must use their collective powers to wage a resistance and take back their future.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Darkest Minds does little to differentiate itself in a crowded field of YA adaptations, leaving all but the least demanding viewers feeling dystopian déjà vu.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More (139)
Ben Sachs Chicago Reader To say the film suggests a mix of hazy political allegory and Henry Darger's outside-art classic The Story of the Vivian Girls is to make it sound more interesting than it really is. Mar 4, 2020 Full Review Roxana Hadadi Chesapeake Family Magazine The Darkest Minds puts an X-Men spin on the typical 'teens in dystopia' YA formula, but the result is more derivative than creative. Rated: 2/5 Aug 17, 2018 Full Review Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald The film is framed so deliberately as a prelude to more exciting times to come in its sequels that it renders the ending oddly anti-climactic. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 15, 2018 Full Review Brittany Patrice Witherspoon Pop Culture Reviews The Darkest Minds has some great ideas and moments sprinkled throughout the film, but ultimately, it is uninspired storytelling that wastes its potential on forced build-up rather than execution. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 11, 2024 Full Review Joe Lipsett Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast The film leans into all of the book's worst impulses and, most disappointingly, gives star Amandla Stenberg nothing to do. The FX is on par with other YA films, but the disinterest in exploring this dystopia renders The Darkest Minds hollow. Dec 1, 2021 Full Review Matt Cipolla Film Monthly [I]t isn't much of anything new, but must it be this boring? The Darkest Minds is stultifying -- a truly joyless experience of YA clichés and generic, licensed pop songs. Rated: 1.5/5 Jul 25, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (832)
King A. ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS MOVIE SO GOOD def deserved a 2nd one.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Jennifer S Not even 10 minutes in and kid dies. Then they show a military lady putting a gun to her head to kill herself and this is rated PG 13?! Parents beware of this rating!! This is a major reason we have a mental health crisis among children! The things our kids out exposed to is outrageous. This should have been rated R. Very disappointing. We need to do better!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Sumiah S This movie is a really good movie it has good stuff about it like “we can only trust us” and stuff like that, and this type of movie isn’t for all people, because people have different opinions, different type in movies and just because you personally didn’t like doesn’t mean leave a bad review because there was a 2 part of it but it got canceled because of all the bad reviews so the bad reviews aren’t so necessary so if you see this please give good rating cause there are people out there that don’t care about other just themselves I was honestly very upset when I found out there was a 2nd part but got cancelled because of people that just don’t care so maybe it’s for people that are into these type of movies not has a whole different type of movies and just don’t like this one so decided to give it a bad review I mean if you don’t like it then don’t watch it don’t put bad reviews I mean think about it was it really necessary to ruin a movie people must been really excited about coming out you might not care but imagine it if it had happened to you and that way you would really see how that would be Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Katie D Don't know why everyone hates on it, such a good movie, ending is terrible but could definitely be sorted with a second movie. The ending leaves you hanging wanting more. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/25 Full Review Jens S How can someone make such an interesting theme into such a boring movie? For the first time ever, I had to force myself to keep watching and not skip 80% of the movie. Really disappointing. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/29/25 Full Review Rachel C I honestly thought the movie was good. The story line is a little over done but it still grabbed my attention. I do wish the movie had a better ending, other than that in my opinion the movie is worth the watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Darkest Minds

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Kin 36% 53% Kin Watchlist TRAILER for Kin Self/less 17% 46% Self/less Watchlist TRAILER for Self/less Lockout 38% 46% Lockout Watchlist Left Behind 0% 20% Left Behind Watchlist I Am Number Four 32% 57% I Am Number Four Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. One of the most powerful young people, Ruby, escapes from her camp and joins a group of runaways who are seeking a safe haven. Betrayed by the adults in power, this newfound family soon realizes that running is not enough -- they must use their collective powers to wage a resistance and take back their future.
Director
Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Producer
Shawn Levy, Dan Levine
Screenwriter
Chad Hodge
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
21 Laps Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Disturbing Images|Violence)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 3, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$12.7M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now