The Darkest Minds

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The Darkest Minds

PG-13

Released Aug 3, 2018

1h 44m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Popcornmeter

15%

Tomatometer

139 Reviews

70%

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Julian Rex M

Tastelessly written and comically derivative, even The Darkest Minds' few thought-provoking (and highly contrived) elements fail to support a flatly unconvincing, woodenly acted tribute to the flaws of the long-stale YA dystopia genre.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

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Mandy C

I honestly feel like I was watching a kiddies version of Divergent especially at the beginning and most of the concept is just... Not original.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

Full Review

Phil K

Yet another X-Men type rip-off. If the Red and Orange kids are so powerful and dangerous, you would think they could easily stop their oppressors/executioners by manipulating their minds and actions. Oh well, I guess you're supposed to suspend all logic when viewing this sort of drek.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

Full Review

Vivianna _

A very over-looked movie in my opinion. It's unique and overall a wonderful movie. Has this ability to take you out of this world and reel you into the movie completely. A must watch in my book!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

Full Review

Pedro B

This is a great and original movie. I have never see this type of history before. I individually

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

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Gina E

Sweet movie, remind me of many other movie so nothing new but i still want to se a second movie of this

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

Full Review

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Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Director

Amandla Stenberg

Ruby Daly

Mandy Moore

Cate

Bradley Whitford

President Gray

Harris Dickinson

Liam

Patrick Gibson

Clancy Gray

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The Darkest Minds: 'What Happens Next?' - Trailer

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The Darkest Minds: Trailer 1

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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)

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