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The Time Traveler's Wife

Play trailer Poster for The Time Traveler's Wife PG-13 2009 1h 47m Romance Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 153 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Chicago librarian Henry De Tamble (Eric Bana) suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to drift uncontrollably back and forth through time. On one of his sojourns, he meets the love of his life, Claire (Rachel McAdams), and they marry. But the problems and complexities of any relationship are multiplied by Henry's inability to remain in one time and place, so that he and his beloved are continually out of sync.
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The Time Traveler's Wife

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Critics Consensus

Though it may satisfy fans of the novel, The Time Traveler's Wife's plot contrivances and illogical narrative hamper its big screen effectiveness.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/12/2017
C-
But I should say, if you take out the part about the dumb premise, the acting is quite good--it almost makes you forget you're watching the big screen version of the tv show "Quantum Leap." Go to Full Review
David Fear Time Out 11/18/2011
2/5
That the actors can pull off such Oprah-friendly, sci-fi-inflected sap and keep straight faces is the most fantastic thing about this loopy love story. Go to Full Review
Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald 11/05/2009
3/5
While the script could have done more to exploit Bana's sense of humour, it does profit from his directness. There are no false heroics. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/26/2020
2.5/4.0
It's far too breezy to be taken seriously and way too creepy to ever allow an audience to surrender to the romance. Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr 7M Pictures 07/21/2012
3/5
The Time Traveler's Wife is a chick flick all around, and fans of the chick flick genre are going to eat this movie up. Go to Full Review
Dave White Movies.com 04/04/2011
2/5
The movie also introduces the concept of time-traveling fetuses, yet we're never treated to this in any visual way. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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CadeandKit R @CadeandKit Dec 3 The film weaves together Henry’s traumatic childhood, the loss of his mother, and how he grows up learning survival skills because every jump leaves him stranded, naked, and in danger. Cade and Kit highlight how the story makes time travel feel intimate, not cosmic. Would you want to know the date of your own death? Cade says absolutely not...it would pressure every moment. Kit says yes, she’d use that knowledge to be more present and intentional. The movie closes on Henry’s death and the later moment where a younger version of him appears to Clare and Alba one last time, tying the story together with a soft emotional release rather than a sci-fi twist. See more Ricardo Gil P May 29 The actors are not bad but the narrative is completely empty with no content whatsoever. The film doesn't explain anything. It's a giant void... See more Faiz D May 13 A really good romantic drama. See more Nghi N Apr 16 The characters are fun and it's an interesting concept on family love, but I can not get over how the manipulation and creepiness is played to be good. See more Cavanagh W Jan 13 I actually kinda enjoyed this movie. it was kinda creepy and manipulative how the guy kisses the rachel mcadams when she was like 15, but oh well. Also kinda weird that rachel mcadams has played a character in not one but two time travel romantic movies. See more Tammy M 09/06/2024 I loved it! I gave The Time Traveler’s Wife 5 Stars. Definitely a chick-flick romance, but a good one. An old--fashioned movie with an excellent plot, acting and a surprise ending. See more Read all reviews
The Time Traveler's Wife

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Movie Info

Synopsis Chicago librarian Henry De Tamble (Eric Bana) suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to drift uncontrollably back and forth through time. On one of his sojourns, he meets the love of his life, Claire (Rachel McAdams), and they marry. But the problems and complexities of any relationship are multiplied by Henry's inability to remain in one time and place, so that he and his beloved are continually out of sync.
Director
Robert Schwentke
Producer
Nick Wechsler, Dede Gardner
Screenwriter
Bruce Joel Rubin
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment, Nick Wechsler
Rating
PG-13 (Nudity|Brief Disturbing Images|Sexuality|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 14, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 2, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$63.4M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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