Primer | Rotten Tomatoes

Primer

PG-13

Released Jan 16, 2004

1h 18m

Drama

Sci-Fi

List

73%

Tomatometer

132 Reviews

79%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

Intellectual engineers Aaron (Shane Carruth) and Abe (David Sullivan) build and sell error-checking technology with the help of their friends Robert (Casey Gooden) and Phillip (Anand Upadhyaya). But when Aaron and Abe accidentally invent what they think is a time machine, Abe builds a version capable of transporting a human and puts the device to the test. As the two friends obsess over their creation, they discover the dark consequences of their actions.

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Critics Consensus

Dense, obtuse, but stimulating, Primer is a film for viewers ready for a cerebral challenge.

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Scott Tobias

AV Club

Primer gains its seductive power by leaving the solution tantalizingly out of reach.

Jun 16, 2017

Full Review

Andrew Pulver

Guardian

Primer is off-putting: in trying to be elusive it's simply obstructive.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 16, 2017

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

An exhilarating, disturbing and funny experience.

Jun 16, 2017

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Projected Figures

Time travel may provide the paradoxical mechanics of the plot, but no matter where the film goes, it never stops being a study in moral character, as two friends become victims of their own timeless, tragic flaws.

Jul 22, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The storytelling is so confusing and the multiple timelines are so numerous that sorting out what exactly unfolds saps all the entertainment value.

Rated: 5/10

Nov 9, 2020

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Certainly there are many flaws with this project, most from a technical standpoint and obviously due to the budget, but despite those shortcomings, Primer still stands out as the most intellectually stimulating film of the year.

Nov 14, 2019

Full Review

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Max W

a little hard to follow

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Luke N

At first I thought it was a very ambitious and creative film, where it's incredibly small $7,000 budget created a difficult viewing experience. Later... a 20 min explanation on YouTube made me realise it was actually a brilliantly crafted, scientifically accurate depiction of time travel that I didn't understand at all...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Amazing film with a $70k budget but a billion dollar concept. Time travel is my favorite genre of sci fi & this is one of my favorite flicks. The realistic feel, with a terrifying outcome, makes the future pretty scary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

matthias s

"Primer" left me scratching my head and contemplating the mysteries of the universe, but not in a good way. This film is so complicated that I needed a flowchart just to keep up with the plot. The acting was decent, I suppose, but it's hard to tell when the characters themselves are about as relatable as quantum physics. The camerawork was impressive, I'll give it that. The visuals were crisp, and the cinematography was on point. Unfortunately, the beautifully shot scenes couldn't save this movie from its convoluted storyline. As for emotional attachment, I might as well have been watching a documentary on string theory. I couldn't care less about the characters and their time-traveling escapades. This film made me feel dumb, and not in a fun, mind-bending way. If you're up for a cerebral challenge, "Primer" might be your cup of tea, but for me, it was a perplexing puzzle I couldn't wait to put down.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Jose V

once you understand the movie, you just see a masterpiece

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/23

Full Review

Tyler c

Its not perfect but it is the most complex mind bender I've seen in decades. The number of parallel timelines crossing over eachother would take a slideshow or graphic to truly comprehend. For such a budget oriented film with a not so well known cast, the overall outcome is astonishing to say the least. Very impresssed. 9.6/10.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

Full Review

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Shane Carruth

Director

Shane Carruth

Aaron

David Sullivan

Abe

Casey Gooden

Robert

Anand Upadhyaya

Phillip

Carrie Crawford

Kara

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Synopsis

Intellectual engineers Aaron (Shane Carruth) and Abe (David Sullivan) build and sell error-checking technology with the help of their friends Robert (Casey Gooden) and Phillip (Anand Upadhyaya). But when Aaron and Abe accidentally invent what they think is a time machine, Abe builds a version capable of transporting a human and puts the device to the test. As the two friends obsess over their creation, they discover the dark consequences of their actions.

Director: Shane Carruth
Producer: Shane Carruth
Screenwriter: Shane Carruth
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Language)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $424.8K
Runtime: 1h 18m

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