Timeline | Rotten Tomatoes

Timeline

PG-13

Released Nov 26, 2003

1 hr. 56 min.

Adventure

Action

Sci-Fi

List

13%

141 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

While working at the site of an archaeological dig, Professor Johnston (Billy Connolly) stumbles into a wormhole and plunges back in time to 14th-century France. Mad scientist Robert Doniger (David Thewlis), who accidentally created the wormhole while developing a teleportation device, sends the professor's son, Chris (Paul Walker), and protégé Kate (Frances O'Connor) back in time to retrieve him. Unfortunately, their rescue mission is sidetracked by a bloody battle between France and England.

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Critics Consensus

This incoherently plotted addition to the time-travel genre looks and sounds cheesy.

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Jelisije J

An absolute imaginative film from the late great Richard Donner about modern people travel back in time during the 100 years war.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Ormus B

Beyond the bad acting and filming in low light, the plot is not the one from the book. I looked up this film expecting it to at least follow the general plot in the book, but it did not. The plot which the movie took is not engaging and painful to watch.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

Yoosik Ethan O

I don't understand the negative reviews. This was an exciting time travel story from start to finish. A great riveting story, none of which seemed convoluted at all to me, despite what critics said.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/19/23

Full Review

Mitch G

Critics must really hate life, and I guess everyone's a critic based on the audience score. This movie is a ton of fun, just enjoy it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

Shi Yu L

The plot is fine but the acting is a bit off and not that good. In some scenes, I couldn't even bear it. So, I'd say this film was not that good as I've expected.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/06/23

Full Review

Liam N

Timeline is what I would call a "Have to" film. To enjoy Timeline you have to be a fan of paul walker, Richard donner or just fun bad movies. Walker isn't great but does add some boyhood charm and good emotion to a relatively simple character. Gerard butler was a standout supporting character and had a interesting storyline. And walkers father in the film was good as well. The rest of the cast was ehh. The set design could have been better but was suitable. I really liked the small storylines and relationships that are reviled and grow over the course of the film. The action was decent and provided enough to be entertained. The ending was surprisingly good and answered the necessary questions. If your looking for a blockbuster video blast from the past. Look no longer. 6.6/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/01/23

Full Review

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Richard Donner

Director

Paul Walker

Chris Hughes

Frances O'Connor

Kate Ericson

Gerard Butler

Andre Marek

Billy Connolly

Professor Johnston

David Thewlis

Robert Doniger

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Timeline: Official Clip - Traveling Back Home

1:57

Timeline: Official Clip - Trapped in the Past

1:56

Timeline: Official Clip - Weird Findings

2:09

Timeline: Official Clip - The Journey to 1357 AD

2:13

Timeline: Official Clip - Greek Fire

1:59

Timeline: Official Clip - I Thought You Were Dead

2:07

Timeline: Official Clip - A Little Surprise for the French

1:45

Timeline: Official Clip - You Make Your Own History

2:10

Timeline: Official Clip - We Discovered a Worm Hole

2:13

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Weakly entertaining Middle Ages fantasy.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Timeline takes the most ridiculous movie plot ever and multiplies it by ten.

Nov 5, 2008

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

This big-budget adventure is based on a recent Michael Crichton thriller, though its premise is too stale to instill the sense of wonder critical to great sci-fi.

Nov 5, 2008

Full Review

Sarah Cartland

Caution Spoilers

The passage of time has given this daft and badly-acted sci-fi caper a certain eye-popping charm - bolstered by, if not solely due to, a soaking wet Gerard Butler spinning French aristocrat Anna Friel round in a coracle.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 1, 2021

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

This feels like a film worthy of re-appraisal. It is not some hidden gem or classic, but it is a solidly made and effective science fiction thriller with a good cast and a well-paced three-act story.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 29, 2021

Full Review

Justin Harrison

Birth.Movies.Death.

Timeline is a dreadful movie. It's a hybrid of science fiction and medieval war film that was made for $80 million, but it looks cheap and it feels small.

Jul 26, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

While working at the site of an archaeological dig, Professor Johnston (Billy Connolly) stumbles into a wormhole and plunges back in time to 14th-century France. Mad scientist Robert Doniger (David Thewlis), who accidentally created the wormhole while developing a teleportation device, sends the professor's son, Chris (Paul Walker), and protégé Kate (Frances O'Connor) back in time to retrieve him. Unfortunately, their rescue mission is sidetracked by a bloody battle between France and England.

Director: Richard Donner
Executive Producer: Michael Ovitz
Screenwriter: George Nolfi, Jeffrey Maguire, Michael Crichton
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Artists Production Group, Mutual Film Company, Donners' Company, Paramount Pictures, Cobalt Media Group
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Battle Sequences)
Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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