Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler

A group of archaeological students become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor. The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued. Based on a novel...( read more  read more... ) by Michael Crichton.

Flixster Users

56% liked it

50,329 ratings

Critics

11% liked it

132 critics

PG-13, 115 min.

Directed by: Richard Donner

Release Date: November 26, 2003

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DVD Release Date: April 13, 2004

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Stats: 2,668 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,668)


  • August 29, 2009
    This film seems a lot older than 2003. Not in a bad way, the feel is very much cheesy 90's blockbuster, in a retro nostalgic kind of way. Perhaps not quite the big blockbuster it was trying to be, Timeline is still an enjoyable romping adventure. The time travel aspects are so-so...( read more), just an excuse for some action. I liked the beginning, with a man returning and dying with his body slightly out of line. Perhaps this could have worked better as a conspiracy/mystery as those opening minutes are the best. The film does well to avoid that irritating "time" humour that invades most time-travel films. It's also interesting to watch now, with a cast that went on to much bigger and better things, mainly Sheen and Butler, giving impressive performances that obviously went some way towards them being noticed.
  • April 20, 2009
    I watched this film by pure coincidence one rainy Sunday afternoon and really enjoyed it. I admit though that the whole idea of time travel has always fascinated me and on top of that I have not read the book.

    EDIT: This story never really let go of me seeing as I never got to...( read more) watch it right from the start, so at long last I thought to rent it on DVD. I think I might go buy it soon too. It is totally fascinating. Mostly comparable in my opinion to Stargate, though strangely enough I don't find that on the "more like this" list.... yet ;)
  • November 8, 2008
    I will admit, this movie had a lot of potential, and the book was wonderful (RIP in Michael Crichton). But this movie falls heavily short of expectations.

    Timeline is about a group of young archaeologists who travel back in time to 1357 France to rescue their prof...( read more)essor. They travel back in time with the help of a secret experimental organization (ITC I think it was called).

    Realistic? By no means...

    Fun and entertaining? Could've been.

    What ensues is a boring plot of so-called "action." However, I will admit, the arrow battle in the end was a great scene, but the hand-to-hand battle that followed was horribly acted, short, boring, and pathetic. There was never a final climatic battle between the main antagonist and the main protagonist... hell, for that matter, the main villain in this movie wasn't even believable nor intimidating. All the characters were cardboard cutouts which is disappointing because the storyline was fairly interesting.

    One bright spot out of the whole movie was the acting of Gerard Butler who played Marek. If the movie would've been centered around his character, and gone more into detail about his love and desire for medieval leisures (like joisting, sword fighting, bow-and-arrows, etc), and maybe even giving him a bigger more powerful role, then this movie would've been 10 times better.

    Paul Walker easily gave the worst performance, but he was poorly cast because his character played such a small role. He seemed to overact to compensate for such short air time, but it was all-around awful.

    This movie is worth watching if you're into medieval films, but it will leave you with no desire to watch it again. Just don't expect too much.
  • March 14, 2008
    The film is lazily created and assembled like a made-for-tv movie, true to the mould of a SciFi original. It is poorly shot and the acting is unconvincing to say the least. The whole mess is a terribly disappointing waste of opportunity.
  • March 14, 2008
    nothing special
  • November 21, 2009
    A cast full of talent . This movie is a great love story a great movie about loyality. Just a all around good movie .
  • November 18, 2009
    I can't even begin with how much I hate this movie. Let's start with the cast, Paul Walker and Gerard Butler. Two blockheads who can barely talk, I thought Vin Diesel and Paul Walker was the worst it could get. Then the script, thanks for destroying one of Michael Chrichton's bes...( read more)t books. The plot was torn to shit and how is Paul Walker supposed to be taken seriously as a scientist? If that's the IQ of scientists now, everyone's in serious trouble.
  • November 7, 2009
    They had to travel into the past to save the future!
  • October 25, 2009
    very unrealistic and the plot is really bad. people chosen for the roles were bad too.
  • October 24, 2009
    an okay film, however it lacks real histpry or action, a bit wishy washy.

Critic Reviews


November 26, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

An accidental comedy trapped in sci-fi/action garb, like those actors swathed in their medieval tunics, stumbling and lurching along. full review

November 26, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Plays out like a 1950s B-movie with a fat special-effects budget. full review

November 26, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Just once I'd like to see a time-travel movie inspired by true curiosity about the past, instead of by a desire to use it as a setting for action scenes. full review

View more Timeline reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Timeline Trivia


  • Which Actor Was: -Brian O'Conner In The Fast And The Furious -Dean Sampson In She's All That -Jared In Into The Blue -Lewis Thomas In Joyride -Chris Johnston In Timeline  Answer »
  • Which of the following films is NOT based on stories written by stephen king?  Answer »
  • From what movie is this qote "We are speeking the same language but you don't understand a word I'm saying"  Answer »
  • Who played in all these movies: Reign of Fire Timeline The Phantom of the Opera Dracula 2000 Lara Croft Tomb Raider Cradle of life  Answer »

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