SummaryWhile tweaking their current project, two young engineers accidentally discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities--ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity is the first challenge they face. Dealing with the consequences is the next. (ThinkFilm)
Directed By:Shane Carruth
Written By:Shane Carruth
Primer
Metascore
Generally Favorable
68
User score
Generally Favorable
7.3
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
60% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
32% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
8% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
100
Primer unites physics and metaphysics in an ingenious guerrilla reinvention of cinematic science fiction.
88
An ingenious blend of sci-fi and mystery.
User score
Generally Favorable
74% Positive
120 Ratings
120 Ratings
17% Mixed
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
9% Negative
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
Mar 5, 2019
10
The best time-travel movie out there, period! This sci-fi is one of the best because it packs so much more than what is showed first. You'll need to draw diagrams to understand this film.
Aug 12, 2015
10
Primer is one of those movies that you should never watch once, as I fear a confused moviegoer will not understand the movie for their first time viewing, but maybe they may understand it a little bit on the second viewing. If not the second time maybe the third time. If you still don't get then well keep watching, because you might have missed something that's rather brilliant. That's basically what I did when I first watch this movie as I felt that I came across something unique and something worth talking about. It's a bit like when Roger Ebert first came across 2001: A Space Odyssey and he felt like he came across something that's worth talking about and worth sharing. Primer in my opinion is one of the most intelligent and probably the best movie I've seen in years. This isn't the kind of movie where you sit back and turn off your brain, because you're not going to enjoy the experience as you don't understand what's going on and you will leave the movie feeling confused. I won't lie I watch the movie five times to gaps on whats going on and thank god I did because more and more I watch the movie, more I understand it and love it. Primer is worth checking out.
78
It's hard to always know what Primer is saying or where it's heading, but it looks fantastic while it unfolds and you won't be able to forget what you've witnessed.
75
The screenplay is convoluted but fascinating, flawed less by its built-in complexity than by the limitations of the characters' psychological depth.
60
At a certain point, Mr. Carruth's fondness for complexity and indirection crosses the line between ambiguity and opacity, but I hasten to add that my bafflement is colored by admiration.
50
May be too clever for its own good. Essentially, it's the story of weekend scientists who build a time machine in a suburban garage. But this nearly gets lost in a miasma of technical jargon and scientific conjecture.
25
A real head-scratcher that somehow won the grand jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
Dec 14, 2014
10
One of the best movies I've ever seen. A good time travel film free of the rubbish Hollywood normally injects into a film to try and draw in audiences.
Aug 10, 2014
6
I usually pay attention to details while watching a movie and am able to conclude the story at the end, but Primer is impossibly hard to follow. I could figure out what was going on only after reading a huge explanation article. The story is really complex as it is based on time travels, but I repeat myself, you probably won't dig it if you just watch the movie once. The other problem is Primer is really boring, most of the time nothing happens, the characters seem to take their discovery pretty casually. I respect that most of the work was made by one man, but still it could be much better.
Mar 19, 2012
6
Although I feel the movie is rather confusing and unclear at times, overall it was still a pretty decent film. It didn't waste much time to watch and for how little of a budget the film had to spend I can't help but feel impressed by the film. The filmography of the film was great quality, and the acting was as well. Story issues aside, the rest of the film was quite impressive. I don't know if I can really say I would recommend this film to most viewers other than general film enthusiasts of a particular kind. Personally, I'm glad I took the time out of my day to view the film, but I have a feeling most audiences will either be bored, confused, or both. For my full review, visit ****/2012/03/primer.html
Oct 17, 2025
3
The movie is apparently like "The Emperor’s New Clothes". There are people who claim to see the clothes and cheer about how amazing they are because otherwise they would be considered stupid. But the truth is, the movie has nothing to offer. There is maybe five minutes of actual plot, and the rest is just told through dialogue. You don’t see any of the “interesting” parts. They might as well have made it an audiobook. Terrible actors, terrible music, everything happens off screen, and idiots call this the greatest time travel movie ever made. So go ahead and call me stupid, but I had a lot more fun with "Back to the Future" and even "The Terminator", both of which in my opinion are far more intelligent films.
Dec 22, 2016
3
I like the fact that the film is very technical and doesn't try to dumb any of the science down. It has a really interesting take on time travel but it somehow comes across as kinda boring. Progression seems to take a long time. But still, recommended if you really like time travel.
Production Company:
- ERBP
Release Date:Oct 8, 2004
Duration:1 h 17 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:If you always want what you can't have, what do you want when you can have anything?
Awards
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 4 Nominations
Sundance Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Village Voice Film Poll
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
