A Wrinkle in Time
Performance & Direction: A Wrinkle in Time Review
Last updated: February 19, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is A Wrinkle in Time (2018) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Adventure.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Adventure is often anchored by its ensemble, and A Wrinkle in Time features a noteworthy lineup led by Storm Reid . Supported by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: A Wrinkle in Time
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2018, A Wrinkle in Time is a Adventure, Science Fiction, Family, Fantasy film directed by Ava DuVernay. The narrative presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Storm Reid.
Story Breakdown
The title presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: A Wrinkle in Time
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Ava DuVernay, A Wrinkle in Time attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to adventure resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Storm Reid, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the adventure themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of A Wrinkle in Time reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch A Wrinkle in Time?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Adventure films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: A Wrinkle in Time
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $103.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $132.7M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
A Wrinkle in Time Budget
The estimated production budget for A Wrinkle in Time is $103.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: A Wrinkle in Time
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch A Wrinkle in Time Online?
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Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeA Wrinkle in Time Parents Guide & Age Rating
2018 AdvisoryWondering about A Wrinkle in Time age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of A Wrinkle in Time is 109 minutes (1h 49m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.1/10, and global performance metrics, A Wrinkle in Time is classified as a AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2018 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Wrinkle in Time worth watching?
A Wrinkle in Time is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Adventure movies. It has a verified rating of 5.1/10 and stands as a AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find A Wrinkle in Time parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for A Wrinkle in Time identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of A Wrinkle in Time?
The total duration of A Wrinkle in Time is 109 minutes, which is approximately 1h 49m long.
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Critic Reviews for A Wrinkle in Time
Oh man, if I'd at any point ever had any faith at all in _A Wrinkle in Time_? I would have been **sorely** disappointed. Which is a shame on both counts, because it would be great if a film targeted at young people with both complex ideas **and** multiple women of colour in lead roles could have been like... Good. _Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible._
Sweet enough. Just a shame it doesn't finish as great it starts. 'A Wrinkle in Time', I think, starts off very nicely. It gives a satisfactory background to the main character, while it builds the intrigue well. Unfortunately, it does drop off as it goes on - but not to the point that it hindered my enjoyment, it is a noticeable step down though. I really like the special effects, I think they look terrific throughout. Onto the cast. Storm Reid does a respectable job as Meg, her performance arguably gets better as things progress - which is the opposite to the film overall. Chris Pine is underused in his role, but the casting of Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling is good - Zach Galifianakis too. I didn't actually find Deric McCabe's character, Charles Wallace, annoying like most seemingly did. Surprised to see that this has a low rating across the board. I've never read the Madeleine L'Engle novel so perhaps that has something to do with it? I do agree the writing isn't necessarily great either. Each to the own, but I genuinely enjoyed it I can't lie.
Wow, this was out of all of a second wasn't it? So, I am going to more or less focus first on the fact that this has NOTHING to do with the book. Why even carry the same title if you are going to diverge so much from the source that it is unrecognizable for the fans of the source? But that IS the new trend isn't it? That is the new Hollywood formula. 1) Take an established book or franchise 2) Remake it to not at all resemble the source material 3) Have it flop 4) Blame the fans of the source material for the bad reviews 5) Tell the fans of the source material that it wasn't made for them, but rather for the people that were never fans of it and don't want to see it. 6) Wonder why it failed. But that is not really the ONLY reason. I mean I grew up in the 80s, I saw made for TV movies, geared at children, that looked better than this. Seriously, it looked like an NBC Saturday Morning cartoon made for kids under 10 in the 90s on a shoestring budget. When you cast so many big names that you have no budget left to make the film...it's going to look horrible.
Definitely a movie for kids. There's a lot of cool cgi stuff in this movie, but it's just a lot of nonsense and unnecessary things that go on in the movie which makes it pretty dumb.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
