Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Likable kids face peril in charming sci-fi adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Future TX
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In FUTURE TX, tweens Dylan Wrench (Arran Kemp) and Molly Slide (Adele Congreve) are the only kids they know who don't have mobile phones. When Dylan's mum (Nicole Faraday) and dad (Doug Cockle) break the news that the family is moving to Dubai, Dylan leverages the situation to finally get a phone. Somehow, though, the ATM distributes enough cash to buy two phones, so Dylan and Molly each get one. Then Dylan gets a call from someone who claims to be from the future—specifically, the year 2048. The voice says Dylan and Molly are needed to help save the world from a rogue bot net that's infected an AI system and created a causal loop that will destroy everything. The kids have to find the bot net before it's too late. Their first clue brings them to the mysterious Mr. Foley (Griff Rhys Jones), but before long they're being chased by menacing drones. Can the best friends save the day, and will Dylan actually move to Dubai?
Is It Any Good?
This tween-friendly sci-fi movie feels pretty low budget and certainly cuts corners here and there, but it has a lot of charm and spunk, and the two leads are immensely likable. The plot of Future TX is needlessly complex, and it could be easy for viewers to get lost, especially younger ones. But Dylan is such a goofball, with Molly as his dry-witted sidekick, that they tend to make it seem like things are making sense. And if they're not, then it's time for a silly wisecrack or antic.
Welsh comedian Griff Rhys Jones is also a highlight, playing twins who have something to do with the bot net scheme. Likewise, the visual effects are actually fairly effective; perhaps the filmmakers didn't try to do anything outside their means, or perhaps they were just extremely creative with their small budget. Best of all, Future TX is a breeze, moving quickly, getting the job done, and providing decent entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Future TX's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How do the characters demonstrate teamwork?
How do Molly and Dylan show courage in this situation?
At the beginning, why do you think Molly and Dylan covet cellphones so much? What reasons do they give for wanting them?
What do you think Dylan and Molly learned from their adventure?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 10, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : March 10, 2023
- Cast : Griff Rhys Jones , Adele Congreve , Arran Kemp
- Directors : Tim Clague , Danny Stack
- Studio : Level 33 Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate