Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

The Time Traveler's Wife

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Tearjerker is too gloomy for tweens and younger teens.

Movie PG-13 2009 107 minutes
The Time Traveler's Wife Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 14 parent reviews

hexi_forever
hexi_forever Adult
September 16, 2022
age 15+

I don't have kids and this is what I think

The whole movie all around is pretty uncomfortable the main character basically groomed the wife since she was a little girl. He was a full adult and blipped to visit the wife who was 6 at the time and continued to visit her once a week. Personally me I feel this movie isn't really appropriate for younger ages unless they have a strong understanding that the whole relationship is basically forced the wife never really had the time to chance to really decide what she wanted on her own and their communication as a couple was not really there at all, but the story was all right pretty basic.
Gina C.
Gina C. Adult
March 10, 2018
age 18+

Amazing, Magical and Beautiful!

See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Clare (Rachel McAdams) and Henry (Eric Bana) are star-crossed lovers who meet and are torn apart by a unique genetic condition that arbitrarily sends him time traveling. When they first meet (from her perspective, anyway), he's in his thirties and she's still a young girl -- but they form an unlikely friendship that transcends space and time. And, eventually (or, from the start, from his perspective), they wind up together. But even their tremendous love may not be enough to sustain a relationship hobbled by Henry's sudden absences and Clare's longing for a stable life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (25 ):

For a film about the metaphysical, THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE is curiously lacking in energy. It starts out far too explanatory, like a wannabe friend who overshares. While it's true that the audience needs prodding given the material -- how to make time travel approachable? -- it nevertheless seems questionable to keep inserting explanations that have been heard before. (For instance, why Henry keeps stealing clothes wherever he turns up.)

The time-travel jump cuts make the film all the more befuddling, and although Henry's supposed to morph in age from one time period to the next, all that ever seems to change is how many wrinkles he sports and how gray his hair gets. It's not until midway through the movie, when questions about Henry's genetic makeup arise, that the film begins to really transport you -- and, by the end, it does get very emotional. (How can it not, given the heavy tugging? After all, the melancholic piano is cued at every tragic turn.) But still, somehow the end result is more tepid than tearjerking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what keeps Clare and Henry connected despite all of their difficulties. Is their life together believable? Would Clare really stay with Henry when he's so unpredictable? How does their relationship compare to other movie pairings you've seen?

  • Does the film handle the topic of time travel believably (as much as is possible, that is)? Does it seem like a benefit or a curse?

  • If you've read the book, how do you think the movie compares? What are some of your favorite books-turned-movies?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

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