Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
STEM-centered animated adventure teaches Islamic history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Time Hoppers: The Silk Road
What's the Story?
TIME HOPPERS: THE SILK ROAD follows Layla (voiced by Jayce McKenzie) and her father, Habib (Omar Regan), who are on the run from a shadowy government agency seeking Habib's invention: a time machine. Safe in Vancouver, Layla and her new friends accidentally get sent back in time through Habib's machine to the Middle East, where they must save the future of science from a jealous schemer.
Is It Any Good?
Based on a popular video game, this is an entertaining film that families can watch together to learn about the development of science and math disciplines in the Middle East. One of the major things that Time Hoppers: The Silk Road has going for it is using historical Middle Eastern scientists as characters, which could teach viewers about some notable people they might not have been familiar with before. The film also features a multicultural group of animated characters, including some who wear headwraps and hijabs, which could help normalize that custom for viewers who may have been taught, misguidedly, to be suspicious of such things.
All of that said, some viewers might find the film's pace a a bit slow. But it's still a worthy addition to any collection of films that aim to make learning about math, science, and humanity fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about courage. How do the kids in Time Hoppers: The Silk Road demonstrate courage throughout the film? What about teamwork? How do they work together to save the future of science?
What do you think the film is trying to tell young viewers about the importance of STEM? What did you learn from watching?
How do the characters in this film compare to those you've seen in other animated movies targeted at kids?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 7, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : March 17, 2026
- Cast : Omar Regan , Angel Haven Rey , Jayce McKenzie , Tareek Talati
- Director : Flordeliza Dayrit
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , African American Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Filipino Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Fathom Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Faith ( Islam ) , Fantasy ( Time Travel ) , Friendship , History , Space , STEM ( Science )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 16, 2026
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