Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ambitious King adaptation is more adult drama than history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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11.22.63
What's the Story?
When local diner owner Al (Chris Cooper) reveals a strange porthole in his kitchen pantry that magically transports travelers to October 1960, recently divorced high school English teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) reluctantly accepts a mission to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But waiting for the fateful events of 11.22.63 to occur will require Jake to spend three long years in the past, where he gains an accomplice, Bill (George MacKay), and a new love interest, Sadie (Sarah Gadon).
Is It Any Good?
This ambitious adaptation of Stephen King's novel sets out to achieve a lot in only eight episodes. And in the end, 11.22.63 delivers thanks to solid acting and some incredibly convenient plot points. The story's semi-preposterous rules for time travel aren't big selling points, but convincing performances somehow make it all seem strangely plausible, and clever touches from director J.J. Abrams (such as a Nixon campaign sign that reads, "They can't lick our Dick!") help add much-needed comic relief to the story's dark, weighty themes.
Thematically, this series feels a lot like the love child of Back to the Future, Quantum Leap, and Groundhog Day. It's too bad, then, that 11.22.63 never quite reaches their level of collective excellence. But it's entertaining enough to keep you watching to see what happens next.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about 11.22.63's premise and the plausibility of time travel. If time travel were possible, where—and when—would you want to go? What are the pros and cons of revisiting the past, particularly if you want to change it?
How does 11.22.63 compare to the Stephen King novel on which it's based? If you haven't read the book, would watching the TV series inspire you to start reading?
Why do you think the decision was made to adapt 11.22.63 into an eight-episode limited series versus an ongoing show or a feature film? Does this format allow the writers and actors to do anything differently in terms of plot, pacing, and character?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 15, 2016
- Cast : James Franco , Sarah Gadon , George MacKay
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy ( Time Travel ) , History
- TV rating :
- Award : Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 28, 2026
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