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Sci-fi drama

Marjorie Prime (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Marjorie Prime (2017) movie poster

Marjorie Prime is a 2017 sci-fi drama directed by Michael Almereyda, starring Tim Robbins, Jon Hamm and Lois Smith. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $213,858 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 2018. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
worldwide gross
$213.9K
award nomination
1
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Marjorie Prime (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama , Mystery , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
FilmRise
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Marjorie Prime About?

The premise of Marjorie Prime without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

As an elderly woman’s life nears its end, she finds comfort in a sophisticated AI program designed to simulate her deceased husband. Through intimate and revealing conversations, the program shares memories of their life, offering perspectives from her family and uncovering long-held truths about their complicated history. The evolving relationship challenges perceptions of reality and explores the profound impact of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory.

Marjorie Prime Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dog pound
  • repeated dialogue
  • running on a beach
  • the future
  • old woman
  • hologram
  • memory
  • dead husband
  • memory loss
  • husband wife relationship
  • artificial intelligence
  • younger version of character
+38 more
  • beach house
  • arthritis
  • refusing to eat
  • pills
  • doctor
  • peanut butter
  • violin
  • violinist
  • food
  • eating
  • storytelling
  • reference to julia roberts
  • reference to cameron diaz
  • gay
  • best friend
  • gay best friend
  • marriage proposal
  • forgetfulness
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • mother in law son in law relationship
  • father in law son in law relationship
  • name calling
  • fairy tale
  • loneliness
  • dog
  • french poodle
  • nickname
  • death of dog
  • reference to greek
  • beach
  • tiredness
  • running on the beach
  • sunglasses
  • imitating a parrot
  • computer
  • jealousy
  • grandmother granddaughter relationship
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Cast & crew

Marjorie Prime Cast

Tim Robbins leads the cast, with Jon Hamm and Lois Smith. Directed by Michael Almereyda; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Michael Almereyda

More films directed by Michael Almereyda, best-rated first: This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss, Escapes, Experimenter and Hamlet.

Full filmography
Ratings

Marjorie Prime Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Marjorie Prime 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 86/100, strongest in sensory experience (92) and weakest in art & craft (78).

86 /100

Marjorie Prime Echo Score Breakdown

Marjorie Prime excels as an intellectually engaging chamber piece that thoughtfully examines memory and loss through a sci-fi lens. Reviewers highlight its intimate staging and contemplative dialogue, noting that the film’s reflective pacing and focused ensemble work collaboratively to evoke emotional resonance. While some find its stage origins occasionally constraining, most praise its nuanced handling of technological themes and the authenticity of its performances. On balance, Marjorie Prime offers a compelling, idea-driven viewing experience that rewards close attention and reflection.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, Marjorie Prime demonstrates a measured visual approach anchored by unobtrusive direction and refined cinematography. The film’s production design reinforces its chamber origins with minimalistic sets, while editing choices sustain continuity in the talk-driven framework. Although the stage setup can feel occasionally restrictive, the overall design supports thematic clarity and visual coherence.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When considering characterization and emotional resonance, the performances in Marjorie Prime stand out for their measured authenticity and depth. The small ensemble delivers nuanced portrayals of grief and connection, with particular attention to subtle interactions and emotional undercurrents. This focus on intimate exchanges maintains audience engagement, culminating in an emotionally resonant depiction of memory and loss.

  • Story & Flow 80

    In terms of story and flow, Marjorie Prime blends contemplative pacing with high-concept ideas to explore identity and remembrance. Its dialogue-driven structure fosters coherence, though some pacing lingers in its chamber format. Originality emerges through the AI hologram premise and thematic depth, sustaining engagement through gradual revelations and reflective moments, ultimately delivering a thought-provoking narrative arc.

  • Sensory Experience 92

    When assessing the sensory experience, Marjorie Prime excels in its auditory and visual elements. Mica Levi’s score provides an eerie yet understated backdrop, while sound design accentuates the film’s intimate setting. Visually, the film employs a restrained color palette and soft lighting to reinforce its reflective mood. Together, these elements create a cohesive sensory landscape that enhances the thematic depth.

  • Rewatch Factor 88

    In terms of rewatch factor, Marjorie Prime offers enduring appeal through its layered themes and character interactions. The film’s intellectual underpinnings and gradual unfolding encourage repeated viewings to uncover subtle nuances. While its measured pacing may deter some, the rich emotional subtext and contemplative dialogue reward audiences who return, ensuring the film’s lasting resonance.

Plot

Marjorie Prime Plot Summary

What happens in Marjorie Prime from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Around the year 2050, 85-year-old Marjorie begins to show early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. In an effort to provide her with comfort, her daughter Tess and son-in-law Jon enlist the help of a service called Prime. This innovative system creates holographic representations of deceased family members, which are programmed with the patient’s memories to help recall lost stories. Marjorie opts for a younger version of her late husband, Walter, who passed away fifteen years prior. This decision creates tension with Tess, who is wary of the technology’s reliability and avoids interacting with Walter’s hologram.

Full summary

The whole story of Marjorie Prime, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Marjorie Prime Box Office

Marjorie Prime grossed $213,858 worldwide. $180,608 came from the US and Canada and $33,250 (16%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$213.9K

US & Canada
$180.6K
International
$33.3K
US & Canada 84% Rest of the world 16%
Awards

Marjorie Prime Awards & Nominations

Marjorie Prime earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 2018.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Marjorie Prime Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.

Trailer
  • Trailer Official Australian Trailer
  • Teaser Lois Smith Spot
  • Featurette Academy Conversations: Marjorie Prime
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Marjorie Prime?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What condition is Marjorie on the verge of as the film begins?

Cars

Cars in Marjorie Prime

1 car on screen: the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 4.5 W108.

  • 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 4.5 W108 in Marjorie Prime 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 4.5 W108 Minor role
Details

Marjorie Prime Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “马约莉·普赖姆” and “幻影爱人”.

Also known as
  • 马约莉·普赖姆
  • 幻影爱人
  • 衍生玛约莉
  • Марджори Прайм
  • 당신과 함께한 순간들
  • Марджъри Прайм
  • Η Αιώνια Ζωή της Μάρτζορι
  • 瑪約莉普萊姆, მარჯორი პრაიმი

Seen Marjorie Prime?

FAQ

Marjorie Prime FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Marjorie Prime, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Marjorie Prime?

Marjorie Prime runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Marjorie Prime released?

Marjorie Prime was released on August 18, 2017.

Who directed Marjorie Prime?

Marjorie Prime was directed by Michael Almereyda.

More films by Michael Almereyda

Who is in the cast of Marjorie Prime?

Marjorie Prime stars Tim Robbins, Jon Hamm and Lois Smith, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Marjorie Prime make at the box office?

Marjorie Prime grossed $213,858 worldwide ($180,608 domestic, $33,250 international).

How is Marjorie Prime rated?

Marjorie Prime has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Was Marjorie Prime nominated for any awards?

Marjorie Prime received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Marjorie Prime have a post-credit scene?

No. Marjorie Prime has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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