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Biographical drama

The Chronology of Water (2025): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Chronology of Water (2025) movie poster

The Chronology of Water is a 2025 biographical drama directed by Kristen Stewart, starring Imogen Poots as Lidia, Thora Birch and Marlena Sniega. It is based on The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $504,805 worldwide on a $7 million budget. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
worldwide gross
$504.8K
Echo Score
65
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The Chronology of Water (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 8m (128 min)
Director
Kristen Stewart
Genres
Biography , Drama , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$7M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Chronology of Water About?

The premise of The Chronology of Water without spoilers, adapted from The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Raised in a home shattered by violence and alcoholism, Lidia Yuknavitch seemed headed toward self‑destruction until literature offered an unexpected escape. Adapted from her bestselling memoir, the film traces her relentless quest to claim a voice, confronting trauma, sexuality, love, and loss while discovering the transformative power of storytelling.

The Chronology of Water Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • author
  • based on real people
  • based on memoir
  • college
  • lesbian
  • casual sex
  • sex with stranger
  • sex scene
  • lesbian interest
  • threesome sex
  • lesbian sex
  • swimming team
+38 more
  • skinny dipping
  • triple f rated
  • bathtub
  • giving birth
  • applause
  • f rated
  • next to railroad tracks
  • water
  • sea
  • swimming pool
  • nonlinear timeline
  • reference to william faulkner
  • vodka
  • stillborn baby
  • sister sister relationship
  • underwater scene
  • vomiting
  • punched in the face
  • voice over narration
  • lecture
  • singing
  • childbirth
  • telephone call
  • car accident
  • learning to ride a bicycle
  • police
  • chapter headings
  • abusive father
  • vomiting into a toilet bowl
  • blood
  • 1990s
  • pregnant woman
  • non linear
  • voice over
  • illness
  • title directed by female
  • beach
  • literature
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Cast & crew

The Chronology of Water Cast & Characters

Imogen Poots leads the cast as Lidia, with Thora Birch as Claudia and Marlena Sniega as Claudia Preteen, Claudia Teen. Directed by Kristen Stewart; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Chronology of Water

· 16 more
From the director

More from Kristen Stewart

One more film directed by Kristen Stewart: The Chronology of Water.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Chronology of Water Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Chronology of Water 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in character & emotion (78) and weakest in story & flow (55).

65 /100

The Chronology of Water Echo Score Breakdown

The Chronology of Water presents a bold debut that divides opinion, with strengths in performance and visual ambition offset by uneven narrative cohesion and experimental excess. Critics commend the director’s confidence and the lead’s emotional depth, while several viewers cite overused voice‑over and disjointed editing. Sensory elements receive praise for their immersive quality, yet the story’s pacing and clarity suffer. Consequently, the film offers moments of striking artistry but struggles to sustain engagement throughout.

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

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of direction and craft, Stewart demonstrates a confident visual sensibility, employing dreamlike haze and bold compositions that many critics highlighted as accomplished. However, several viewers criticized the frequent voice‑over, rapid cuts, and purposeless shots as messy and overbearing. The cinematography receives praise for its beauty, yet editing choices divide opinion, leading to an overall mixed assessment of the film’s art and craft.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When evaluating character and emotional depth, Imogen Poots’s performance is repeatedly described as profoundly moving and authentic, compensating for narrative unevenness. Critics note her primal agony and resilience, while users generally consider the acting strong despite a detached story. The emotional resonance achieved through focused close‑ups is a central strength, though some viewers feel the characters remain distant due to stylistic distractions.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding story and flow, the film’s fragmented structure and heavy reliance on voice‑over generate mixed reactions. Critics acknowledge an ambitious, albeit occasionally clichéd, narrative ambition, whereas users frequently describe the plot as lacking coherence, slow, and overly experimental. The pacing and absence of a clear central storyline undermine engagement, leading to a perception of the story as one of the weaker elements.

  • Sensory Experience 68

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s sound design and visual style receive praise for creating an immersive, avant‑garde atmosphere. Critics and some users highlight the effective use of zooms, flashbacks, and bold audio choices that convey trauma. Conversely, several viewers find the constant stylistic flourishes, such as overused voice‑over and trippy visuals, to be distracting and detracting from narrative clarity.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Assessing rewatch value, the film’s distinctive aesthetic and emotionally charged performances suggest potential appeal for viewers attuned to experimental cinema. Some critics and users note its boldness may reward repeat viewings, uncovering new layers. However, the prevailing sense of narrative fatigue, overstretched experimental techniques, and divided audience response reduce its likelihood of being revisited frequently.

Plot

The Chronology of Water Plot Summary

What happens in The Chronology of Water from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lidia, portrayed by Imogen Poots, develops a lifelong passion for writing and swimming as a refuge from a turbulent home life. Her father, Mike, subjects her and her sister Claudia to physical abuse, while their alcoholic mother Dorothy largely ignores the pain, shaping a childhood where water and words become the only safe spaces. Mike tries to keep Lidia from going to college as a means of control, but she fights back and leaves for Texas to study, swim, and explore her sexuality. Yet the memories of those years cling to her, and her later choices—excessive partying, drinking, and drug use—threaten both her academic path and her progress in the pool.

Full summary

The whole story of The Chronology of Water, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Chronology of Water Box Office & Budget

The Chronology of Water grossed $504,805 worldwide on a $7 million budget, 7% of what it cost. $302,825 came from the US and Canada and $201,980 (40%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$504.8K

7% of its budget back

US & Canada
$302.8K
International
$202K
Budget
$7M
US & Canada 60% Rest of the world 40%
Videos

The Chronology of Water Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 4 featurettes.

All 7 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Clip Clip
  • Featurette Kristen Stewart on working with Imogen Poots for The Chronology of Water.
  • Featurette Kristen Stewart on wanting to direct for the rest of her life
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Chronology of Water?

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 are the two lifelong passions Lidia develops as a refuge from her turbulent home life?

Details

The Chronology of Water Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “水物语” and “流年似水”.

Also known as
  • 水物语
  • 流年似水
  • 숨을 참던 나날
  • Vandens chronologija
  • 水之年代
  • 물의 연대기
  • Chronologia wody
  • La cronología del agua
  • A Cronologia da Água
  • A víz kronológiája
  • Хронологія води
  • Хронология воды
+7 more
  • La cronologia dell’acqua
  • گاه شماری آب
  • Ūdens hronoloģija
  • 水的編年史
  • Dòng Chảy Ký Ức
  • Chronologie vody
  • La cronologia de l'aigua

Seen The Chronology of Water?

FAQ

The Chronology of Water FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The Chronology of Water, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Chronology of Water?

The Chronology of Water runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).

When was The Chronology of Water released?

The Chronology of Water was released on December 5, 2025.

Who directed The Chronology of Water?

The Chronology of Water was directed by Kristen Stewart.

More films by Kristen Stewart

Who is in the cast of The Chronology of Water?

The Chronology of Water stars Imogen Poots as Lidia, Thora Birch as Claudia and Marlena Sniega as Claudia Preteen, Claudia Teen, among 20 credited actors.

How much did The Chronology of Water make at the box office?

The Chronology of Water grossed $504,805 worldwide ($302,825 domestic, $201,980 international) on a budget of $7 million.

How is The Chronology of Water rated?

The Chronology of Water has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Is The Chronology of Water based on a book?

Yes. The Chronology of Water is adapted from The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch.

Does The Chronology of Water have a post-credit scene?

No. The Chronology of Water has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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