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Documentary

Time (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Time (2020) movie poster

Time is a 2020 documentary directed by Garrett Bradley, starring Fox Rich. It runs 1 hour 21 minutes and earned $574,361 worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
98%
worldwide gross
$574.4K
award nomination
1
Echo Score
75
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Time (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 21m (81 min)
Director
Garrett Bradley
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Time About?

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

Fox Rich tenaciously fights for her husband Rob's release after he's been incarcerated for twenty years. Through decades of video diaries and personal reflections, this documentary explores their enduring relationship and the profound impact of America’s prison system. It’s a powerful and intimate portrayal of unwavering love and resilience in the face of injustice.

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Cast & crew

Time Cast

Fox Rich stars in Time. Directed by Garrett Bradley.

From the director

More from Garrett Bradley

More films directed by Garrett Bradley: Alone and Below Dreams.

Full filmography
Ratings

Time Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Time 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (60).

75 /100

Time Echo Score Breakdown

Time delivers a potent and intimate documentary that shines through its careful visual framing and emotional resonance while occasionally wavering in narrative cohesion. Critically acclaimed for its lyrical direction and empathetic focus, the film consistently draws viewers into the struggles of a family entangled in the justice system. User responses highlight both the film’s capacity to foster deep sympathy and its occasional drift into repetitive or uneven pacing. On balance, Time emerges as a compelling, if at times structurally uneven, meditation on time, memory, and social justice.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of direction and cinematography, the film’s carefully composed imagery and reflective framing create a lyrical tapestry that underscores its themes. Production design and editing receive consistent praise for integrating decades of footage into a cohesive visual narrative, although some note that extended art-house sequences occasionally feel ornamental. Overall, the film’s craft demonstrates a high level of visual intention, even when stylistic flourishes slightly outpace narrative necessity.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, Time excels in presenting authentic, lived experiences of its subjects. The film captures intimate moments that foster empathy for the family, with sustained close-ups and reflective interviews reinforcing the emotional core. However, some viewers perceive occasional lack of specificity in personal anecdotes and uneven context around motivations. Overall, the characters’ portrayal remains compelling and emotionally connective, despite minor contextual gaps.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story coherence and pacing, the documentary maintains an empathetic throughline but sometimes struggles with structural clarity. Its integration of archival and contemporary sequences aims to illustrate temporal shifts but occasionally creates uneven rhythm and contextual gaps. Critics applaud the originality of the long-term chronicle, while some audiences find the flow disrupted by repetitive or underexplained segments. The narrative offers engaging insight but could benefit from tighter focus.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In the realm of sensory experience, Time offers a striking visual style marked by high-contrast imagery and deliberate shot compositions. Sound design and musical cues complement the unfolding drama with restrained, thoughtful moments, although they rarely draw attention to themselves. The film’s ambient audio and subtle score effectively underscore emotional beats without becoming intrusive. As a result, the sensory elements consistently support the documentary’s tone, reinforcing its reflective atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Regarding rewatch factor, Time possesses enduring emotional power that may reward further viewings for its nuanced archival material and thematic depth. Audiences may uncover additional layers in the juxtaposition of past and present footage, enhancing appreciation of editing choices. Yet the film’s intense subject matter and occasional pacing lulls could limit its appeal for multiple viewings. Overall, while rewatching can yield new insights, the documentary’s focus may restrain repeat engagement.

Plot

Time Plot Summary

What happens in Time from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the year 2169, society has evolved to a point where aging is halted at the 25th birthday, granting individuals just a solitary free year to live. A timer, embedded on their forearm, ticks down the remaining time, and when it hits zero, the individual “times out,” facing instantaneous death.

In this world, time functions as the universal currency, exchanged directly between individuals or stored in capsules. The nation is split into Time Zones; the impoverished Dayton serves as a ghetto where inhabitants often struggle to possess more than 24 hours on their timers. Conversely, New Greenwich stands as the epitome of wealth, where the affluent enjoy a quasi-immortal existence.

Full summary

The whole story of Time, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Time Box Office

Time grossed $574,361 worldwide.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$574.4K

International
$574.4K
Awards

Time Awards & Nominations

Time was nominated for 1 Oscar.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Time Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer [Subtitled]
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2 [Subtitled]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Time?

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 year is it when the story of 'Time' takes place?

Details

Time Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “談” and “Zaman”.

Also known as
  • 談
  • Zaman
  • Время
  • 天穆
  • 타임
  • Idő
  • Ο Αγώνας

Seen Time?

FAQ

Time FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Time?

Time runs 1 hour 21 minutes (81 minutes).

When was Time released?

Time was released on October 9, 2020.

Who directed Time?

Time was directed by Garrett Bradley.

More films by Garrett Bradley

Who is in the cast of Time?

Time stars Fox Rich.

How much did Time make at the box office?

Time grossed $574,361 worldwide.

How is Time rated?

Time has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic, 74% on TMDB and 3.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Was Time nominated for any awards?

Time received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Time have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Time has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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