What Is Project Almanac About?
The premise of Project Almanac in 322 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet suburban town, a clever but financially strapped high‑school senior discovers a hidden trove of his late father’s inventions. The discovery centers on a set of intricate plans for a device that could bend the very flow of time, a secret the family never expected to confront. Driven by the pressure of an upcoming college deadline and the looming loss of his family home, the teenager feels the weight of legacy and the pull of opportunity all at once.
He soon gathers a tight‑knit circle of friends to explore the possibility. Jessie Pierce, the boy’s longtime crush, brings a pragmatic spark, while his sister Christina adds fierce determination. Adam Le and Quinn Goldberg round out the group, each bringing their own brand of teenage ambition and curiosity. Together they transform a cluttered basement into a makeshift laboratory, pooling resources, ingenuity, and youthful daring to bring the impossible to life. The dynamic is equal parts camaraderie and rivalry, as each member grapples with personal hopes that the new technology might fulfill.
The idea of rewinding moments and nudging events creates a heady mix of excitement and unease. The prospect of correcting past regrets—a missed exam, an awkward encounter, a bruised ego—offers an alluring promise of control in an otherwise unpredictable world. Yet the very act of tinkering with chronology hints at deeper stakes, whispering that each alteration could ripple outward in ways the group can barely imagine. The tone balances bright, inventive optimism with a growing undercurrent of tension, reflecting the classic teenage wish to rewrite their story while confronting the possible costs.
At its core, the film explores the intersection of youthful aspiration and the responsibility that comes with newfound power. It sets the stage for a journey where friendship, love, and the longing for a better future collide with the immutable rules of cause and effect, leaving the characters to wonder whether some moments are meant to stay untouched.
What Happens in Project Almanac?
The complete story of Project Almanac, from the first scene to the last, in 573 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In 2014, David Raskin, a 17-year-old high school senior and aspiring inventor portrayed by Jonny Weston, faces a challenging obstacle when he is accepted to MIT but cannot afford the tuition fees. Facing this dilemma, David discovers that his mother, Kathy Raskin, played by Amy Landecker, intends to sell their family home. Determined to find a way to fund his education, David teams up with his sister, Christina, portrayed by Virginia Gardner, and his friends, Adam Le and Quinn Goldberg (played by Allen Evangelista and Sam Lerner, respectively), to search through their father’s belongings. Their father, Ben Raskin (played by Gary Weeks), an inventor, died in a tragic car accident on David’s seventh birthday.
During their search, David stumbles upon an old camera featuring a video recording of his birthday party, where he makes an intriguing discovery—he sees a reflection of his 17-year-old self reaching toward a basement light switch. This revelation leads David and his friends to the basement, a place his father forbade them from entering. There, hidden beneath a trapdoor activated by the light switch, they uncover Project Almanac, the blueprint for a temporal relocation device that Ben had been developing. Inspired, the group decides to construct a functional time machine using the resources at hand.
As they set their plans in motion, they use a car battery from David’s long-time crush, Jessie Pierce, who is played by Sofia Black D’Elia, to power the device. The first experiment—a seemingly innocent venture of sending a toy car back in time—results in a massive blackout across the neighborhood. However, the misadventure catches the attention of Jessie, whom they bring into their circle for the next phase of their experiment.
Excited by their success, David, Jessie, Christina, Adam, and Quinn embark on a journey back to the day before, leading to a chaotic incident where Quinn, during a moment of teenage mischief, draws a smiley face on the back of his past self’s neck. This moment spirals into a dangerous feedback loop, threatening their very existence. Ignoring the risks, the group begins to use the time machine for personal gain. Adam wins the lottery, Christina confronts her bullies, and Quinn enhances his academic performance—all in the name of success.
Yet, as David tries to navigate his growing feelings for Jessie, a misstep sends him back to Lollapalooza, leading to a chain of catastrophic events that intervene in the timeline. A decision to rectify the past leads to unforeseen consequences, with future scenarios unraveling in ways David never intended, including accidents impacting his friends and other unsuspecting individuals.
Desperate to amend his errors, David time-travels again, but an accidental twist sends Jessie along for the ride, leading to heated confrontations. As her past self appears, the timeline faces another threat of erasure. With mounting pressure, David attempts to prevent the creation of the time machine altogether. In a race against time, he returns to his seventh birthday, revealing the dangers of the machine to his father, Ben. David destroys pivotal components, but in the ultimate sacrifice, he vanishes from existence.
In the aftermath, David and Christina sift through their father’s belongings and discover the remnants of their father’s camera, which surprisingly contains all the footage of their time-traveling escapades. The revelation becomes a bittersweet reminder of their adventures and losses. With newfound wisdom and a second chance, David approaches Jessie, about to embark on their journey again with the insight to “change the world.”
Project Almanac Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “David's Acceptance to MIT” to “A Second Chance”. 9 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
David's Acceptance to MIT
In 2014, David Raskin, a 17-year-old high school senior, receives the life-changing news that he has been accepted to MIT. However, excitement quickly turns to despair as he realizes his family cannot afford the tuition fees.
When:2014 Where:Cape Cod
- 2
Kathy's Decision to Sell the Family Home
David learns that his mother, Kathy Raskin, plans to sell their family home, intensifying his urgency to find a way to fund his education. The looming prospect of losing his childhood home adds emotional weight to David's dilemma.
Where:Family Home
- 3
Searching Through Their Father's Belongings
Determined to find a solution, David enlists the help of his sister Christina and friends Adam and Quinn. They rummage through their deceased father's belongings, hoping to discover something valuable that could change their circumstances.
Where:Family Attic
- 4
Discovery of the Birthday Party Video
During their search, David uncovers an old video from his childhood birthday party. In a surprising twist, he notices a reflection of his 17-year-old self reaching for a basement light switch, revealing a clue that leads him to the basement.
Where:Family Basement
- 5
Uncovering Project Almanac
Breaking the rules, David and his friends enter the basement, where they discover Project Almanac, a blueprint for a temporal relocation device left behind by his father, Ben. Inspired by this revelation, they decide to construct a functional time machine.
Where:Family Basement
- 6
First Experiment Gone Wrong
The group uses a car battery from David's crush, Jessie, to power their time machine for their first experiment. They attempt to send a toy car back in time, but the resulting malfunction causes a massive blackout in the neighborhood.
Where:Neighborhood
- 7
Jessie Joins the Group
Intrigued by the sudden blackout, Jessie becomes aware of David and his friends' activities. They invite her to join their time-traveling exploits, further complicating their experiments as romantic tensions arise between David and Jessie.
- 8
Chaos of Time Travel Begins
David and his friends decide to travel back a day, leading to chaotic events, including Quinn’s mischievous act of drawing a smiley face on his past self. This seemingly harmless act starts a feedback loop that threatens their existence.
- 9
Abusing the Time Machine
Ignoring the potential dangers, the group begins using the time machine for selfish personal gains. Adam wins the lottery, Christina stands up to her bullies, and Quinn improves his grades, but at what cost?
- 10
The Lollapalooza Incident
As David navigates his growing feelings for Jessie, a critical mistake sends him back to a pivotal event at Lollapalooza. This erroneous time travel triggers disastrous changes in the timeline with far-reaching consequences.
Where:Lollapalooza
Show the other 4 events of Project Almanac Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Racing Against Time to Fix Mistakes
Desperate to rectify the catastrophic changes to the timeline, David attempts to fix his earlier mistakes. However, an accidental twist leaves Jessie trapped in a past reality, intensifying the threat to their existence.
- 12
David's Sacrifice
In a climactic struggle, David returns to his seventh birthday to warn his father about the dangers of the time machine. In a selfless act, he destroys key components of the machine, leading to his own disappearance.
When:David's 7th Birthday Where:Family Home
- 13
Finding Remnants of the Past
After David's disappearance, Christina and David's family explore their father's belongings and find remnants of his old camera. The footage they discover serves as a bittersweet reminder of their time-traveling adventures and the sacrifices made.
Where:Family Home
- 14
A Second Chance
With David's sacrifice lingering in their hearts, Christina and Jessie are left with newfound wisdom. As they embark on their journey again, David prepares to approach Jessie with the insight to make better choices and achieve their dreams.
Who Are the Main Characters in Project Almanac?
3 characters, among them David Raskin (Jonny Weston), Kathy Raskin (Amy Landecker) and Jessie Pierce (Sofia Black D'Elia): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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David Raskin (Jonny Weston)
Played by Jonny Weston
David Raskin is a determined and resourceful 17-year-old grappling with the pressures of preparing for college while dealing with personal loss. His innovative spirit drives him to explore his father's inventions and leads him into the complexities of time travel. David's character embodies the aspirations and struggles of youth, showcasing both his ingenuity and the consequences of his impulsive actions.
- 🧑🎓 Aspiration
- ⚙️ Inventor
- 💔 Grief
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Kathy Raskin (Amy Landecker)
Played by Amy Landecker
Kathy Raskin is David's mother, who faces the harsh reality of financial struggles after her husband's death. Her decision to sell the family home reflects the challenges of single parenthood and the burden of supporting a family. Kathy's character embodies resilience, illustrating a mother's love while grappling with loss and the necessity of making difficult choices.
- 👩👧 Motherhood
- 💪 Resilience
- 🏡 Sacrifice
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Jessie Pierce (Sofia Black D'Elia)
Played by Sofia Black-D'Elia
Jessie Pierce is David's long-time crush, who becomes an integral part of the group's time-traveling adventures. Her character is adventurous and spirited, providing a counterbalance to David's more serious demeanor. As the narrative progresses, Jessie's involvement illustrates the complexities of teenage relationships and the challenges of loyalty and trust in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
- 💖 Love
- 🎉 Adventure
- 💬 Loyalty
Where and When Is Project Almanac Set?
Project Almanac is set in MIT, family home and basement (2014). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
2014
In 2014, society was experiencing rapid advancements in technology, with a growing interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among youth. This era also saw an increasing fascination with the idea of time travel in popular culture, influencing the dreams and endeavors of young inventors like David. The challenges of financial burdens associated with education were prevalent, highlighting the struggles students faced in pursuit of their goals.
Where
MIT, family home, basement
MIT, the prestigious institution known for its cutting-edge technology and research, plays a significant role in David's aspirations. The family's home serves as a backdrop for the emotional journey and memories, symbolizing their past and the changes they face. The basement, filled with secrets, becomes the pivotal location for discovering Project Almanac, representing both innovation and the dangers of tampering with time.
- 🏫 Education
- 🏡 Home
- 🔦 Mystery
What Are the Themes of Project Almanac?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Time Travel, Loss and Ambition.
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01
Time Travel
The central theme revolves around the concept of time travel, exploring the consequences of altering the past. David and his friends' experiments highlight the ethical dilemmas and unforeseen consequences that can arise when manipulating time. As they navigate their adventures, the narrative raises questions about destiny, responsibility, and the impact of choices.
-
02
Loss
Loss is a significant theme, particularly through David's emotional journey regarding his father's death. His longing for connection and understanding drives the story, as he faces the repercussions of his decisions. The bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the desire to change the past emphasize the emotional weight of loss throughout the narrative.
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03
Ambition
Ambition is a core theme as David strives to secure his future through education and invention. His pursuit of acceptance into MIT symbolizes the aspirations of many young individuals seeking to forge their paths. The film explores the lengths to which people will go to achieve their dreams, especially when faced with obstacles.
What Kind of Film Is Project Almanac?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A high-stakes, found-footage thriller that captures the chaotic energy and mounting anxiety of teenagers whose thrilling experiments with time travel spiral into a desperate race to fix catastrophic consequences.
- anxious
- race against time
- chaotic
- desperate
- nostalgic
- adventurous
- time travel
- coming of age
- friendship
- scientific hubris
Content notes: accidents causing injury, existential threat.
Quiz
How well do you remember Project Almanac? Test yourself on the story.
