The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Kernel Score: 75% · 2,659 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Released: 2009-08-14
Runtime: 107 minutes
Is The Time Traveler's Wife worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A man who involuntarily jumps through time keeps meeting the woman he loves at different ages. It's pretty and tearful, but the rules are muddled and the film is a lesser version of the book for some viewers.
Watch it if you
- like romantic tearjerkers
- enjoy gentle time-travel love stories
- are fond of Rachel McAdams
Skip it if you
- want logical time-travel plotting
- dislike melodrama
Best for: Cry-on-the-sofa night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Time Traveler's Wife
- Stream: Fubo, Paramount+
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Due to a genetic disorder, handsome librarian Henry DeTamble involuntarily zips through time, appearing at various moments in the life of his true love, the beautiful artist Clare Abshire.
The Time Traveler's Wife parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Time Traveler's Wife is a PG-13 romantic fantasy drama centered on a tragic, enduring love complicated by time travel.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — As a romance involving a married couple, some intimate and suggestive content is implied though not graphic.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Time Traveler's Wife
If you liked The Time Traveler's Wife, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- About Time (2013) — 89%: Warm, funnier time-travel romance with real heart.
- The Age of Adaline (2015) — 84%: Romance across time with a wistful tone.
- Mr. Nobody (2009) — 88%: Ambitious time-bending love story.
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) — 86%: Epic love story shaped by time.
- One Day (2011) — 83%: Long-running romance told across the years.
- Me Before You (2016) — 89%: Tearful romance that rewards a good cry.
Director
Robert Schwentke
Cast
- Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble
- Rachel McAdams as Clare Abshire
- Michelle Nolden as Annette DeTamble
- Arliss Howard as Richard DeTamble
- Ron Livingston as Gomez
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Dr. Kendrick
- Brian Bisson as Mark Abshire
- Maggie Castle as Alicia Abshire
- Brooklynn Proulx as Clare at Six and Eight
- James Lafazanos as Jeremy (Gallery Owner)
The Time Traveler's Wife FAQ
Is The Time Traveler's Wife worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A man who involuntarily jumps through time keeps meeting the woman he loves at different ages. It's pretty and tearful, but the rules are muddled and the film is a lesser version of the book for some viewers.
Where can I watch The Time Traveler's Wife?
In the US you can stream The Time Traveler's Wife on Fubo and Paramount+ and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Time Traveler's Wife OK for kids?
The Time Traveler's Wife is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Time Traveler's Wife is a PG-13 romantic fantasy drama centered on a tragic, enduring love complicated by time travel.
What movies are like The Time Traveler's Wife?
If you liked The Time Traveler's Wife, try About Time, The Age of Adaline, Mr. Nobody and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.