Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 18 nominations
Safety Not Guaranteed’s ostensibly modest ambitions are outmatched by the movie’s strong performances, beguiling charm, and heartfelt story
Safety Not Guaranteed is the perfect movie for anyone who has ever wished they could go back in time and fix their mistakes. The low-budget feel only adds to the charm of the film, and Aubrey Plaza shines as the lead. Sure, some critics might say it dithers and wastes time, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? It’s a heartwarming and endearingly oddball indie sci-fi that will make you believe in the impossible. Plus, who doesn’t love a good time-travel romcom?
Production Company(ies)
AMLF The Saul Zaentz Company,
Distributor
FilmDistrict
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Ocean Shores, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language including some sexual references
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital Datasat
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 24m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 8, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 16, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
Safety Not Guaranteed, Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Kristen Bell, Jeff Garlin, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Comedy, R, Time Travel, Box Office, FilmDistrict, Reviewed by Derek Malcolm, Mike McCahill, Nigel Andrews, Jessica Lambert, Damon Wise, Tom Huddleston, Jorge Loser, Danielle Solzman, Michael Clark, Richard Propes, Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Written by Derek Connolly, Produced by Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow, MPAA Rating, Limited Release, Streaming Release, $4.0M Budget, 91% Tomatometer, 80% Audience Score
Worldwide gross: $4,424,699
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,704,430
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,136
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 622,075
US/Canada gross: $4,010,957
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,171,024
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,801
US/Canada opening weekend: $97,762
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $126,037
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,850
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $750,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $966,918
Production budget ranking: 2,091
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $520,686
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,216,826
ROI to date (est.): 283%
ROI ranking: 479
Mark Duplass – Kenneth Calloway
Jake Johnson – Jeff
Jenica Bergere – Liz McHollis
Kristen Bell – Belinda St. Sing
Jeff Garlin – Mr. Britt
Director – Colin Trevorrow
Producer – Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow
Writer – Derek Connolly
Director(s)
Colin Trevorrow
Writer(s)
Derek Connolly
Producer(s)
Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 18 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (153) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (139) | Rotten (14)
The film is obviously low-budget but has a smart script and a real feeling for those who would like to turn back the clock. Its modesty on the whole becomes it, and Plaza is a real find.
January 4, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
his time-travel romcom wastes lead Aubrey Plaza and dithers until its geek-pandering finale.
December 27, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The independent sector of American cinema, you would think, would do better.
December 27, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Few films so gloriously live up to their potential.
December 26, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Jessica Lambert
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
An endearingly oddball indie sci-fi.
December 24, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Damon Wise
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Plaza and Duplass are enormously watchable, and there’s a sweet sadness in the movie’s focus on lost dreams and missed chances, and the truism that we all long for a time machine every once in a while.
December 18, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Tom Huddleston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A complete emotional journey… [Full review in Spanish]
June 27, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Jorge Loser
Espinof
Safety Not Guaranteed might be a high-concept low-budget indie but the three leading performances are one of the reasons why this film holds up beautifully ten years after its release.
June 10, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Safety Not Guaranteed is a veritable cinematic Xanadu in a vast desert of crushing sameness. It’ll make you laugh, it might make you cry, and it will certainly make you believe anything is indeed possible.
April 5, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
The kind of film where you leave the theater simply having to tell your friends about it.
September 21, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A quiet, inventive, heartfelt approach to science fiction.
July 19, 2020 | Rating: B
Brent McKnight
The Last Thing I See
Trevorrow narrates the story devised by Connolly with a simplicity that is what ultimately makes us love almost immediately any of the four characters. [Full Review in Spanish]
May 7, 2020
Sergio Benítez
Espinof…
Plot
Darius is a young intern at a Seattle-based magazine and jumps at the chance to investigate the author of a classified ad seeking someone to travel back in time with. Along with Jeff, the staff writer, and Arnau, a fellow intern, the three go on a road trip to a coastal town. While Jeff just wants to chase after his high school crush and Arnau wants some kind of life experience, Darius spends her time with Kenneth, a man who believes that he has built a time machine. The closer they become and the more they understand about each other, the less clear it becomes if Kenneth is just crazy or if he actually is going to successfully travel back in time.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, and Jake Johnson.
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