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In Time

In Time is a 2011 American science fiction action film written and directed by Andrew Niccol.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

In Time is a 2011 American science fiction action film written and directed by Andrew Niccol. Set in a dystopian future where time is used as currency, it stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in a story about class inequality, survival, and corruption. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and later developed a cult following.

Premise

The story takes place in a dystopian society where every person has a visible countdown clock showing how much life they have left. Because time is money, the rich can effectively live forever while the poor are forced to struggle for survival.

Production

In Time was written and directed by Andrew Niccol and produced by Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, and Niccol. It was made by New Regency Pictures and Strike Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Release and reception

The film was released in 2011 and ran for 1 hour and 49 minutes. It became known for its high-concept premise and later gained a cult following among science-fiction viewers.

Themes

The film uses its time-based economy to explore class division, poverty, and the power held by the wealthy. Its dystopian setting presents social inequality as a literal life-and-death system.

Key facts

  • The film is set in a future where people stop aging at 25 and must obtain more time to stay alive.
  • Time functions as the story’s primary currency and is transferred between people.
  • Justin Timberlake plays Will Salas, a poor man whose life changes after receiving a large amount of time.
  • Amanda Seyfried plays Sylvia Weis, the daughter of a wealthy man who becomes involved in Will’s struggle.
  • The plot focuses on inequality, wealth concentration, and a corrupt social system.
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Canadian context

In Time was distributed in Canada through 20th Century Fox and is part of the broader North American science-fiction film market commonly covered by Canadian film audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is In Time about?
It is about a future society where time replaces money and people must earn or steal time to stay alive.
Who directed In Time?
Andrew Niccol directed and wrote the film.
Who stars in In Time?
The lead roles are played by Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, with Cillian Murphy and Olivia Wilde in supporting roles.
When was In Time released?
It was released in 2011.
What genre is In Time?
It is a science fiction action thriller.

References

  1. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_time
    Supports: Film synopsis, release year, genre, runtime, distributor, cast, and production details.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637688/
    Supports: Director, writer, genre, and basic film identification.
  3. Movie Insider — https://www.movieinsider.com/m7305/im-mortal
    Supports: Release date and former working title information.
  4. Collider — https://collider.com/in-time-set-visit/
    Supports: Premise, dystopian setting, and time-as-currency concept.
  5. GradeSaver — https://www.gradesaver.com/in-time
    Supports: Production background, budget/gross context, and themes.