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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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The Tomorrow War

The Tomorrow War is a 2021 American military science-fiction action film directed by Chris McKay and written by Zach Dean.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Tomorrow War is a 2021 American military science-fiction action film directed by Chris McKay and written by Zach Dean. It stars Chris Pratt as Dan Forester, a present-day family man and former soldier recruited through time travel to help fight an alien invasion in the future. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on July 2, 2021.

Premise

The story begins when time travelers from 2051 warn the world that humanity is losing a future war against a deadly alien species. Present-day civilians and soldiers are then recruited to travel into the future and join the fight.

Production and release

The film was directed by Chris McKay and written by Zach Dean. It premiered as a streaming release on Amazon Prime Video in July 2021 after being planned for a theatrical release.

Cast

Chris Pratt leads the film as Dan Forester, with Yvonne Strahovski as a scientist and J. K. Simmons as Forester’s estranged father. The ensemble also includes Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge, Jasmine Mathews, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Keith Powers.

Reception and format

The film is listed as a PG-13 science-fiction action title with a runtime of about 138 minutes. Sources describe it as combining time travel, alien invasion, and military action elements.

Key facts

  • The film follows soldiers and civilians sent from the present to the year 2051 to fight an alien swarm.
  • Chris Pratt plays Dan Forester, a high school teacher and former soldier.
  • The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on July 2, 2021.
  • Chris McKay directed the film, and Zach Dean wrote the screenplay.
  • Supporting cast includes Yvonne Strahovski and J. K. Simmons.
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Canadian context

The film was widely available to Canadian viewers through Amazon Prime Video as a streaming release, making it part of the same global home-streaming rollout as in other markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Tomorrow War about?
It is about a future alien war in which people from the present are sent to 2051 to help humanity survive.
Who directed The Tomorrow War?
Chris McKay directed the film.
Who stars in The Tomorrow War?
The film stars Chris Pratt, with Yvonne Strahovski and J. K. Simmons in key supporting roles.
When was The Tomorrow War released?
It was released on July 2, 2021, on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.
What genre is The Tomorrow War?
It is a military science-fiction action film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tomorrow_War
    Supports: Basic film credits, cast, premise, and release year.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9777666/
    Supports: Release date, runtime, rating, genre, and synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_tomorrow_war
    Supports: Synopsis, director, writer, producers, genre, rating, and runtime.
  4. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=271727.html
    Supports: Release information, director, cast, and synopsis.