A Brief History of Time
Seen it?1991 | 80 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 20 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Partly adapted from cosmologist Stephen Hawking's popular book about his theories of the universe, this in-depth documentary also presents Hawking's daily life as he deals with the ALS that renders him virtually immobile and unable to speak without the use of a computer. Hawking's friends, family, former classmates and peers are interviewed about not only his theories but the man himself.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$2 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 14K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Errol Morris
- Stephen HawkingSelf
- Isobel HawkingSelf - Stephen Hawking's Mother
- Janet HumphreySelf - Stephen Hawking's Aunt
- Mary HawkingSelf - Stephen Hawking's Sister
- Basil KingSelf - Childhood Friend
- Derek PowneySelf - Oxford Classmate
- Norman Dix
- Robert BermanSelf - Stephen Hawking's Tutor
- Gordon Berry
- Roger Penrose