The official trailer has been released for In the Blink of an Eye, an emotionally ambitious, time-spanning sci-fi film from WALL·E director and Finding Nemo co-director Andrew Stanton. Watch the trailer above, then read on for what we know so far — and the not-so-great early word out of Sundance.
A triptych told across millennia
The plot unfolds across three interconnected stories set in vastly different points in time. In the distant past, a displaced Neanderthal family struggles to survive in a hostile landscape, learning to protect their children and adapt with the most basic tools available. In the present day, Rashida Jones’ driven anthropology student Claire forms a tentative bond with fellow academic Greg, played by Daveed Diggs, as her research into ancient proto-human remains begins to blur into her own search for connection.
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Two centuries into the future, the story shifts to deep space. Kate McKinnon’s Coakley and a sentient onboard computer face a mysterious disease threatening the oxygen-producing plants aboard their spacecraft, putting the entire mission — and everyone on board — at risk.
Big ideas, muted buzz
There’s no shortage of ambition here. The footage leans into mood, scale, and reflection, framing the film as a meditation on humanity’s desire to connect across time. That said, the lack of a theatrical rollout feels notable. Following its Sundance premiere, early reactions weren’t exactly promising, with the film currently sitting at an 18% score on Rotten Tomatoes. That may help explain why this one is bypassing cinemas entirely.
In the Blink of an Eye stars Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, Daveed Diggs, Jorge Vargas, and Tanaya Beatty. The film is directed by Andrew Stanton from a script by Colby Day, based on his 2016 Black List screenplay, and produced by Jared Ian Goldman.
Release date
The film will debut exclusively on Disney+ on February 27.
