Why Gerard Butler’s $80M Sci-Fi Bomb Is Now Suddenly Popular

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Despite receiving negative reviews and failing to attract an audience when it first came out in 2003, Gerard Butler’s sci-fi film Timeline is now surprisingly popular on streaming services. Author Michael Crichton’s work has been adapted for the screen many times, giving him a remarkably diverse career in Hollywood.

Michael Crichton’s novel, Jurassic Park, was famously adapted into a 1993 blockbuster film directed by Steven Spielberg, launching a long-running franchise that continues with the 2025 reboot, Jurassic World: Rebirth. He also wrote Westworld, which was made into a popular 1973 movie and later a highly-regarded TV series in 2016.

Despite being a very successful author, he also created some unsuccessful works. His 1998 film, Sphere, was a strange and ultimately boring mix of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. And his 1994 adaptation, Disclosure, is often considered one of the worst of the many erotic thrillers popular in the early 1990s.

2003’s Timeline Was A Critical and Commercial Failure

The 2003 film Timeline, based on Michael Crichton’s novel, wasn’t successful when it came out, making only $43.9 million despite costing $80 million to produce. Critics largely disliked the movie, calling it silly, unrealistic, and confusing, and even suggesting its box office earnings were excessive.

I remember reading Roger Ebert’s review of Timeline when it came out, and he put it perfectly – it wasn’t really a time travel movie at all! It felt like it was constantly switching between a corporate thriller and a medieval adventure, and those two just didn’t fit together. Most critics didn’t like it much either, and honestly, it flopped so badly that people quickly forgot all about it. It’s a shame, but it just didn’t work.

The film Timeline, starring Gerard Butler and Paul Walker, has recently become popular again on streaming platforms, and it’s easy to understand why. Despite negative reviews from critics like Roger Ebert, the movie isn’t nearly as bad as it was made out to be.

A team of archeology students is shocked to learn their professor has been sent back in time. They must now journey to 14th-century France to rescue him from a dangerous conflict.

Billy Connolly, a beloved comedian, is delightful as Professor Edward Johnston, a quirky professor sent back in time by the mysterious ITC Corporation. He’s joined by Walker as his son, Chris, and fellow students played by Frances O’Connor, Ethan Embry, and Rossif Sutherland.

Gerald Butler is captivating in his role as André Marek, a Scottish archaeologist who confirms that Professor Johnston has been sent back in time due to the interference of ITC’s teleportation experiments. After the characters travel to the past, the movie explores a familiar theme from Michael Crichton’s other works: the relentless pursuit of corporate interests doesn’t end with time travel.

Similar to how the companies in Jurassic Park keep spying on each other even after dinosaurs are running around, the archaeologists discover that the ITC Corporation is just as threatening as the historical knights who used to pursue them. The story is complicated, but it’s still very enjoyable.

Gerard Butler’s Career Picked Up After Timeline Flopped

Luckily, several of the actors in Timeline found success in other projects after the film didn’t perform well. Paul Walker was already famous for the Fast and Furious franchise before his tragic passing, and Anna Friel, who had a supporting role, later starred in the popular series Pushing Daisies.

Neal McDonough and Ethan Embry had both appeared in many films and TV shows before and after Timeline, and continue to work steadily. Michael Sheen later became a very well-known actor, but it was Gerard Butler who truly launched his film career with this movie.

Gerard Butler has been a consistent presence in Hollywood for decades, ever since his early role in Timeline. While not every film has been a hit – like the 2020 action movie Copshop, which didn’t get the attention it deserved – he’d already appeared in films like Reign of Fire and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life before Timeline came out. His career really took off in 2007 with Zack Snyder’s blockbuster 300.

Butler went on to star in popular films like P.S. I Love You and Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, as well as blockbusters including Law Abiding Citizen, the How to Train Your Dragon series, and Olympus Has Fallen. While he experienced some unsuccessful movies after Timeline – like 2016’s Gods of Egypt – his career didn’t suffer long-term from that early setback.

Timeline Never Deserved Its Disastrous Critical Reception

It’s not surprising that Timeline has found an audience on streaming services. Despite negative reviews, the movie wasn’t actually that bad. While a bit lengthy, it’s a strangely entertaining blend of business intrigue and classic time travel, giving it the feel of a fun, forgotten adventure film from the 1990s.

While it’s not a career highlight for anyone involved, Timeline is a surprisingly enjoyable movie. Like many adaptations of Michael Crichton’s work, it has a comforting, low-stakes quality that makes it ideal for a relaxing afternoon. Though Gerard Butler has since starred in much more successful films, Timeline remains a worthwhile and entertaining watch.

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2026-02-20 19:39