The Adam Project

The movie stars Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell in his film debut, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldaña. In the film, fighter pilot Adam Reed (Reynolds) crash lands in 2022 after getting injured while stealing a time jet,

Meets his 12-year-old self (Scobell) in the process, who had been dealing with the loss of his father Louis (Ruffalo) the year before. All the while, Maya Sorian (Keener), leader of the dystopian world and head of her company Sorian, plans to monopolize time travel.

Production on the film first began in 2012 with Tom Cruise attached to star. The film then fell into development hell until Netflix acquired the distribution rights. Filming commenced in November 2020 and wrapped in March 2021. Rob Simonsen composed the score.

The Adam Project began a limited “one night only” theatrical release on March 9, 2022 followed by its streaming release on March 11. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, action sequences, visual effects, and its inspiration from 1980s movies, but criticized its writing and storyline.

During his escape, he is injured and crash-lands in 2022, where he encounters his 12-year-old self, who has been suspended after being bullied in school, and is distant from his mother Ellie after the death of their father, Louis Reed in 2021.

At first, Young Reed distrusts his future self, but realizes his existence when 2050 Adam mentions his life and his pet dog. 2050 Adam decides to bring his younger self along to find Laura in 2018 once his injuries are healed.

Both Adams are soon attacked by Maya Sorian, the leader of the dystopian world, and her assistant Christos, but are saved by Laura, who has faked her death and stayed off-grid in an unknown location via a gun and the plasmic MAG/CYL. After briefly losing the pursuers, Laura and the Adams realize that after the invention of time travel by Louis and his subsequent death, Sorian has monopolized the discovery.

Laura has learned Sorian frequently came and advised her 2018 self to secure her future wealth and power. Laura’s hideout is discovered by Christos; Laura holds them off while the two Adams escape, sacrificing herself as she is vaporized by Sorian. The Adams escape into 2018, where they visit Louis Reed and attempt to enlist his help, but Louis refuses out of concern for the effects on the time stream. Meanwhile, 2050 Sorian warns her 2018 self about Adam.

The following day, the two Adams set off to destroy the particle accelerator located underground at Sorian Technologies. where they come under attack by Sorian’s soldiers waiting for them, but are unexpectedly saved by Louis, who has changed his mind and agrees to guide them.

He reveals that destroying the machine will not destroy time travel as long as Sorian has his algorithm with the math and constraints to control the process and decides to destroy the memory unit instead.

Meanwhile, 2050 Sorian captures the younger Adam and holds him hostage as Louis and 2050 Adam remove a algorithm memory unit. 2050 Adam distracts Sorian and Christos enough for younger Adam to free himself but this results in damaging the electromagnetic seal around the accelerator, tearing the facility apart.

The Reeds manage to take out Christos after a lengthy fight, but the older Sorian threatens to kill Louis. Louis remains adamant and refuses to hand over the memory unit. Sorian shoots at Louis, but the armor-piercing bullet is altered by the electromagnetic field and hits 2018 Sorian instead, killing her and therefore wiping 2050 Sorian out of existence.

The Reeds barely manage to escape the facility’s implosion and return home, where they reconcile by playing a game of catch before the Adams fade out and return to their respective timelines. In 2022, the younger Adam has not been suspended, has let go of his anger, and gives his mother a hug.

Sometime in the future, an older and much happier Adam meets Laura during a flight training lecture where she realizes, to Adam’s amusement, she has entered the wrong building on the campus. Adam offers to walk her to her building, stating that he has time, and they depart together.