Timeline

Based on Michael Crichton's novel, Timeline follows a group of archaeologists excavating a medieval site in France's Dordogne valley. When a bifocal lens and a letter dated 1357 surface among the ruins, the team learns that the project's sponsor, a technology company, has sent their professor back in time. A rescue party travels to fourteenth-century France, where the period's ongoing warfare and the limits of the time-travel device leave them stranded and fighting to survive long enough to return.

Richard Donner directed this action-adventure, the sixteenth of the eighteen films he made, following Lethal Weapon 4 and preceding 16 Blocks. The screenplay was written by George Nolfi and Jeff Maguire, with Donner producing alongside Lauren Shuler Donner and Jim Van Wyck. Paul Walker plays Chris Johnston, the professor's son, and Frances O'Connor plays archaeologist Kate Ericson, with Gerard Butler as Andre Marek, Billy Connolly as Professor E. A. Johnston, David Thewlis as executive Robert Doniger and Anna Friel as Lady Claire. The production credits 33 cast members and 196 crew.

Made for about 80 million dollars, the film earned roughly 44 million worldwide, falling well short of its budget. On IMDb it holds 5.6 out of 10 from about 69,000 votes, and on TMDB 5.7 out of 10 from over 1,200 votes. A critics' rating of 4 out of 10 from 141 reviews sits noticeably below those audience scores.