The Tomorrow War (2021) is a high-concept sci-fi action film that blends time travel, alien warfare, and family drama into a two-hour adrenaline rush. Directed by Chris McKay (known for The Lego Batman Movie) and starring Chris Pratt, the film delivers blockbuster spectacle and heartfelt moments, even if it sometimes struggles under the weight of its own ambitions.
The story begins in the near future, when soldiers from the year 2051 arrive to warn humanity that the world is losing a war against a deadly alien species known as the “Whitespikes.” To save the planet, civilians from the present are drafted into the future to fight. Among them is Dan Forester (Chris Pratt), a high school biology teacher and former soldier, who joins the fight to secure a better world for his daughter.
Visually, The Tomorrow War is impressive. The future war sequences are large-scale, chaotic, and full of tension. The design of the Whitespikes, ferocious, fast and terrifying is one of the movie’s strongest points. The special effects and action choreography keep viewers on edge, delivering the kind of intense thrills one expects from a big-budget sci-fi epic.
Yet, beyond the explosions and alien battles, the movie also tries to explore emotional and philosophical themes: family, sacrifice, destiny, and redemption. Chris Pratt gives a grounded performance, balancing his usual charm with a more serious tone. Yvonne Strahovski shines as Colonel Muri Forester, delivering emotional weight and strength that elevate the film’s middle act. Their father-daughter dynamic becomes the movie’s emotional anchor.
Where The Tomorrow War falters is in its pacing and storytelling. The first act builds intrigue, the second act soars with high-stakes action, but the third act feels somewhat tacked on, an extra ending that dilutes the earlier tension. Some plot elements, especially regarding the time-travel logic, don’t hold up under scrutiny. The script, while ambitious, occasionally leans on clichés and exposition-heavy dialogue.
Still, the film deserves credit for aiming high. It’s a rare original sci-fi story in an era dominated by franchises and reboots. The mix of heart, heroism, and spectacle makes it entertaining, even if it’s not groundbreaking.
In short, The Tomorrow War is a fun, emotional, and visually spectacular action film that succeeds more as a summer blockbuster than as hard science fiction. It’s the kind of movie best enjoyed for its thrills and sentiment rather than its logic.
Best Lines & Quotes from The Tomorrow War (2021)
Dan Forester (Chris Pratt):
“I’m not a hero. I was trying to save my family.”
Colonel Muri Forester (Yvonne Strahovski):
“You taught me to never give up. You taught me that you fight for what’s worth fighting for.”
Dan Forester:
“We are literally living on borrowed time.”
Charlie (Sam Richardson):
“I’m just trying to survive long enough to die of old age in the past.”
Dan Forester:
“If I have to save the world to save my daughter, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Colonel Muri Forester:
“You can’t save everyone, Dad. Sometimes you just have to save the world you have left.”
James Forester (J.K. Simmons):
“Sometimes you just have to fight for what’s right, even when you’re not sure you can win.”
Dan Forester (to his daughter Muri):
“I’m not gonna leave you. Not now. Not ever.”
Charlie:
“I’m not made for this! I have panic attacks when I see spiders, man!”
Colonel Muri Forester:
“The future is not lost yet. But we’re running out of time.”
