'WALL‑E' Director Just Delivered Hulu's #2 Hit – Too Bad It's Sitting at 19% on RT

Many viewers associate Andrew Stanton with Pixar's golden age. Finding Nemo and WALL-E redefined animation and remain beloved by millions.

Therefore, the news that Stanton had directed a live-action movie with an ambitious script intertwining three eras was intriguing. Unfortunately, the result was disastrous.

In the Blink of an Eye was released on Hulu after its Sundance premiere and instantly shot to second place on the streaming charts. However, it turned out to be empty and pretentious.

What Is 'In the Blink of an Eye' About?

The movie unfolds across three timelines. In 45,000 BCE, a family of Neanderthals struggles to survive in a world of rocks and forests.

In 2025, anthropologist Claire studies a Neanderthal skeleton and navigates a romance with a colleague while coping with her mother's fatal illness.

In the year 2417, astronaut Coakley pilots a spaceship to a distant planet. She encounters a problem when the oxygen levels on board begin to fall, threatening the plants in a special compartment.

'In the Blink of an Eye' Is Made by the Creator of 'Finding Nemo' & 'WALL-E' but It Doesn't Save the Movie

Throughout his career, Andrew Stanton has proven that he knows how to tell touching, smart, and visually inventive stories. After leaving animation, he worked in television, directing episodes of Stranger Things, Better Call Saul, and 3 Body Problem.

In 2026, he has two projects coming out: Toy Story 5 and In the Blink of an Eye. While Toy Story is sure to be a hit, Stanton's independent project is a downright flop.

Colby Day wrote the screenplay – he is known for the series For All Mankind. Day was inspired by Magnolia and 2001: A Space Odyssey, but the result is closer to unsuccessful Cloud Atlas imitators – it has the same structure but lacks depth and ingenuity.

Each of the three short stories is predictable, and the attempt to connect them with common themes feels forced. Visually, the movie resembles three disparate episodes of a TV series – no directorial innovations, no magic.

'In the Blink of an Eye' Attempts to Discuss Timeless Topics, but Does So in a Superficial Manner

In the Blink of an Eye's premise becomes clear within the first few minutes: life is finite, love and family are important, technology doesn't change human nature.

However, instead of exploring these topics from an unexpected angle, the filmmakers simply pound obvious truths into the viewer's head for an hour and a half.

In successful movies, the interplay between plot lines strengthens the message, making it complex and interesting. Here, however, the repetition only underscores the banality of the material. None of the three stories are engaging, and the characters fail to evoke empathy.

In the Blink of an Eye begins to fade from memory even before the credits roll. Andrew Stanton has already had a flop in his career with John Carter, and In the Blink of an Eye risks becoming its equal.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'In the Blink of an Eye'?

• In the Blink of an Eye has 19% from critics and 69% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.0/10.

• On Letterboxd, In the Blink of an Eye scored 2.7/5.0.