Things to Come
An expansive Wellsian vision of war, collapse, reconstruction, and the uneasy price of humanity’s technological future.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- epic
- philosophical
- ominous
- classic science fiction night
- film history study
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark of science-fiction design and speculative filmmaking, despite reservations about its sentimental dialogue and episodic structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story moves from the 1940 war through plague, reconstruction, underground cities, and the 2035 lunar mission.
The rebuilt civilization is represented through vast underground cities, technological infrastructure, and grand modernist spaces.
The 2035 uprising argues that progress caused past wars and turns opposition to technology into violent revolt.
Decades of global war, manufacturing failure, primitive localized communities, and a devastating plague define the early future setting.
Films like Things to Come, and why
2001: A Space Odyssey
ambitious philosophical science fiction, monumental production design, and humanity's technological destiny
Metropolis
dystopian social collapse, post-apocalyptic reconstruction, and critique of authoritarian order
The Time Machine
speculative future history, social engineering, and anxiety about progress reshaping humanity
Movie Details
- Director
- William Cameron Menzies
- Release Date
- 1936-03-31
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (230)
Cast
- Raymond Massey
- Edward Chapman
- Ralph Richardson
- Margaretta Scott
- Cedric Hardwicke
- Maurice Braddell
- Sophie Stewart
- Derrick De Marney
- Ann Todd
- Pearl Argyle
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Things to Come about?
- An expansive Wellsian vision of war, collapse, reconstruction, and the uneasy price of humanity’s technological future.
- What is Things to Come like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Things to Come as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Things to Come violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Things to Come as moderate.
- What did critics think of Things to Come?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark of science-fiction design and speculative filmmaking, despite reservations about its sentimental dialogue and episodic structure.
- Which films are like Things to Come?
- Films with a similar feel include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Metropolis, and The Time Machine.
- How long is Things to Come?
- Things to Come runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Things to Come?
- In United States, Things to Come streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
