Do you want to see ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’?

Tickets & Showtimes

Tomorrow, When the War Began (2012)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 55
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 20

While the script isn't amazing and the story's race issues linger, this adaptation of John Marsden's book is an exciting, action-heavy adventure that should please fans of the series.

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

While the script isn't amazing and the story's race issues linger, this adaptation of John Marsden's book is an exciting, action-heavy adventure that should please fans of the series.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 8,295

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Tomorrow When the War Began is a pulse-pounding action thriller that follows the journey of eight high school friends in an Australian coastal town whose lives are suddenly and violently upended by an invasion that no one saw coming. Caitlin Stasey stars as 17 year old Ellie Linton, a precocious teen who leads her best friends including Corrie (Rachel Hurd-Wood) and Kevin (Lincoln Lewis) to an isolated, deep in the woods camp site named 'Hell.' Upon returning, they come to grips with the fact

R, 2 hr.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

Directed By: Stuart Beattie

In Theaters: Feb 24, 2012 Limited

Freestyle Releasing

Tomorrow, When the War Began Trailer & Photos

More Photos (52)

Cast

Colin Friels
Dr. Clements
Rachel Hurd-Wood
Corrie MacKenzie
Caitlin Stasey
Ellie Linton
Deniz Akdeniz
Homer Yannos
Lincoln Lewis
Kevin Holmes
Phoebe Tonkin
Fiona Maxwell
Ashleigh Cummings
Robyn Mathers
Christopher Pang
Lee Taikkam
Andrew Ryan
Chris Lang

Critic Reviews for Tomorrow, When the War Began

All Critics (56) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (20) | DVD (2)

Just fast-moving fun, enough so to gloss over its shortcomings.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Arizona Republic

| Comment (1)

Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Top Critic

Australia may finally have a homegrown blockbuster on its hands with the terrifically engaging Tomorrow, When the War Began, an action-packed war film for and about teenagers.

September 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter

| Comments (3)

Megan Lehmann

Hollywood Reporter

Top Critic

...despite the R-rating, this isn't really a movie for grown-ups, Tomorrow When the War Began can't be completely dismissed as a teen movie either. It's a curious thing, with sleek, fluid action set pieces and moments that approach - then bungle - grace.

April 29, 2012 Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

| Comment

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

"Tomorrow" is less realistic than "Red Dawn," if you can wrap your head around that without making it pop off.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

| Comment

Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

You know the drill: A small group of unsuspecting adventurers wanders into danger, and not all of them will get out alive.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Seattle Times

| Comment

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

a nice combination of high school angst and blockbuster action

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Bill Gibron

Filmcritic.com

This is a movie that packs in a lot of very cool action while still addressing its themes intelligently. It's one to seek out.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: Aisle Seat

| Comment (1)

Mike McGranaghan

Aisle Seat

Quite a crafty genre mash-up that deserves to find an audience.

February 23, 2012 Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com

| Comment

Dustin Putman

DustinPutman.com

Undeniably entertaining, but also profoundly silly, making Red Dawn look like a documentary by comparison.

February 22, 2012 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

So full of stock types and clich�s it makes The Breakfast Club look like Nashville.

February 21, 2012 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Calum Marsh

Slant Magazine

A resistance-combatant-primer disguised as a teen-exploitation flick, "Tomorrow When the War Began" delights in guilty pleasures.

February 20, 2012 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com

| Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Despite the far-fetched set-up (and the often clunky dialogue and acting), you'll soon be rooting for the plucky teens.

September 20, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Talk

| Comment

Jason Best

Movie Talk Source: Movie Talk

The door is tantalisingly left open for a sequel, and if it's as enjoyable as this then it won't be an unwelcome one.

July 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Digital Spy

| Comment

Simon Reynolds

Digital Spy

American audiences might prefer to see their own country being invaded by Asiatic hordes on the big screen, but Tomorrow, When the War Began is as glossy and slick as any Hollywood production . . .

April 11, 2011 Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page

| Comment

James O'Ehley

Sci-Fi Movie Page Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page

This is cringe-worthy commercial cinema of the worst kind.

April 10, 2011 Full Review Source: Scotsman

| Comment

Alistair Harkness

Scotsman

Despite some effective moments, the film doesn't begin to compare with Milius's highly sophisticated rightwing movie that gives the Soviet and Cuban invaders their due.

April 10, 2011 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

| Comment

Philip French

Guardian [UK]

Despite some decent acting, the teenagers seem more cardboard than flesh and blood.

April 8, 2011 Full Review Source: This is London

| Comment

Derek Malcolm

This is London

It passes the time innocuously enough, but the ingredients for global success are missing.

April 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph

| Comment

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph

Headline 'serious teen issues' are crammed down our throats in the most inane and unbelievable way imaginable.

April 8, 2011 Full Review Source: What Culture

| Comment

Mike Edwards

What Culture Source: What Culture

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Tomorrow, When the War Began

View All

I love the concept and execution of the novel but there were times when I could tell this was created from a young adult series of books. While Red Dawn didn't hold back when it came to the reality of the risk the characters put themselves in this one seems to shy away from it. It's a great start to what could be a great series of films.

March 19, 2012

Jason Spencer

Super Reviewer

A film about teenagers at war. However, these aren't REAL teenagers in a REAL war. This is all fictional crap, leaving our protagonists as self-obsessed prats, that will chat about kissing boys when they are in the middle of blowing up a bridge. The film is just a teenagers fantasy. Dumb-ass teenagers will come out

March 16, 2011

Luke Baldock

Super Reviewer

Tomorrow, When the War Began Quotes

View All

1. Ellie Linton: I can't tell if what I did was right or wrong.
– Submitted by Chris P (3 months ago)
1. Ellie Linton: People are dying out there!
– Submitted by Chris P (3 months ago)

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

Movies

Opening

42%	Battleship	May 18
68%	The Dictator	May 16
27%	What to Expect When You're Expecting	May 18

More…

Top Box Office

93%	Marvel's The Avengers	$103.1M
41%	Dark Shadows	$29.7M
52%	Think Like a Man	$5.8M
84%	The Hunger Games	$4.5M
20%	The Lucky One	$4.1M
63%	The Five-Year Engagement	$3.3M
87%	The Pirates! Band of Misfits	$3.1M
75%	The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel	$2.7M
74%	Chimpanzee	$1.8M
55%	Safe	$1.4M

In Theaters | Top 50

Certified Fresh In Theaters

100%	This Is Not a Film	Feb 29
98%	The Island President	Mar 28
98%	Jiro Dreams of Sushi	Mar 09
96%	The Kid with a Bike	Mar 16
96%	Monsieur Lazhar	Apr 13

More…

Movies Like Tomorrow, When the War Began

Pearl Harbor

Red Dawn

The Guardian

View All

Latest News for Tomorrow, When the War Began

February 23, 2012:

Critics Consensus: Act of Valor Misses the Mark
The 84th Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so here's your last chance to check out the nominees...

August 30, 2010:

Stuart Beattie talks Tomorrow, When the War Began
The Pirates of the Caribbean and Collateral writer discusses his directorial debut, Australian teen...

View All