The Darkest Minds

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The Darkest Minds

PG-13

2018

1h 44m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Popcornmeter

15%

Tomatometer

139 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. One of the most powerful young people, Ruby, escapes from her camp and joins a group of runaways who are seeking a safe haven. Betrayed by the adults in power, this newfound family soon realizes that running is not enough -- they must use their collective powers to wage a resistance and take back their future.

Critics Consensus

The Darkest Minds does little to differentiate itself in a crowded field of YA adaptations, leaving all but the least demanding viewers feeling dystopian déjà vu.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

03/04/2020

To say the film suggests a mix of hazy political allegory and Henry Darger's outside-art classic The Story of the Vivian Girls is to make it sound more interesting than it really is.

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Roxana Hadadi

Chesapeake Family Magazine

08/17/2018

2/5

The Darkest Minds puts an X-Men spin on the typical 'teens in dystopia' YA formula, but the result is more derivative than creative.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

08/15/2018

2.5/5

The film is framed so deliberately as a prelude to more exciting times to come in its sequels that it renders the ending oddly anti-climactic.

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Brittany Patrice Witherspoon

Pop Culture Reviews

07/11/2024

2.5/5

The Darkest Minds has some great ideas and moments sprinkled throughout the film, but ultimately, it is uninspired storytelling that wastes its potential on forced build-up rather than execution.

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Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

12/01/2021

The film leans into all of the book's worst impulses and, most disappointingly, gives star Amandla Stenberg nothing to do. The FX is on par with other YA films, but the disinterest in exploring this dystopia renders The Darkest Minds hollow.

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Matt Cipolla

Film Monthly

07/25/2020

1.5/5

[I]t isn't much of anything new, but must it be this boring? The Darkest Minds is stultifying -- a truly joyless experience of YA clichés and generic, licensed pop songs.

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Kaylee J

@RT91560058 1h

The story line gets confusing. At times, the plot progresses far too quickly, and at others, it progresses far too slow. A frustrating watch.

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Antonio G

@RT06254606 Jun 2

One of the best movies that I've watched back in 2015 some people may say that it's some sort of spin on the Xmen but it's not, they must've not taken the time to watch the full movie as once you do it is very clear to see that it is no sort of spin on the X-men in any sort of way besides the fact that humans have powers. Another things that I've read in the reviews is that "Forced love doesn't allow it too build up and it's lacking detail" but they purposely left that cliff hanger so that there would be a possibility of a second movie, however people took that wrong and decided to spin it into a "OHHHH but they're in school still they shouldn't be doing-" bla bla bla. Great movie, give it a chance.

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Wave T

@RT44386885 May 9

I remembered this show from when I was a little girl, just had a dream about it actually which is why I searched on Google for 30 minutes trying to find it. I really loved this movie as a kid and still as a am now, I think the ratings prove it wrong, but everyone has different opinions. I would definitely watch it if ur into stranger things, or any show like that. And with that im so sad the rating made it not have a part 2. But I would definitely watch if ur reading this!

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Aurela S

@Raepie Feb 27

Really enjoyed the movie. The passing was great and the connection of the characters made the movie shine. Wish they would release the sequel.

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Hala S

@Haaaal Feb 17

I honestly really enjoyed this movie. The plot and overall acting was amazing. I couldn't understand why it was rated so low. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat most of the film, so many emotions were felt. Wish we would have gotten a sequel to fill in some gaps.

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Angel W

@AngelW30 Jan 26

Love this movie! Really would like to see more of them. I think it would be a regret and a big mistake if it gets discontinued!

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Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Director

Amandla Stenberg

Ruby Daly

Mandy Moore

Cate

Bradley Whitford

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The Darkest Minds: 'What Happens Next?' - Trailer

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The Darkest Minds: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. One of the most powerful young people, Ruby, escapes from her camp and joins a group of runaways who are seeking a safe haven. Betrayed by the adults in power, this newfound family soon realizes that running is not enough -- they must use their collective powers to wage a resistance and take back their future.

Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Producer: Shawn Levy, Dan Levine
Screenwriter: Chad Hodge
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 21 Laps Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Disturbing Images|Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.7M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)