A Wrinkle in Time

Year: 2003

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: English

Director: John Kent Harrison

DramaFamily

To rescue their missing father, Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace join Calvin O'Keefe and three mysterious women who guide them across strange dimensions. Their search, sparked by his disappearance during a government experiment, takes them to otherworldly realms and ultimately forces them to save the universe.

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A Wrinkle in Time (2003) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of A Wrinkle in Time (2003), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Meg Murry is having a difficult time. Her father, astrophysicist Dr. Jack Murry, has mysteriously disappeared. Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, a genius, is teased and belittled and thought to be stupid because he does not talk to anyone but family. Meg does not get along with her peers, teachers, her 10-year-old twin brothers, or even with herself.

Into this unhappy situation comes a stranger, the mysterious, weirdly dressed Mrs. Whatsit, and her friends Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. They take Meg, Charles Wallace, and their new friend Calvin O’Keefe via tesseract to other planets, preparing the children for a mission to rescue Dr. Murry from the malevolent “IT” on the planet Camazotz. Along the way they ride on the back of a beautiful winged creature (the transformed Mrs. Whatsit), learn about the shadow of tangible evil known as the Black Thing, and visit the Happy Medium, a cheerful and androgynous fortune-teller.

Once they reach Camazotz, however, it is up to Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace to face the dangers of CENTRAL Central Intelligence, aided only by each other and a pair of glasses from Mrs. Who. They do find and rescue Dr. Murry, but Charles Wallace is seduced away from his family by IT’s agent, the Man with Red Eyes, and thus comes under the control of IT. Dr. Murry manages to tesser himself, Meg and Calvin, away from Camazotz, but Charles Wallace is left behind, trapped in the mind of IT. Angry with her father, Calvin and herself for leaving Charles Wallace behind, Meg is cared for by the sightless and motherly Aunt Beast on the planet Ixchel and argues with Mrs. Which about returning to rescue her brother. Returning alone to Camazotz, Meg must find a quality in herself—love—to free Charles Wallace, and possibly free the planet Camazotz as well.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:08

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Movies like A Wrinkle in Time: Interdimensional Family Quests

Heroic children embark on fantastical quests to save a missing parent.If you enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time's heartfelt journey, explore more movies where young heroes travel through wondrous dimensions to save a parent. These similar sci-fi and fantasy stories combine epic adventure with strong family bonds, offering hopeful and empowering narratives for viewers seeking uplifting, character-driven quests.

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These narratives begin with a familial disruption, typically the disappearance of a parent or sibling, which launches a child protagonist into a fantastical world. The journey is as much about internal growth as external rescue, with the hero overcoming personal insecurities and external threats through love and courage to achieve a reunion.

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Young outsiders find their strength on journeys through cosmic wonders.Fans of A Wrinkle in Time's hopeful and introspective mood will enjoy these similar sci-fi dramas. Discover movies featuring young protagonists on journeys of self-discovery through imaginative worlds, blending medium-stakes adventure with heartfelt character arcs and ultimately happy, empowering endings.

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The narrative pattern involves an unhappy or socially isolated youth who is thrust into a larger conflict that spans worlds. Through guidance from mentors and confrontation with a abstract evil, the protagonist battles internal doubts and external forces, culminating in a victory achieved by embracing their unique qualities, leading to personal transformation and a restored sense of belonging.

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