Stealing Time

Stealing Time

Year: 2015

Runtime: 18 mins

Language: English

Director: Alex Calleros

Comedy

When a down-on-his-luck inventor builds a time machine to change the past, he unwittingly sets off a disastrous chain of events.

Stealing Time (2015) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Stealing Time (2015) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world where ordinary lives are tinged with the ache of unfinished dreams, a down‑on‑his‑luck inventor becomes obsessed with the idea that time itself might be bent to rewrite his past. The story opens with a quiet voice‑over pondering why people make the choices they do, setting a reflective tone that lingers over an otherwise everyday backdrop of college corridors, cramped apartments, and the familiar hum of a small‑town bar. The atmosphere balances wistful nostalgia with an undercurrent of restless ambition, hinting that the characters are poised on the edge of something that could change everything they know about themselves.

​Alec is the restless mind behind the time‑machine concept, a man whose sharp intellect is shadowed by a looming health crisis he keeps hidden from his friends. ​Sam drifts through a series of dead‑end jobs and relationships, yearning for stability yet finding herself tangled in obligations that feel increasingly suffocating. ​Casey carries the weight of past decisions, haunted by a love that never fully blossomed and a lingering sense of responsibility he can’t quite shake. ​Trevor chases a distant dream of acting, living on the periphery of the group’s more grounded concerns while holding onto a fragile hope for a different future.

Their friendship, forged in the chaotic swirl of university life and cemented by countless late‑night escapades, now serves as both anchor and catalyst. The quartet’s shared history is dotted with moments of humor, quiet camaraderie, and unspoken tension, each character subtly pushing the others toward a crossroads where personal desire collides with the practicalities of adult life. As the inventor’s invention looms over the group, the film’s tone shifts from light‑hearted reminiscence to a more introspective, almost melancholy exploration of how far people will go to reclaim control of their narratives.

Against a backdrop that feels simultaneously intimate and universal—college towns, low‑key bars, and the endless expanse of a city that promises new beginnings—the story asks what it truly means to try and change what has already been done. The promise of a device that could alter time fuels a growing sense of intrigue, leaving the audience to wonder how far each character will follow that tantalizing, perhaps dangerous, line between hope and desperation.

Last Updated: September 24, 2025 at 05:00

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about psychological escapes like Stealing Time

Stories where desperate characters retreat into elaborate, tragic fantasies.If you were intrigued by the hallucinatory narrative of Stealing Time, you'll find similar films here. These movies, often dark dramas or psychological sci-fi, feature characters who create complex fantasies as a coping mechanism, leading to heavy emotional reveals and bleak, introspective endings.

unreliable narratorpsychologicalfatalisticmelancholicunsettlingreflectivesombertragic

Narrative Summary

These narratives often begin with a character's attempt to escape a painful reality, building an intricate fantasy that initially seems compelling or hopeful. The plot structure is typically complex, using twists or non-linear storytelling to gradually dismantle the fantasy, culminating in a stark confrontation with the inescapable truth the character was avoiding.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on unreliable perspectives and the tragic intersection of escapism and mental health. They deliver a similar viewing experience: an initial intrigue that gives way to profound melancholy and a heavy, thought-provoking conclusion about the nature of reality and delusion.

Descent into crime movies similar to Stealing Time

Character-driven stories where desperation erupts into tense, doomed criminal acts.For viewers who appreciated the shift from reflective drama to tense crime in Stealing Time, this section collects films with a similar structure. These movies focus on ordinary people pushed to extreme measures, leading to fast-paced, anxious sequences and ultimately bleak consequences.

tensefatalisticanxiousdesperategrittyregretconsequencesunsettling

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a gradual, often melancholic build-up that establishes the protagonist's profound sense of failure and regret. This slow-burn character study creates a palpable tension that eventually explodes into a fast-paced, chaotic crime sequence—a last, desperate gamble that exposes the characters' fragility and leads to a fatalistic conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific emotional arc: a heavy, reflective dread that transforms into intense, anxious action. They are connected by their focus on the consequences of failure and the destructive nature of desperate acts, blending deep character work with gripping, high-tension plot turns.

Unlock the Full Story of Stealing Time

Don't stop at just watching — explore Stealing Time in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Stealing Time is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Stealing Time Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Stealing Time, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Stealing Time Summary

Stealing Time Timeline

Track the full timeline of Stealing Time with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Stealing Time Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Stealing Time

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Stealing Time. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Stealing Time

More About Stealing Time

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Stealing Time: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Stealing Time