Temporal

Temporal

Year: 2022

Runtime: 35 mins

Language: Sinhalese, Sinhala

Director: Akash Sunethkumara

DramaThriller

A physicist attempts to defy the laws of time travel on a fateful night, driven by his desire to save the woman he loves. However, his journey into the past and future reveals unforeseen and perilous consequences that threaten to overwhelm him. He must confront the inherent dangers of manipulating time before it’s too late.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Temporal yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Temporal (2022)

Trace every key event in Temporal (2022) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Nikita's night out missed; breakup

Kalpa neglects Nikita's planned night out to focus on his time-travel project. The ensuing argument ends with Nikita breaking up, injecting emotional stakes into his attempt to alter fate. The tragedy that follows hinges on his flawed experiment with time.

Night City
2

A figure behind the wall during the argument

During the confrontation, Kalpa spots a figure darting behind a wall, an uncanny glimpse that hints at hidden dangers. He is distracted by Nikita, so the moment passes without explanation. The image foreshadows the collision between past and present that drives the plot.

Night City building corridor
3

Janitor's warning about time

On his way back to the lab, Kalpa encounters a janitor who delivers a cryptic warning about time. He says that the main fault of man is that we think we have enough time and advises him to be mindful. The exchange plants the seed for Kalpa's later careful handling of timing.

Night Lab corridor
4

Time machine becomes functional; Nikita's death reported

Back at the lab, Kalpa's time-travel device finally works, opening the possibility of changing events. A call from Nikita's friend arrives with the shocking news that Nikita has died in an accident. Kalpa resolves to use the machine to travel back in time to save her.

Present night Tusker Enterprises lab
5

First past trip: five minutes back, discovery

Kalpa activates the machine and jumps five minutes into the past. He realizes that he is the mysterious figure who hid behind the wall earlier in the night. He learns he only has five minutes in the past before being pulled back to the present.

Five minutes earlier Past city near the lab
6

First attempt to save Nikita fails

In the first attempt to intervene in the past, Kalpa arrives too late; Nikita is already dead on the road. The failed rescue underscores the stubbornness of fate and the limits of tampering with time. He returns to the present with the weight of another failure.

Past City road
7

Second attempted intervention fails again

A second past-trip attempt ends with the same outcome: Kalpa cannot save Nikita as she lies dead on the road. The loop tightens as time resists his changes. He steels himself for a more calculated third attempt.

Past City road
8

Third attempt: mindful timing and planning

Following the janitor's warning, Kalpa plans the timing with precision and returns to the past again. He tries to reach Nikita faster by taking a direct route toward her and increasing his speed. The sequence is designed to avoid his past self's distractions and to seize the critical moment.

Past City road
9

The near-collision interrupted by time's pull

In the critical moment, Kalpa accelerates toward Nikita in his car, aiming to reach her before the accident. Right before he would strike her, the time-travel pull yanks him back to the lab. The momentum of the car carries on and strikes the lab wall, while Nikita remains dead on the road.

Just after pulling back City road and lab
10

Nikita dead; Mallett's Comet overhead

Nikita lies dead on the road as Mallett's Comet passes overhead, marking the tragedy. Kalpa's attempt ends with no change to the outcome, while his presence in the lab is preserved by the inbound timeline. He sits with the grim realization of the irreversible event.

Present Road and lab vicinity
11

Post-credits scene: Bernard receives Kalpa's files

In a post-credits moment, Bernard, CEO of Tusker Enterprises, receives Kalpa's files. He is informed that Kalpa has regained consciousness, hinting at his survival and further implications of the experiment. The scene leaves questions about Kalpa's fate and the timeline they inhabit.

Post-credits Tusker Enterprises

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 at 00:47

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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 with desperate time loops like Temporal

Characters trapped in cycles of grief, frantically trying to avert a personal tragedy.If you liked the tragic, high-stakes time manipulation in Temporal, explore these movies where characters are trapped in similar cycles of grief and desperation. These films share a focus on sci-fi ethics, fatalistic consequences, and the heavy emotional toll of trying to change fate.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread often follow a character who discovers or creates a loop centered on a pivotal, tragic event. Their repeated interventions typically lead to escalating consequences, forcing them to confront the core theme that some events are inevitable, ultimately ending in profound loss and acceptance of their powerlessness.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared foundation of a love-motivated, high-stakes temporal paradox. They deliver a specific mix of scientific thriller pacing, deep emotional weight centered on grief, and a consistently tense, fatalistic tone that builds toward a heartbreaking conclusion.

Sci-fi ethical dilemma movies like Temporal

Intense stories where scientific ambition clashes with devastating human consequences.Fans of Temporal's exploration of time travel ethics and tragic outcomes will find similar tension in these stories. This selection features movies like Temporal where a scientific breakthrough leads to heavy moral choices, desperate love, and disastrous consequences for the protagonist.

tensemind-bendingominousanxioustragicthought-provokingdesperate

Narrative Summary

These stories typically begin with a revolutionary scientific concept and a deeply personal motivation. The protagonist's initial success quickly gives way to unintended, perilous side effects, creating a complex web of cause and effect. The central conflict is the characters' struggle against the uncontrollable fallout of their own creation, often culminating in a painful lesson about the limits of human intervention.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects movies based on their core theme of 'scientific obsession meets tragic love.' They share a high-intensity, complex narrative structure, a tense and ominous tone, and a focus on the heavy emotional weight of facing the dire consequences of one's own ambitious actions.

Unlock the Full Story of Temporal

Don't stop at just watching — explore Temporal 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 Temporal is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Temporal Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Temporal, 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.

Temporal Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Temporal

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Temporal

Temporal Spoiler-Free Summary

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Temporal Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Temporal

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