The Theory of Everything

The Theory of Everything

Year: 2006

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Drama

Doug Holloway (David de Vos), a family man on the verge of financial collapse and marital breakdown, embarks on a search for his estranged birth father, Dr. Eugene Holland (Victor Lundin). Holland, a dedicated physicist, is consumed by his quest to formulate the Theory of Everything, convinced that proving this ultimate law could finally demonstrate the existence of God, intertwining personal redemption with a profound scientific pursuit.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Theory of Everything (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Theory of Everything (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Alaska, Doug's home

The film unfolds against a stark Alaskan backdrop, with a remote, aurora-lit setting that underscores isolation. A family home and a private plane anchor the narrative as finances, secrets, and parental duties collide. The northern landscape emphasizes the drama as Gene’s work and the plan to move him toward a hopeful horizon unfold.

🏔️ Alaska 🏠 Domestic setting 🧭 Remote landscape

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:15

Main Characters – The Theory of Everything (2006)

Meet the key characters of The Theory of Everything (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Doug (David de Vos)

A flight instructor and pilot-school owner under financial pressure who fights to secure funds while keeping his family intact. He is pragmatic and driven, often placing work ahead of leisure, but ultimately seeks a way to protect loved ones. His alliance with his biological father tests his priorities and his willingness to take risks.

🎭 💼 👨‍👩‍👧

Abby

Doug’s wife who shares in the financial strain and emotional burden of their situation. She becomes entangled in the plan to move Gene’s work toward a hopeful future, illustrating the complexities of loyalty and the cost of drastic actions.

💖 🗺️ 🤝

Gene Holland

Doug’s biological father, a gifted but obsessive scientist chasing a unifying theory. His stubborn genius drives the plot’s pursuit of answers while his illness gradually erodes control, forcing the family to respond with care and resolve.

🧬 🧠 🔬

Dr. Woodford

The physician involved in Gene’s medical care, presenting the medical realities of the illness and the toll it takes on the family. He anchors the hospital scenes and the urgent stakes around Gene’s fate.

🏥 ⚕️ 👨‍⚕️

Amanda

Doug and Abby’s daughter who is part of the family unit navigating financial strain and the dramatic events that unfold around her father and grandfather.

👧 🏠 👨‍👩‍👧

Investor #1

A potential funder who steps in to provide capital for the pilot-school expansion, representing the financial pressures and incentives shaping Doug’s decisions.

💼 💰 🤝

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:15

Major Themes – The Theory of Everything (2006)

Explore the central themes of The Theory of Everything (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Family

Family bonds drive the drama, revealing how adoption, paternity, and loyalty shape Doug and Abby’s decisions. Doug’s focus on saving his business clashes with his duties to his father and children. Abby’s involvement deepens the sense that love and duty require difficult, sometimes drastic, choices. The story traces forgiveness, sacrifice, and the evolving definition of family under pressure.

🧠 Science & Faith

Gene’s pursuit of the Theory of Everything sits at odds with faith and mortality, creating tension between rational inquiry and spiritual longing. The quest for a unifying solution raises questions about meaning, existence, and whether science can reconcile with belief. Doug acts as a practical counterbalance, grounding family decisions in tangible outcomes while Gene seeks a higher purpose. The narrative threads curiosity, doubt, and the possibility of transcendence.

🕯️ Mortality

Prion disease advances with brutal inevitability, forcing the family to confront loss and the limits of control. The looming death reshapes relationships as care, responsibility, and memory become central concerns. The plan to abduct Gene and the journey to Alaska frame mortality as a transformative threshold. In the end, the story moves toward acceptance and the hope of understanding.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:15

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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.

Bittersweet Family Reconciliation Stories like The Theory of Everything

Stories where broken families find healing, often touched by loss and time.If you liked the emotional journey in The Theory of Everything, you may enjoy these movies about family reconciliation. This section features dramas where characters confront past estrangement and seek healing, often against a backdrop of personal hardship, leading to bittersweet but meaningful conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically centers on a protagonist seeking to reconnect with a lost or estranged family member, often a parent. A catalyst, such as a terminal illness or a personal crisis, forces a reckoning with the past. The journey is linear and character-driven, focusing on emotional conversations and gradual understanding rather than dramatic twists, culminating in an ending that is both sad for what was lost and hopeful for the connection found.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core emotional engine: the painful yet hopeful process of family reconciliation. They balance the heavy weight of grief, illness, and past mistakes with the quiet triumph of human connection, creating a consistently bittersweet tone and a reflective, emotionally resonant mood.

Movies About Personal Redemption and a Grand Pursuit like The Theory of Everything

Where a character's search for external meaning leads to internal healing.For viewers who appreciated the thematic depth of The Theory of Everything, this section collects movies where a character's personal redemption is tied to a grand pursuit. These stories feature individuals overcoming crises by dedicating themselves to a larger goal, blending heavy emotional themes with a sense of profound purpose.

somberhopefulcontemplativepoignantreflectiveexistentialredemptive

Narrative Summary

The story follows a protagonist at a low point, grappling with financial ruin, marital strife, or existential despair. They become involved in a demanding, intellectually or spiritually significant quest—like a scientific theory or an artistic masterpiece—that is closely linked to another person, often a mentor or estranged relative. The parallel journeys of achieving the goal and achieving personal peace are deeply intertwined, leading to a cathartic resolution.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects movies where a character's internal transformation is catalyzed by an external, lofty goal. The shared vibe is one of somber hope, where intellectual or spiritual pursuit provides a framework for working through profound personal pain. The pacing is steady and contemplative, allowing the weight of both the quest and the emotional baggage to be fully felt.

Unlock the Full Story of The Theory of Everything

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

The Theory of Everything Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Theory of Everything, 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.

The Theory of Everything Summary

The Theory of Everything Timeline

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

The Theory of Everything Timeline

The Theory of Everything Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Theory of Everything that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Theory of Everything Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Theory of Everything

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Theory of Everything: 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 The Theory of Everything