A Brief History of Time
1991 · Movie · G · 80 min · ★ 7.2 · 87% critics
This documentary follows a renowned scientist’s life as a progressive illness limits movement and speech, while curiosity and intellect keep expanding. Through interviews with loved ones and colleagues, it blends personal history with big questions about the universe, from cosmic origins to black holes.
Based on A Brief History of Time
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Streaming on HBO Max.
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Details
- Years
- 1991
- Release date
- 1991-10-01
- Language
- English
- Rated
- G
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Critic score
- 87/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (126 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an uplifting, thoughtful documentary that mixes personal biography with big cosmic questions; Not for you if you want a purely science-focused deep dive or a smooth, linear structure like Red Army.
Pros: inspiring life portrait; mind-expanding ideas; accessible for non-experts | Cons: science depth uneven; abrupt topic shifts; can feel dry
Themes
- based on novel or book
- physics
- biography
- time
- black hole
- universe
- cosmology
- oxford university
- motor neuron disease
- als
- cambridge university
Awards & recognition
- Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize — Best Documentary · 1992
Cast & crew
Stephen Hawking
as Self
- IH
Isobel Hawking
as Self - Stephen Hawking's Mother
- JH
Janet Humphrey
as Self - Stephen Hawking's Aunt
- MH
Mary Hawking
as Self - Stephen Hawking's Sister
- BK
Basil King
as Self - Childhood Friend
- DP
Derek Powney
as Self - Oxford Classmate
- ND
Norman Dix
- RB
Robert Berman
as Self - Stephen Hawking's Tutor
- GB
Gordon Berry
Roger Penrose
Directed by Errol Morris