Remember when found-footage films took over every genre in the 2010s? Project Almanac is one of the few that actually made the gimmick work. This 2015 sci-fi thriller blends the teen energy of Chronicle with the time-travel wish-fulfillment of Back to the Future, and now it's streaming for free on Pluto in May 2026.
The movie follows a group of brilliant but reckless teenagers who stumble upon plans for a homemade time machine. At first, they use it for all the obvious stuff—better grades, social status, romance, and a little cash. The first half is a playful romp through the possibilities of bending time, but the second half is where things get dark. The excitement slowly turns into panic as the consequences of their meddling start piling up.
What makes Project Almanac stand out is how it understands the appeal of giving too much power to impulsive kids. It doesn't try to be the deepest time-travel movie ever made, but it knows how to tighten the screws. The found-footage style, while sometimes distracting, adds a frantic energy that suits the escalating tension. For a film that often gets overlooked, it's surprisingly effective at keeping you on edge.
The cast includes Jonny Weston (Chasing Mavericks) as David Raskin, Sofia Black-D'Elia (Ben-Hur) as Jessie Pierce, Sam Lerner (Monster House) as Quinn Goldberg, Allen Evangelista (Secret Obsession) as Adam Le, Virginia Gardner (Halloween) as Christina Raskin, and Amy Landecker (A Serious Man) as Kathy Raskin.
Critics have been mixed. RogerEbert.com noted that the film has a clever idea at its center but gets buried under an exhausted found-footage approach and a story that eventually falls apart. The early energy is fun, but as David makes increasingly selfish choices, the movie leans too hard into forced drama instead of exploring smarter consequences. Still, for a free stream, it's a solid pick for fans of teen sci-fi.
If you're in the mood for more thrillers, check out 'Attack the Block', another cult sci-fi hit streaming free on Pluto this month. Or dive into Netflix's 'Alias Grace' for a different kind of tension.
Project Almanac is available now on Pluto TV for free. No subscription needed—just hit play and enjoy the ride.
