The film is set in a world where society is divided into classes based on time. The wealthy live for centuries, while the poor struggle to survive day-to-day. Each person has a digital clock on their arm that counts down the time they have left to live.
The story follows Will Salas (played by Justin Timberlake), a working-class man who lives in the “ghetto” known as Dayton. Will saves a wealthy man named Henry Hamilton (played by Matt Bomer) from a group of time thieves known as Minutemen. Henry, tired of living for so long, decides to gift his century of time to Will before timing out, essentially committing suicide.
Will uses the extra time to try and change the system. He goes to the wealthy district of New Greenwich, where he meets Sylvia Weis (played by Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a wealthy businessman. The two become unlikely allies as they attempt to disrupt the unequal distribution of time.
As the pair goes on the run, they are pursued by the Timekeepers, the law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining the time-based economy. Raymond Leon (played by Cillian Murphy) is the chief Timekeeper dedicated to capturing Will and Sylvia.
The climax of the film occurs during a heist orchestrated by Will and Sylvia to redistribute time from the wealthy to the poor. The plan goes awry when they are surrounded by Timekeepers. In a twist, it is revealed that Sylvia’s father, Philippe Weis (played by Vincent Kartheiser), supports their cause and had orchestrated events to bring about change.
The film concludes with a symbolic act of rebellion, as Will and Sylvia decide to expose the corrupt system by giving away time to everyone, effectively dismantling the time-based economy. The screen goes black as they run out of time, leaving the outcome uncertain.
“In Time” explores themes of wealth inequality, the value of time, and societal critique. While the film received mixed reviews, it garnered praise for its unique concept and social commentary.