Pixar's Andrew Stanton's 'In the Blink of an Eye' stumbles on Hulu

The director's ambitious sci-fi film follows humans across three eras, but the modern storyline drags.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Andrew Stanton's new Hulu sci-fi film 'In the Blink of an Eye' intercuts between three different time periods - early humans, a modern-day anthropologist, and a lone human aboard a future spaceship. While the film has a great concept and a poetic ending, audiences will have to slog through a tedious build-up, especially in the modern storyline focused on Rashida Jones' emotionally distant scientist character.

Why it matters

As the acclaimed director of Pixar classics like 'WALL-E' and 'Finding Nemo', Stanton's return to live-action filmmaking after over a decade was highly anticipated. However, the film's ambition may have exceeded its execution, leaving critics divided on its overall quality.

The details

The film follows three storylines - a Neanderthal family struggling to survive, a modern-day anthropologist named Claire (Rashida Jones) who begins a relationship with a co-worker (Daveed Diggs), and a lone human (Kate McKinnon) aboard a future spaceship carrying embryos to populate a distant planet. While each era explores themes of love, loss and humanity's shared experiences, the modern storyline dominates and drags, taking too long to get to the more satisfying final act.

  • The film made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.
  • It will debut on the Hulu streaming platform on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The players

Andrew Stanton

The acclaimed Pixar director behind films like 'WALL-E' and 'Finding Nemo', making his return to live-action filmmaking with 'In the Blink of an Eye'.

Rashida Jones

The actress stars as Claire, a modern-day anthropologist struggling with emotional distance in the film.

Kate McKinnon

The comedic actress plays the lone human aboard a future spaceship in the film's third storyline.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Although it is visually appealing, the story might actually play better on the small screen. Like Claire, who is never far from her phone, one can doomscroll through the more sluggish moments from the comfort of home.”

— G. Allen Johnson, Film Critic (sfchronicle.com)

“Stanton is working off a script by Colby Day that could have used a rewrite to expand the final section — including deepening McKinnon's increasingly interesting character — and shorten the intro.”

— G. Allen Johnson, Film Critic (sfchronicle.com)

What’s next

The film will be available for streaming on Hulu starting February 27, 2026, where it will likely receive further reviews and audience reactions.

The takeaway

While Andrew Stanton's ambition and humanist themes shine through in 'In the Blink of an Eye', the film's pacing and focus on the less compelling modern storyline ultimately hold it back from reaching the heights of his acclaimed Pixar work.