Jumper (2008)

Movie · 2008 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction · 1h 28m · PG-13 · English

Curator score: 0.7/10 (525.3K ratings)

Anywhere is possible.

Overview

David Rice is a man who knows no boundaries, a Jumper, born with the uncanny ability to teleport instantly to anywhere on Earth. When he discovers others like himself, David is thrust into a dangerous and bloodthirsty war while being hunted by a sinister and determined group of zealots who have sworn to destroy all Jumpers. Now, David’s extraordinary gift may be his only hope for survival!

Ratings

Director

Doug Liman

Production

Dune Entertainment, Hypnotic, New Regency Pictures

Cast

Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, Michael Rooker, Diane Lane, AnnaSophia Robb, Max Thieriot, Jesse James, Tom Hulce, Kristen Stewart, Teddy Dunn, Barbara Garrick, Michael Winther, Massimiliano Pazzaglia, Shawn Roberts, Nathalie Cox, Meredith Henderson, Tony Nappo, Clark Beasley Jr.

Where to watch

fuboTV

Curator Review

Verdict

A slick, high-concept action sci-fi with a genuinely fun teleportation premise and some effective globe-trotting spectacle, but it’s held back by thin character work, a messy mythology, and a plot that often feels like it’s sprinting past its own ideas. It works best as an easygoing guilty pleasure rather than a fully satisfying blockbuster.

Best for

  • Viewers who like fast, premise-first sci-fi action
  • Fans of globe-trotting chase movies
  • People in the mood for a breezy guilty pleasure
  • Audiences who enjoy early-2000s studio spectacle

Skip if

  • You need airtight worldbuilding and logic
  • You want strong emotional depth or character arcs
  • You’re allergic to corny dialogue and melodrama
  • You prefer action films with a more disciplined script

Overview

Jumper is one of those big studio sci-fi ideas that feels irresistible on paper: teleport anywhere, steal anything, outrun anyone. The movie understands the fantasy of that power and gets a lot of mileage out of the locations, the speed, and the sheer novelty of watching someone treat the world like a personal playground.

Worth noting

The problem is that the script never fully earns the stakes around it. The mythology is sketchy, the conflict is undercooked, and the characters are written more as functions than people. That leaves the film leaning on momentum, style, and a few charismatic turns rather than any real dramatic weight.

Bottom line

Still, there’s a reason it has lingered as a cult-ish rewatch for some viewers. It’s messy, corny, and occasionally absurd, but it’s also brisk, inventive, and easy to watch if you’re in the right mood. As a polished thriller it’s uneven; as a dumb fun power fantasy, it lands better than it probably should.

Top Letterboxd reviews

DirkH (2★) · 1135 likes

cool concept + Anakin + twilight emo chick + solid action + moronic plot = Meh.

Pandora 4 (2.5★) · 1124 likes

When Kristen Stewart opened the door at the end, I nearly died of laughter.

Framesofnick (3★) · 913 likes

Jesus fuck Hollywood make another movie where it’s just a dumbass that can teleport and he uses his power to benefit himself. This is the only one where the main character genuinely just uses his power to rob a bank cause like fuck it’s so fun

JBird (2★) · 799 likes

Hayden Christensen jumps to new lands, But some trips are not that well-planned. So lunch on a Sphinx, Probably stinks, Rumor has it he doesn't like sand.

eddyburback (2.5★) · 523 likes

man i wish i could jump like jumper so bad…

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Topics

science fiction, action, adventure, teleportation, power fantasy, guilty pleasure, chase movie, global locations, early 2000s, stylized spectacle

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