Safety Not Guaranteed
Performance & Direction: Safety Not Guaranteed Review
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Safety Not Guaranteed features a noteworthy lineup led by Aubrey Plaza . Supported by the likes of Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 6.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Safety Not Guaranteed
Quick Plot Summary: Safety Not Guaranteed is a Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Safety Not Guaranteed
Ending Breakdown: Safety Not Guaranteed concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Safety Not Guaranteed reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Safety Not Guaranteed?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Safety Not Guaranteed
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $750.0K |
| Worldwide Gross | $4.4M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Safety Not Guaranteed Budget
The estimated production budget for Safety Not Guaranteed is $750.0K. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Safety Not Guaranteed
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Safety Not Guaranteed Online?
Streaming HubSafety Not Guaranteed Parents Guide & Age Rating
2012 AdvisoryWondering about Safety Not Guaranteed age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Safety Not Guaranteed is 86 minutes (1h 26m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, Safety Not Guaranteed is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2012 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Safety Not Guaranteed worth watching?
Safety Not Guaranteed is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Safety Not Guaranteed parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Safety Not Guaranteed identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Safety Not Guaranteed?
The total duration of Safety Not Guaranteed is 86 minutes, which is approximately 1h 26m long.
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How Safety Not Guaranteed Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Safety Not Guaranteed
Quirky little comedy that asks you to believe in the impossible. Some good chuckles and some sweet scenes between Plaza and Duplass, but nothing really of substance. But it's easy to sit through.
Great watch, will watch again, and do recommend. I love the philosophical discussions that happen in this movie, both explicitly and as part of the situations. I love the story within a story within a story aspect of the script structure, with multi-threading as well. While the roles are a little (by design) stock characters, their personalities grown and change and stay interesting while keeping their core tenants. The investigative style to the main story line intuitively delivers as a mystery, with proper drip-fed information and misleads. It all properly builds to a significant moment in the story where you begin to question things. I highly recommend this for fans of conspiracy, time-travel, mysteries, or just weirdos with wishful thinking.
I wanted to watch this movie because I like stories about time travel. It turns out it isn’t really a time travel movie, though one character says he has done it and plans to do it again, and there is a lot of talking about traveling into the past. But that is not the point. It is a an entertaining movie for the patient viewer who doesn’t mind an oddball comedy. There is witty dialogue, especially observations drily delivered by lead character Darius. There are a couple of ordinary and almost cliched subplots involving the two men accompanying her on the investigative assignment to talk to the alleged time traveler, so don’t go to the fridge for a snack when she is onscreen. Fortunately that is for most of the scenes. I don’t know that I will ever watch it again, because I am not young and there are a lot of movies I still need to watch. But neither do I regret the 90 minutes I spent with it. As a final side note, the movie ends where many time travel films begin, but I will say no more than that.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
