Returner (2002): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2002, Returner is an action, adventure and science fiction film directed by Takashi Yamazaki, running about 116 minutes. “The future could be history” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. After an alien invasion threatens to annihilate the human race, a young Japanese girl, named Milly, travels back in time from 2084 to October 2002, and enlists the reluctant aid of skilled Tokyo gunman, named Miyamoto, to discover and prevent the start of the war. However, trouble ensues when the two protagonists are forced to deal with a Japanese mafia boss, named Mizoguchi, who is somehow involved in the start of the war by keeping the first alien spaceship and its alien pilot captive, while our two heroes race against the clock to find a way to stop the oncoming destruction from the vengeance-seeking alien invasion fleet on its way to Earth.

Who’s in it. Returner stars Takeshi Kaneshiro as Miyamoto, Anne Suzuki as Milly, Kirin Kiki as Xia and Goro Kishitani as Mizoguchi, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Returner has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $73.1K at the box office.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Returner page.

If you liked it. Fans of Returner tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.