Chronicle

Three suburban high school friends stumble onto a strange object that gives them telekinetic abilities. At first, Andrew, Matt, and Steve use their new powers for pranks, thrills, and a brief escape from ordinary pressures. As they test limits and record their exploits, everyday tensions at home and school start to amplify, especially for Andrew, whose turbulent family life feeds growing anger. The film tracks how small acts of mischief shift into dangerous decisions, with friendships strained as each boy reacts differently to power and responsibility. The story remains tightly focused on their personal dynamics, with the found footage approach keeping events intimate and immediate.

Directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis, Chronicle premiered in 2012 as a fresh take on superhero material, shot to resemble amateur video and handheld footage. It marked Trank's breakout feature and used a low budget to create visceral, close-up cinematography.

Made for a modest budget, Chronicle turned into a commercial success, earning many times its production cost worldwide and proving there was a market for unconventional genre films that felt raw and personal.

The movie left a noticeable mark on pop culture with its flying sequences and POV camerawork, which were widely imitated and discussed. It also helped raise the profiles of its young cast, especially Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan, who went on to become more prominent actors in the years that followed.

Critics tended to give mixed to positive reviews, reflected in its 6.84/10 vote average from viewers, with praise aimed at the central performances and inventive use of perspective. Themes include bullying, class anxiety, family conflict, and how power can intensify existing personality traits. The film keeps its focus on character and consequence rather than spectacle, often asking what happens when ordinary frustrations get amplified into extraordinary ability.