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Across the Universe

Play trailer Poster for Across the Universe PG-13 2007 2h 11m Musical Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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53% Tomatometer 176 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
The songs of the Beatles provide the sonic framework for this musical tale of romance, war and peace. When young British worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) sets sail for the United States in search of his father, he ends up meeting carefree college student Max (Joe Anderson) and his lovely sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a cast of eccentric characters. As Jude and Lucy fall for each other, their relationship is threatened by the social upheaval that accompanies the Vietnam War.
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Across the Universe

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Critics Consensus

Psychedelic musical numbers can't mask Across the Universe's clichéd love story and thinly written characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly 09/07/2011
C-
The Beatles already survived one attempt by Hollywood to turn them into kitsch -- 1978's infamous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- and so you have to wonder what they did to deserve Across the Universe. Go to Full Review
Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald 11/02/2007
4/5
It's more than a nostalgia trip. The real pleasure lies in Taymor's ability to make it all seem brand new. Go to Full Review
Jonathan F. Richards Film.com 10/19/2007
...the long and winding road that is Julie Taymor's opulent, eye-filling, and disappointingly uninvolving musical extravaganza... Go to Full Review
Cinemanía Staff Cinemanía (Spain) 10/16/2020
2/5
It didn't have to be like that. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Leigh Monson Substream Magazine 10/01/2020
Across the Universe proves to be a strikingly relevant experience... Go to Full Review
Jordi Costa El Pais (Spain) 03/28/2019
Imagine that an eminence of creative surgery kidnapped the love of his life to return it transformed into an exact replica of what they hate most. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Chad H. @ASOIrishWoody Dec 8 Across the Universe is what happens when someone says, “Let’s take the entire Beatles discography, throw it in a blender, add some LSD, a sprinkle of 60s angst, and see if it becomes a movie.” And somehow… it does. The film follows Jude (because of course his name is Jude), a charming Liverpool lad who travels to America, where he meets Max (a chaotic human frat party) and Lucy (the literal embodiment of “peace, love, and questionable decisions”). Together they stumble through the Vietnam era singing Beatles songs like they’re allergic to regular conversations. Here’s what’s wild: nobody in this movie has ever heard of simply talking. Stub your toe? Sing. Fall in love? Sing. Brother drafted into the war? SING. Meanwhile I’m sitting there wondering if I’m allowed to order popcorn without bursting into “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Visually, the movie is stunning. There are scenes so trippy they make your TV question its own existence. At one point, Bono pops up riding a bus like a psychedelic Yoda, giving a musical TED Talk, and you just accept that this is your life now. The cameos don’t stop there, either. Joe Cocker shows up three times playing three different people, which feels like a glitch in the simulation but in a fun way. Honestly, the whole film plays like it’s daring you to ask, “Wait… what?” But you won’t. Because by the time the dancing puppets show up, you’re too far gone. What the movie does nail is emotion. Even with all the trippy nonsense, the heartbreak, the war tension, the chaotic love triangles—they still hit hard. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wonder why Eddie Izzard is chanting “Mr. Kite,” but you’ll love it anyway. Across the Universe is basically a two-hour fever dream set to the greatest soundtrack on Earth. It’s weird, beautiful, occasionally confusing, and absolutely committed to being the artsy cousin who thinks showering is “conformist.” See more Fan of v Dec 2 The reason why I watched this movie wasn't because I am a huge Beatles fan, but because I would be performing in a musical adaptation on stage of it so that may have something to do with me not liking it so much. It's not bad, I just thought it was fine. It was hard for me to follow the story in a lot of places, but I really liked the soundtrack tho! If you are more familiar with the Beatles than I am, you would probably enjoy it unlike me lol. See more John M Aug 17 Pretty much a 2 hour acid trip but the tunes were great See more Karla F Aug 4 I absolutely adore this movie! My dad and I are big fans of the Beatles and when my dad showed me this movie when I was 11 it has stayed on of my favorite movies list after 10 years. I can rewatch this millions times and never get bored. See more Topher S Jan 25 Excellent musical inspired by The Beatles lyrics. Phenomenal cast, soundtrack and cinematography. See more Ryan C Jan 24 This movie takes risks and creative direction that few films do. It reminds me tremendously of the wall by pink Floyd. Very abstract but combines all forms of art seamlessly, music, drawing, dance, visual effects you name it its here. Good acting and a good cast. The middle is a bit dull but with a strong start and strong finish its easily a 4 out of 5 for me. A rewatchable and impactful film forsure. See more Read all reviews
Across the Universe

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Movie Info

Synopsis The songs of the Beatles provide the sonic framework for this musical tale of romance, war and peace. When young British worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) sets sail for the United States in search of his father, he ends up meeting carefree college student Max (Joe Anderson) and his lovely sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a cast of eccentric characters. As Jude and Lucy fall for each other, their relationship is threatened by the social upheaval that accompanies the Vietnam War.
Director
Julie Taymor
Producer
Matthew Gross, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
Screenwriter
Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Revolution Studios
Rating
PG-13 (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Some Drug Content|Violence)
Genre
Musical, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 21, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$24.3M
Runtime
2h 11m
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