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Before Sunset

Play trailer Poster for Before Sunset R Released Feb 10, 2004 1h 20m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 180 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.
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Before Sunset

Before Sunset

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Critics Consensus

Filled with engaging dialogue, Before Sunset is a witty, poignant romance, with natural chemistry between Hawke and Delpy.

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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire Associated Press It's a lovely, beguiling little film a rare treat during this overheated season of blockbusters. It's also an unusual example of a follow-up that doesn't seem forced, but expands effortlessly on the original. Aug 8, 2012 Full Review Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal The reunion has some lively moments, but a great deal of slow walking and fatuous talking about love, married life and sex. Aug 8, 2012 Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club Shooting in long takes, Linklater and his actors (who get co-screenwriting credit) allow the conversation to curlicue effortlessly from literate banter to matters of the heart, and sometimes to places in between. Aug 8, 2012 Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film There are any number of times where they could leave each other’s sights (again), but this time for good. But they don’t, and the audience is treated to love at first sight a second time. Feb 20, 2024 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ This would all be dreary and forgettable fluff, were it not for the charm and chemistry of the leads. Rated: 4.5/5 Nov 29, 2023 Full Review Tina Kakadelis Beyond the Cinerama Dome Before Sunset is the kind of movie that takes every pre-conceived notion of filmmaking and throws it out the window. It is a celebration of being alive and how lovely and frightening love is. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s Filme ruim, o roteiro é fraco, o filme tem cenas de romance merdas, por que o cara quer convencer a sair com a mulher de novo, durante 1 hora e 40 para não ter porra nenhuma no final, a história é fraca, o elenco é ruim e ninguém melhora a porra do filme, os personagens sao ruins, e faltou muitas cenas para o filme ser bom. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/26/25 Full Review Leprechaun K Better than the original. Move surrounds a 80 mins long dialogue between two people with uncontrollable attraction toward each other. It was surprisingly good. Best of the Trilogy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/03/25 Full Review William B Nice one, a great sequel. Recommended. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/03/25 Full Review Fred D Delpe and Hawk beautifully rekindle the magic of the first film in a sequel that seems completely believable, thanks to an incredible script. The dialogue is so real, you sometimes feels as if you’ve stumbled into a couple’s private conversation. Transitioning from the-world-is-your-oyster 20-somethings to somewhat-hardened 30 year olds, their characters discuss what was lost and what possibly could still be. It’s that hope that always makes me root for these two over and over again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/25 Full Review inta k The main actress did a great job playing the role and being able to show the range of emotions and also the spasms. Count Orlok was was impressive as a character and how it was acted out, especially while in castle - the voice, the accent, the breathing and sounds. I liked the overall look and feel of the movie, the story line felt a bit choppy in places. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Birithivy Y Before Sunset - 10/10. Richard Linklater is a master of time. Its the only way to explain how he is able to make movies like the film Boyhood or the Before Series. Before Sunset is a perfect example of using time in between movies as a way to help elevate the plot. 9 years after their fateful meeting in Vienna, Jesse is now an established writer, which leads him to going on tour for his new book. Part of the tour leads him to Paris, which leads him to meeting Celine again. The old flames reignite in love, and have existential and philosophical conversations throughout the duration of the movie. A surprisingly brisk and short film, Before Sunset counteracts the balance found in Before Sunrise. In Sunrise, things are mostly happy and sparkling until the bone crushingly sad ending, whereas the opposite happens in Sunset. We get a film that captures the beauty of Paris, while also capturing the beauty of old lovers reuniting. Its oddly real at times, and it really doesn’t feel like a movie, but rather, a documentary in these two peoples lives. Its shot so well and just a magical film. Probably one of the only cases of a sequel that is necessary to have been made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Before Sunset

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Movie Info

Synopsis A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.
Director
Richard Linklater
Producer
Anne Walker-McBay
Screenwriter
Julie Delpy, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Kim Krizan
Distributor
Warner Independent
Production Co
Warner Independent Pictures, Detour Filmproduction, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating
R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre
Romance, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 10, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.8M
Runtime
1h 20m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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