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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 Stuff.co.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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Hao Ian L You can definitely feel the sense of urgency, <i>Before Sunset</i> builds on more character development from before, and as a result, there's more at stake and a more complex relationship at hand now, and perhaps is what makes the dialogue in this sequel feel much more authentic and interesting. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review julie b All time fave. Put the knife in my heart and twist it….ugh. soul crushing. Too real!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Carlos I A beautiful sequel. Probably my favorite of the series. It's a poignant study of whether raw connection is enough to keep two people together. The conversation between the two is soo naturalistic it makes me feel like I'm with real people. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review Mason M Just as good as the first installment in Richard Linklater's beautiful Before Trilogy, Before Sunset keeps the magic of the first, while still adding something new to the equation, taking away the idealism of the first. The dialogue is amazingly written and the film's well photographed. I don't think that Linklater is very good at endings, but this is definitely his best. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review Faiz D A great sequel that lives up to the expectations of the first. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/29/24 Full Review Collem T Very rare to have excellent sequels to legendary movies. But Linklater managed it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Before Sunset

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Cast & Crew

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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
Detour Filmproduction, Warner Independent Pictures, 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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