Begin Again

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Begin Again

R

2014

1h 44m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

167 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her songwriting partner/lover Dave (Adam Levine) head for New York when he lands a record deal with a major label. However, Gretta is suddenly left on her own when Dave gives in to the temptations that come with his newfound success. Things take a turn for the better for her when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record executive, discovers Gretta performing in a club. A mutually life-changing bond forms between the pair as they work together on Gretta's first album.

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Critics Consensus

Writer-director John Carney's return to musical drama isn't quite as potent as it was with Once, but thanks to charming work from its well-matched leads, Begin Again is difficult to resist.

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Cath Clarke

Time Out

What makes it special is that it's not another romance about finding a man. It's about finding your people, about being a bit lost in your twenties.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 2, 2020

Full Review

Alissa Wilkinson

Christianity Today

Begin Again is the best sort of summer movie, with great performances and a solid core. It's clearly a work that comes from love shared by people who enjoyed making it, and that makes it fun for us to watch out in the audience, too.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 13, 2016

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Evan Williams

The Australian

I've seen happier endings in Oklahoma! and Singin' in the Rain, but this one feels genuine - and in an unexpected way, deeply satisfying.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 11, 2014

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JD Duran

InSession Film

The film explores how other options could've come into play, but you still have to deal with it and you don't have to stay stuck in the heartache. The exploration of that theme is fascinating and handled really well here.

Rated: A

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

Fausto Fernandez

Fotogramas

A variation of A Star is Born... But an optimist, kind, luminous and magical [take] led by a marvelous, sentimental humanist fable about second chances. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Jun 27, 2022

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

In a perfect world, Begin Again would have been up for Best Picture and more.

Aug 17, 2021

Full Review

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Alexander S

Begin Again literally feels like a breath of fresh air, like sipping coffee and strumming a guitar on a whole new sunny morning. Its uplifting message encourages us to take a step back, focus on the positive, and connect with others when faced with adversity. With its talented cast, including Kiera Knightly, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfield, and Adam Levine, this film is a treat to watch, filled with great music and a heartwarming story about hitting the reset button. Grading: A-

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

Full Review

Meta M

Begin again is a well crafted comedy drama with superb performances. The characters are multilayered and very relatable. The films takes the time to explore complex relationships whether romantic or genetic whilst showcasing the innovation of musical talent, brought to life by an impressive cast. It’s also refreshing to see a film actually shot in New York. Director John Carney captures the beauty of the big apple in very subtle ways. A city that never sleeps, the famous setting almost feels like a character in the film. The writing is excellent, each subplot is intricately explored and each character arc is fully defined. The film is also grounded in tone making it feel even more authentic and tangible from a storytelling perspective. A good watch especially for music lovers and creative artists.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Nancy G

Knightley and Ruffalo are both so likable and loveable throughout with a perfect amount of grit and realness. Great script, beautifully shot. There should really be more films of this caliber.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Tom P

An uplifting ode to pre-covid New York City. If you still have faith in a world where good things happen to good people, then this movie might be right up your alley. Mark Garofalo carries the film as the disenchanted music producer, searching for inspiration. Holly Steinfeld and Keira Knightley have a nice chemistry. It’s a guilty pleasure..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/25

Full Review

John S

Great music, nice and light, so accurate to the highs and lows we all go through. Well acted, realistic, fun. A secret treasure…

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

Susan E

Very similar to Starting Over with Burt Reynolds and Candace Bergman.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

Full Review

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John Carney

Director

Keira Knightley

Gretta

Mark Ruffalo

Dan

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Synopsis

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her songwriting partner/lover Dave (Adam Levine) head for New York when he lands a record deal with a major label. However, Gretta is suddenly left on her own when Dave gives in to the temptations that come with his newfound success. Things take a turn for the better for her when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record executive, discovers Gretta performing in a club. A mutually life-changing bond forms between the pair as they work together on Gretta's first album.

Director: John Carney
Producer: Tobin Armbrust, Anthony Bregman, Judd Apatow
Screenwriter: John Carney
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Sycamore Pictures, Apatow Productions, Exclusive Media, Likely Story
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 2, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 17, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.2M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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