Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

R

Released Jun 22, 2012

1h 41m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

55%

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174 Reviews

53%

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50,000+ Ratings

The announcement that an enormous asteroid will obliterate Earth in less than a month brings an end to the marriage of mild-mannered insurance salesman Dodge (Steve Carell), whose wife leaves him on the spot. After his bold young neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley), belatedly delivers a letter from Dodge's former sweetheart, Dodge decides that he must find the love of his life before it's too late. Dodge and Penny embark on a road trip that eventually brightens their outlook, if not the world's.

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Critics Consensus

Tender, charming, and well-acted, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is unfortunately hamstrung by jarring tonal shifts and a disappointing final act.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Lorene Scafaria, the screenwriter behind Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, makes a charming directorial debut with Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 15, 2012

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

This is half a good film but hardly a wholly satisfactory one.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 13, 2012

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

[It] unfortunately invites a lethal dose of scepticism towards its cutesy last-ditch matchmaking, obligatory road-trip plotting, and thinly funny jibes at the rest of humankind.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 13, 2012

Full Review

Iván Kazi

EscribiendoCine

Precise and exempt from superfluity. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Apr 12, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

In its depiction of The End, it’s quite brave and oddly beautiful. The film takes hold of you all of a sudden and won’t let go. Before you know it, your eyes begin to tear up, and a lump develops in your throat.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 4, 2022

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

So what do I make of a movie with tone issues, a draggy middle, and inconsistent humor but that still manages to entertain?

Rated: 3/5

Aug 25, 2022

Full Review

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Velda W

Lovely cast. A bittersweet journey of self discovery, with the impending doom of planet earth. Who wouldn't want to be with their loved ones. Difficult choices. Last minute goodbyes. Emotional, light comedy. Loved the pooch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/16/24

Full Review

Aaron U

The movie is slow, not a comedy or an action flick, but rather an oddball look at the end of the world. They try to inject comedy (that works) but then try to have deep moments (that don’t work). The movie can’t decide what it wants to be, which keeps it from being as good as it could have been. I give movies a fair bit of leeway, but the idea of flying a Cessna 152 to England is ridiculous, as is how they “recalculate” the asteroid’s impact and realize it will arrive a week early. It is as if the writers never looked at a map of the solar system and realized how fast the earth orbits the sun and how even a slight variation in timing would produce a near miss. A better writer/director could have fixed these problems with better dialog and a montage of our happy couple spending the week together before the show drops. You’ll find it interesting to watch once or twice, but too odd to warrant repeat viewings. The movie is a bit uplifting, but it is also depressing, reminding me of the book Childhood’s End.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

Full Review

Nathan R

A tear-jerking story of 'love triumphs over all'

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/24

Full Review

Michael M

Starts out interesting and humourous. Suddenly it wraps into a wonderful tale of discover of self and the real value of life, LOVE. Only downside is the survivalist ex bunker scene that felt out of place.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

Ciara N

One of my very favourite films. Such a pure and loving examination of humanity and grief. A must-see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/23

Full Review

Earl M

Having turn into a buddy road trip quirky comedy, the plot had heart. I can't put a finger on it, as to why I put a 3.5 instead of a solid 4, but the ending definitely had something in me emotionally stirred. This is still worth a watch, even if the pacing was a bit bogged down on setting up the despair all around them as a couple.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/22

Full Review

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Lorene Scafaria

Director

Steve Carell

Dodge

Keira Knightley

Penny

Adam Brody

Owen

Connie Britton

Diane

Melanie Lynskey

Karen

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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - Pulled Over

2:17

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - Double Stuffing

2:07

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - Anyone Want to Be CFO?

1:24

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - The Hit Man

2:11

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - I'm Sorry

2:11

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - What Are You Doing with the Rest of Your Life?

1:04

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - Friendsy's

2:14

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - I Just Want To Be With You

3:00

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - Too Friendly

2:01

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Official Clip - This is the Titanic

1:59

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Synopsis

The announcement that an enormous asteroid will obliterate Earth in less than a month brings an end to the marriage of mild-mannered insurance salesman Dodge (Steve Carell), whose wife leaves him on the spot. After his bold young neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley), belatedly delivers a letter from Dodge's former sweetheart, Dodge decides that he must find the love of his life before it's too late. Dodge and Penny embark on a road trip that eventually brightens their outlook, if not the world's.

Director: Lorene Scafaria
Producer: Steve Golin, Joy Gorman Wettels, Steven Rales
Screenwriter: Lorene Scafaria
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Indian Paintbrush, Anonymous Content, Mandate Pictures, Focus Features
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence|Sexual References|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.6M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Stereo

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