Step Back, Doors Closing

Play trailer

1:38

Step Back, Doors Closing

Feb 2026

1h 38m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After a chance encounter on the DC metro, Ryan and Julisa spend the next twenty-four hours discussing their hopes, dreams, and fears. Slowly but surely, they reveal more and more about themselves, and fall in love.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Debopriyaa Dutta

High on Films

Feb 20

2.5/5

For all the sweetness and charm [the film] exudes, it isn’t interested in tackling real emotional depth beyond a few conversations that feel intriguing enough.

Go to Full Review

Tim Brennan

About Boulder

Apr 21

If there’s one thing that Step Back, Doors Closing reminds us it’s the idea that our strongest connections can come out of nowhere. It’s a smart, sweet, perceptive indie film that deserves to be seen.

Go to Full Review

Jim Schembri

jimschembri.com

03/06/2025

2.5/5

A pleasant ramble about the buds of young love. But a ramble it is, no doubt accounting for too many moments where too little happens...one aspect where Carter Ward scores 10/10 is the work he elicits from his young leads. No signs of first-takeitis here.

Go to Full Review

Q.V. Hough

Vague Visages

03/04/2025

"'Step Back, Doors Closing' is essential viewing for Gen Z movie lovers, Washington D.C. natives and anyone who remains entranced by Linklater's 'Before Sunrise.'"

Go to Full Review

Jonita Davis

The Black Cape (Medium)

02/25/2025

If there were a genre for Step Back, Doors Closing, a new film from writer/director Carter Ward, it would be the same genre as the Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton romance comedies of the late 80s and 90s.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

01/25/2025

3.5/4.0

From its opening moments, I'm pretty certain that you're going to enjoy writer/director Carter Ward's feature debut Step Back, Doors Closing.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

John H

@OldRoad Feb 21

Loved the characters, very authentic. Love that it shows off DC.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Carter Ward

Director

Carmen Berkeley

Self

Reilly Walters

Self

Michelle Macedo

Self

Carmen Berkeley

Julisa

Reilly Walters

Ryan

Step Back, Doors Closing: Trailer 1

1:38

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

After a chance encounter on the DC metro, Ryan and Julisa spend the next twenty-four hours discussing their hopes, dreams, and fears. Slowly but surely, they reveal more and more about themselves, and fall in love.

Director: Carter Ward
Producer: Jane Hollon, Kathryn Crabtree, Carter Ward
Screenwriter: Carter Ward
Distributor: Freestyle Digital Media
Production Co: Arden Pictures
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2026
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby

Most Popular at Home Now