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The Light Between Oceans

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Light Between Oceans PG-13 2016 2h 13m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 236 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Tom is a World War I veteran who maintains a lighthouse off the shore of Australia with his wife Isabel, a woman desperate to have a baby. Her prayers are answered when an infant washes up on shore in a rowboat. Tom thinks they should notify the authorities but ultimately gives in to Isabel's wish to keep the girl. Fate strikes again when the couple meet the child's biological mother on the mainland. Now, Tom and Isabel must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of four people.
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The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans

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Critics Consensus

The Light Between Oceans presents a well-acted and handsomely mounted adaptation of its bestselling source material, but ultimately tugs on the heartstrings too often to be effective.

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Critics Reviews

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Kristen Lopez Culturess 11/20/2017
With strong acting as its anchor, breathtaking cinematography accompanies this tale guaranteed to tug on those heartstrings. Go to Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 03/21/2017
B+
From lesser actors, the story would have definitely become the worst Nicholas Sparks film adaptation ever. But they make you feel for them, even when they're making poor life decisions that you know will end miserably. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 11/06/2016
2/5
Instead of tear-jerking, this approach eventually sees the audience dry-eyed with irritation. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 20
5/5
In the medium of film, the clinchers that aid in the ability to embrace and appreciate a melodrama are its tone and the acting performances. “The Light Between Oceans” flourishes to accomplish both benchmarks. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 04/11/2022
3/4
Cianfrance's entire film feels like an open wound that would heal if only the characters could stop and behave rationally, but rationality has no place in a melodrama. Go to Full Review Hosea Rupprecht Pauline Media Studies 08/26/2021
A story like The Light Between Oceans, used age-appropriately, of course, could provide parents and teachers with a powerful opportunity to talk about how making good decisions isn't always easy... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jim H Jun 20 I struggled to suspend my disbelief in the premise, but the acting, cinematography, and music score were sublime, making the film a fine experience. See more ALL- C Jun 1 This movie isn’t getting enough love here. A simple yet harrowing tale that is refreshingly original and authentic. The actors come across as passionate and all the accompanies the somber shoots is a calm and tranquil underscore. It’s a brilliant movie. See more Steven G 12/15/2024 This damn movie ripped the heart out of me. In a good way. I guess. Excellent! 4.5 stars. See more LacosteTK N 09/11/2024 Like Anime Movies Before It. It's Emotional, Driven By The Most Talented Actors Of Our Time, They Should've Won Ascars For This, I Cried Like a Baby When This Movie Ended, The Cinematography Is Perfection, The Music, And Everything In Between Is Done Perfectly. I Will Recommend This Movie For Generations To Come. 100/100 See more Weighty Connected L 03/28/2024 "You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day, all the time. You have to keep remembering the bad things. It's too much work." All of us fallen human beings, living in a fallen world, have experienced hurt and have seen pain, leading us to make wrong decisions; but God, through love, brings us together more than anything. This 2016 film by Derek Cianfrance, which is an adaptation of a novel, is beautiful, with a story that's woven to tug at your heart and feel for the characters. The leads (Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz) were great at their performances, the music is touching and moving, and the cinematography is excellent. See more steve d 12/08/2022 A bit melodramatic but the actors make it work. See more Read all reviews
The Light Between Oceans

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Cast & Crew

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Derek Cianfrance

Director

Michael Fassbender

Tom Sherbourne

Alicia Vikander

Isabel Graysmark

Rachel Weisz

Hannah Roennfeldt

Bryan Brown

Septimus Potts

Jack Thompson

Ralph Addicott

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The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans: Trailer 1 The Light Between Oceans: Trailer 1 2:25 The Light Between Oceans: International Trailer 1 The Light Between Oceans: International Trailer 1 1:37 View more videos
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The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans (2016) The Light Between Oceans (2016) (L-R) Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne and Alicia Vikander Isabel Sherbourne in "The Light Between Oceans." (L-R) Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne and Alicia Vikander Isabel Sherbourne in "The Light Between Oceans." (L-R) Rachel Weisz as Hannah Roennfeldt and Bryan Brown as Septimus Potts in "The Light Between Oceans." Rachel Weisz as Hannah Roennfeldt in "The Light Between Oceans." (L-R) Alicia Vikander Isabel Sherbourne and Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne in "The Light Between Oceans." (L-R) Alicia Vikander Isabel Sherbourne and Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne in "The Light Between Oceans." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Tom is a World War I veteran who maintains a lighthouse off the shore of Australia with his wife Isabel, a woman desperate to have a baby. Her prayers are answered when an infant washes up on shore in a rowboat. Tom thinks they should notify the authorities but ultimately gives in to Isabel's wish to keep the girl. Fate strikes again when the couple meet the child's biological mother on the mainland. Now, Tom and Isabel must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of four people.
Director
Derek Cianfrance
Producer
David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford
Screenwriter
Derek Cianfrance
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Heyday Films, Participant Media
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 24, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$12.5M
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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