What Dreams May Come

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What Dreams May Come

PG-13

Released Sep 28, 1998

1h 53m

Fantasy

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

51%

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68 Reviews

84%

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100,000+ Ratings

After Chris Nielsen (Robin Williams) dies in a car accident, he is guided through the afterlife by his spirit guide, Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.). His new world is beautiful and can be whatever Chris imagines. Even his children are there. But, when his wife, Annie (Annabella Sciorra), commits suicide and is sent to hell, Chris ignores Albert's warnings and journeys there to save her. Upon arrival, Chris finds that rescuing Annie will be more difficult than he'd imagined.

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Critics Consensus

An insubstantial plot overshadows the beautiful, surreal scenery.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Worthwhile for thoughtful teens.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Bob Fenster

Arizona Republic

Here's what's wrong with giant movie screens: You can fill them with extreme close-ups of Robin Williams' face!

Jan 1, 2000

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

In both concept and execution, they testify to painfully banal sensibilities.

Rated: 1/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

“Dreams” tries too hard to be a serious allegory of the afterlife and falls on its face in the absence of an appropriate or intriguing plot. The visuals, while stunning, take over the film too easily.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 26, 2022

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

It's a sullen and woefully boring religious sermon...

May 12, 2013

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Aside from having one of the worst titles in recent film memory, "What Dreams May Come" fails by trying to be all things to all people.

Rated: D

May 20, 2009

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Anya S

Visual and spiritual schlock. Scenery is various takes on paintings (Monet, Bosch), appearance of children in heaven in their multicultural, multiracial avatars is comical, the dialogue banal, the heavy symphonic music overbearing. A disappointment that does not stand the test of time. Critics got this one right.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/02/25

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Cork B

I can see why it won awards for visuals, but not necessarily the story. There is an intense, almost over the top soulmates love story here about what happens after you die. Very imaginative, and a great weepie flick. The family story is told mostly through flashbacks and is fairly thin but serviceable. There are elements of various religions in here, but it is not religious. It felt more like what some dude dreamed the afterlife might be like, so I have to ding the worldbuilding a bit. Not sure Williams was the best choice, but he did a decent job.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

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Tao C

One of the best movies. This is one of the few movies I can watch again and still feel moved by the story and amazed by the visual effects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $55,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Robin Willams was gone in just 16 years after this movie came out in theaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

Kelly Y

This film is a truly beautiful work of art, both in terms of the breathtaking visuals and the heart wrenching story. It is about love, grief, and the power of genuine human connection. This is a film made for poets. It is truly unique and will leave a profound impact on how you think of the mysteries of our spiritual existence.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

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Vincent Ward

Director

Robin Williams

Chris Nielsen

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Albert Lewis

Annabella Sciorra

Annie Nielsen

Max von Sydow

The Tracker

Jessica Brooks Grant

Marie Nielsen

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Thank You For Every Kindness

2:04

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Heavenly Kiss

2:43

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Robin Williams Dies

2:48

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - The Shores of Hell

3:06

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - The Floor of Faces in Hell

3:19

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Robin Williams Meets Cuba Gooding Jr.

2:50

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Boat Ride to Hell

1:45

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Robin Williams Naruto-Runs

2:24

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Robin Williams In Painted Heaven

2:38

What Dreams May Come: Official Clip - Max Von Sydow is the Ferryman

2:53

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Synopsis

After Chris Nielsen (Robin Williams) dies in a car accident, he is guided through the afterlife by his spirit guide, Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.). His new world is beautiful and can be whatever Chris imagines. Even his children are there. But, when his wife, Annie (Annabella Sciorra), commits suicide and is sent to hell, Chris ignores Albert's warnings and journeys there to save her. Upon arrival, Chris finds that rescuing Annie will be more difficult than he'd imagined.

Director: Vincent Ward
Producer: Stephen Deutsch, Barnet Bain
Screenwriter: Richard Matheson, Ronald Bass
Distributor: Polygram
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.5M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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