Before Sunset

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Before Sunset

R

2004

1h 20m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

181 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

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Critics Consensus

Filled with engaging dialogue, Before Sunset is a witty, poignant romance, with natural chemistry between Hawke and Delpy.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

May 23

5/5

...I was perfectly content to let Jesse and Celine live on forever in my imagination. The possibility of that affair to remember future meet-up was satisfying enough. Or so I thought.

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

08/08/2012

It's a lovely, beguiling little film a rare treat during this overheated season of blockbusters. It's also an unusual example of a follow-up that doesn't seem forced, but expands effortlessly on the original.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

08/08/2012

The reunion has some lively moments, but a great deal of slow walking and fatuous talking about love, married life and sex.

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

02/20/2024

There are any number of times where they could leave each other’s sights (again), but this time for good. But they don’t, and the audience is treated to love at first sight a second time.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

11/29/2023

4.5/5

This would all be dreary and forgettable fluff, were it not for the charm and chemistry of the leads.

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Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

07/25/2023

Before Sunset is the kind of movie that takes every pre-conceived notion of filmmaking and throws it out the window. It is a celebration of being alive and how lovely and frightening love is.

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Jay D

@JayJustLovesMovies Mar 13

If I could only own a handful of romance movies, this is in it. The Notebook, Shakespeare in Love, The Lover and this (honorable mention to Reality Bites. I know it's probably more a rom com (Shakespeare too), but the last five minutes makes me want to genre jump it). I do enjoy the whole before trilogy, but I do feel each preceding title is better than the one that follows. No bad ones for sure, but could've been happier with Before Midnight. You can definitely just watch this one and be done with it should you want. Each title really has its own ending that could've tied the story up enough.

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Robinsson G

@Gabo123 Feb 15

Pensé que sería algo más atractiva de ver. Pero sus eternos e insulsos diálogos no ayudaron. Faltó emoción y algo adicional, algo trascendental. Pellcula para ver una única vez...😩😐

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Sahil K

@Sahilk171 Dec 19

The best of the trilogy and the ending keeps u wanting them to be together , 7/10

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Cris R

@Crisrad90 Nov 19

I watched the first one, Before Sunrise when I was a teenager and I thought, how cool was Ethan Hawke and how mysterious and alluring was the French girl - as a romantic tender teen I wanted to meet a fascinating European girl like that too and traipse around a city like Vienna enjoying on a budget an unforgettable night. Then later in my 40s I rewatched the original and thought, what a bunch of nothing- they talk about the most inane things constantly. Anyways shows I’ve become older more cynical. I understand better the meaning behind words. So, in Before Sunset we meet again the neurotic French girl who can’t stop talking, at least she laughs when you counter her nonsensical anecdotes. This time it takes place in Paris and we quickly discover they go through all emotions from anger to lust to broken-heartedness. They reveal both the regret of losing 9 years together and life changing experiences. There’s a bitter sweetness to this movie even though it’s clear that he will remain with the girl and finally get her. This time we’re in Paris and it’s like Delpy and Hawke have never left but really the youthful bliss is gone replaced with pain. Worth seeing because there’s not many movies like it but the constant talking gets annoying since while it reveals something about the characters, it’s also overdone.

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Nano N

@Nanonevol Sep 23

Are you a big fan of Hawke and Delpy? Do you love dialogue? Lots of constant dialogue? This is a book, not a film.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 8

Success in 1 1/3 hours!!!!!!! Rated R for Sexual References and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Richard Linklater

Director

Ethan Hawke

Jesse

Julie Delpy

Celine

Vernon Dobtcheff

Book Store Manager

Louise Lemoine Torres

Journalist

Rodolphe Pauly

Journalist

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Synopsis

A sequel to Before Sunrise, this film starts nine years later as Jesse (Ethan Hawke) travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine (Julie Delpy). After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Anne Walker-McBay
Screenwriter: Julie Delpy, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Kim Krizan
Distributor: Warner Independent
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction, Warner Independent Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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