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Before Sunrise

Play trailer 1:39 Poster for Before Sunrise R 1995 1h 41m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
On his way to Vienna, American Jesse meets Celine, a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna. Since his flight to the U.S. departs the next morning, and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other. As the night progresses, their bond makes separating in the morning a difficult choice.

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Before Sunrise

Before Sunrise

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Critics Consensus

Thought-provoking and beautifully filmed, Before Sunrise is an intelligent, unabashedly romantic look at modern love, led by marvelously natural performances from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

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Critics Reviews

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John Wrathall Sight & Sound Nov 6
This is where the film’s charm lies, in the balance Linklater strikes between poetry and the everyday. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 01/31/2025
5/5
It is the lightness of this film which is still charming; Jesse and Céline are free from everything, free from work worries or family cares, but they are also free from the gravity of cause-and-effect, the world of consequences and responsibilities. Go to Full Review
Anthony Lane The New Yorker 07/18/2022
The charm—the midsummer enchantment—never feels forced; it steals up and wins you. A true romance. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 08/20/2024
A+
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are incredible in this film. The chemistry they have in palpable and the energy is always flowing... Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 03/19/2024
3/4
Utterly charming. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine 12/05/2023
10/10
One of the truly great American films of the 1990s. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tyler S. @tmanstro 21h Makes you remember the beauty of our early 20s years when we had no responsibilities. See more Remi B @RT80250094 May 16 they really don't make movies like this anymore. See more Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Apr 30 What a great start to this trilogy. A simple story about two strangers who meet and instantly connect. The dialogue was beautifully written and delivered by two tremendous actors. Tim Treakle See more Clare P @RT36768808 Mar 28 The movie that I recommend you to watch if you miss having a real-life meaningful conversation with a human being. This movie brought out the extroverted version of me! Absolutely love it! See more Jaisibi S @RT14436527 Mar 28 Before Sunrise is a simple romantic story that focuses on two strangers connecting through conversations. The plot is minimal, but the film feels real because of its natural dialogue and relatable moments. The pacing is extremely slow and requires full attention to stay engaged. The acting is great, with both leads delivering natural and believable performances. The music is average and does not stand out much. The ending is feel-good with a slight cliffhanger, leaving you thinking about what happens next. Overall, Before Sunrise is a good film to watch occasionally when you are in the mood for something calm and thoughtful. See more Alexsander F @Aelxs Mar 14 Perfect! Beautiful and sublime! Perfeito! Belo e sublime! "When routine bites hard And ambitions are low And resentment rides high But emotions won't grow And we're changing our ways Taking different roads Then love, love will tear us apart, again Love, love will tear us apart, again..." —Joy Division See more Read all reviews
Before Sunrise

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis On his way to Vienna, American Jesse meets Celine, a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna. Since his flight to the U.S. departs the next morning, and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other. As the night progresses, their bond makes separating in the morning a difficult choice.
Director
Richard Linklater
Producer
Anne Walker-McBay
Screenwriter
Kim Krizan
Production Co
Detour Filmproduction, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Romance, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.7M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround