Before Sunset

94%

Tomatometer

180 Reviews

92%

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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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

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.

Aug 8, 2012

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

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

Aug 8, 2012

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Scott Tobias

AV Club

Shooting in long takes, Linklater and his actors (who get co-screenwriting credit) allow the conversation to curlicue effortlessly from literate banter to matters of the heart, and sometimes to places in between.

Aug 8, 2012

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

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.

Feb 20, 2024

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James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

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

Rated: 4.5/5

Nov 29, 2023

Full Review

Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

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.

Jul 25, 2023

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Audience Reviews

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Hao Ian L You can definitely feel the sense of urgency, <i>Before Sunset</i> builds on more character development from before, and as a result, there's more at stake and a more complex relationship at hand now, and perhaps is what makes the dialogue in this sequel feel much more authentic and interesting. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review julie b All time fave. Put the knife in my heart and twist it….ugh. soul crushing. Too real!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Carlos I A beautiful sequel. Probably my favorite of the series. It's a poignant study of whether raw connection is enough to keep two people together. The conversation between the two is soo naturalistic it makes me feel like I'm with real people. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review Mason M Just as good as the first installment in Richard Linklater's beautiful Before Trilogy, Before Sunset keeps the magic of the first, while still adding something new to the equation, taking away the idealism of the first. The dialogue is amazingly written and the film's well photographed. I don't think that Linklater is very good at endings, but this is definitely his best. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review Faiz D A great sequel that lives up to the expectations of the first. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/29/24 Full Review Collem T Very rare to have excellent sequels to legendary movies. But Linklater managed it. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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: Warner Independent Pictures, Detour Filmproduction, 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)