Before Sunset
Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met, they encounter each other again on the French leg of Jesse's book tour.
Directed by Richard Linklater · Drama · Romance · 80 min · 2004
Trailer
Director
Richard Linklater
Studio
Castle Rock Entertainment / Detour Filmproduction
Release
30 Jul 2004
Runtime
80 min
Genres
Drama, Romance
Full Plot
Early thirty-something American Jesse Wallace is in a Paris bookstore, the last stop on a tour to promote his best selling book, This Time. Although he is vague to reporters about the source material for the book, it is about his chance encounter nine years earlier on June 15-16, 1994 with a Parisienne named Celine, and the memorable and romantic day and evening they spent together in Vienna. At the end of their encounter at the Vienna train station, which is also how the book ends, they, not providing contact information to the other, vowed to meet each other again in exactly six months at that very spot. As the media scrum at the bookstore nears its conclusion, Jesse spots Celine in the crowd, she who only found out about the book when she earlier saw his photograph promoting this public appearance. Much like their previous encounter, Jesse and Celine, who is now an environmental activist, decide to spend time together until he is supposed to catch his flight back to New York, this time only being about an hour. Beyond the issue of the six month meeting, what has happened in their lives in the intervening nine years, and their current lives, they once again talk about their philosophies of life and love, this time with the knowledge of their day together and how it shaped what has happened to them.
Cast & Characters
Jesse
Ethan Hawke
Céline
Julie Delpy
bookstore manager
Vernon Dobtcheff
journalist #1
Louise Lemoine Torres
journalist #2
Rodolphe Pauly
waitress
Mariane Plasteig
Philippe
Diabolo
boat attendant
Denis Evrard
man at grill
Albert Delpy (Julie Delpy's father)
woman in courtyard
Marie Pillet (Julie Delpy's mother)
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $2.7M, Before Sunset has grossed $16.0M worldwide — about 5.9x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Before Sunset is part of TMDb's "Before... Collection."
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Ethan Hawke appears in 3 films in our catalog, including Dead Poets Society, Before Sunrise.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that the film's sequel was discussed among the cast and crew after filming Before Sunrise?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The movie was filmed entirely on location in Paris, starting inside the Shakespeare and Company bookstore.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
It took only 15 days to complete the final version of the film, shot on a budget of about US$2–2.7 million.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The longest Steadicam take lasts around 11 minutes, showcasing the film's innovative camera work.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Before Sunset holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (309,299 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (309,299 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Before Sunset's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Before Sunset holds a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Before Sunset's IMDb rating?+
Before Sunset has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 309,299 votes.
What is Before Sunset's Metacritic score?+
Before Sunset has a Metascore of 91/100 on Metacritic.
Is Before Sunset good? What are critics saying?+
Before Sunset holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (309,299 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Before Sunset?+
Before Sunset has a runtime of 80 min.
Who directed Before Sunset?+
Before Sunset was directed by Richard Linklater.
Where can I watch Before Sunset?+
Before Sunset is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Before Sunset" appears to be overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its poignant and thought-provoking storyline. Reviewers have noted that the film's themes of human connection and the fleeting nature of life resonate deeply. The movie has been widely discussed on social media, with fans and critics alike expressing a strong desire for the characters' relationship to be realized in reality.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
It's been almost a decade since "Jesse" (Ethan Hawke) met "Celine" (Julie Delpy) on that Austrian train and now he is a successful author on a book tour and visiting Paris. Guess who walks into the store seeking a signed copy? Did he turn up in Vienna six months after their last…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
''I guess when you’re young, you just believe there’ll be many people with whom you’ll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.'' Rarely have I found a line from a film so devastating and profound.
@CK2008able · 1141 likesGuys, the Before Sunrise trilogy is based on a real life experience that the director Richard Linklater had in 1989. There is a video here on YT telling the story of how Richard randomly met a young girl named Amy Lehrhaupt in a toy store in Philadelphia I think, and they had the…
@kat.5927 · 3436 likesThe dialogue and acting in this trilogy is on a whole other level...magnificent.
@supastar25 · 2290 likesI want this life. I want to be Jesse and find my Celine.
@Rayofsunshine923 · 470 likeslegends says the taxi driver still waiting for him outside... :D
@efeher · 148 likesIf you ever feel a deep connection like this ,don’t let him go away . I Did...and I regret every single day ...
@soulzian8795 · 749 likesPeople who say it's full of conversation and no romance. Like see not all of your life have scenes like the vow, a walk to remember kind of scenes. This movies is to realistic like they meet again and all they do is talk about their lives and slowly express their old feelings. Th…
@flossygum3911 · 1577 likes1. Before Sunrise :- Most romantic 🥰 2. Before Sunset :- Most Emotional 😢 3. Before Midnight :- Most Realistic 😇
@jokervillain4993 · 362 likes
