Across the Universe

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Across the Universe

PG-13

2007

2h 11m

Musical

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

176 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The songs of the Beatles provide the sonic framework for this musical tale of romance, war and peace. When young British worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) sets sail for the United States in search of his father, he ends up meeting carefree college student Max (Joe Anderson) and his lovely sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a cast of eccentric characters. As Jude and Lucy fall for each other, their relationship is threatened by the social upheaval that accompanies the Vietnam War.

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Critics Consensus

Psychedelic musical numbers can't mask Across the Universe's clichéd love story and thinly written characters.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

09/07/2011

C-

The Beatles already survived one attempt by Hollywood to turn them into kitsch -- 1978's infamous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -- and so you have to wonder what they did to deserve Across the Universe.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

11/02/2007

4/5

It's more than a nostalgia trip. The real pleasure lies in Taymor's ability to make it all seem brand new.

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Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

10/19/2007

...the long and winding road that is Julie Taymor's opulent, eye-filling, and disappointingly uninvolving musical extravaganza...

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Cinemanía Staff

Cinemanía (Spain)

10/16/2020

2/5

It didn't have to be like that. [Full review in Spanish]

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Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

10/01/2020

Across the Universe proves to be a strikingly relevant experience...

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Jordi Costa

El Pais (Spain)

03/28/2019

Imagine that an eminence of creative surgery kidnapped the love of his life to return it transformed into an exact replica of what they hate most. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Gary N.

@GMNelms 2h

Cute and entertaining. Great honor to Beatles music.

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Bonnie B

@Menemsha Mar 8

If you're a baby boomer, this movie is like reliving the 60's. I've watched it many times -often with new people who are shocked they never heard of it- Not sure why the critics here were so negative- they mustn't be familiar with the historical perspective that goes along with the movie- I found and continue to find it powerful. Highly recommend with a good sound system and a big screen tv!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Feb 6

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

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Maria A

@MLErsk Jan 31

I love this movie, I also am a second generation Beatles fan. I grew up with The Beatles as basically the soundtrack to my life. So does that make me biased? Maybe? Every time I watch this movie I marvel at the actors takes on the songs, they are different yet not in that annoying way that maya you just want to listen to the originals. They brought so much of their own emotions to each performance that it really works. Also for those saying it’s a trite love story, well it is probably. But aren’t they all really? That time in America was tumultuous and for those of us who either lived through it first hand or were born right after ( in my case) those stories still feel relevant. Also very timely as well with what is happening right now in 2025-26. My reason for not giving five stars is for my personal taste some of the theatrics were over the top and unnecessary. But that’s personal taste. ✌🏻🩵

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Tim H

@TimHayes Jan 17

Finishing up my yearly rewatch. I don’t understand the hate this movie gets. Every time I watch it I think it’s brilliant.

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H C

@bdlr10 Jan 11

I just saw it again on DVD on a large TV screen and it still looks like a masterpiece to me.

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Julie Taymor

Director

Evan Rachel Wood

Lucy

Jim Sturgess

Jude

Joe Anderson

Max Carrigan

Dana Fuchs

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Martin Luther McCoy

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Synopsis

The songs of the Beatles provide the sonic framework for this musical tale of romance, war and peace. When young British worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) sets sail for the United States in search of his father, he ends up meeting carefree college student Max (Joe Anderson) and his lovely sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a cast of eccentric characters. As Jude and Lucy fall for each other, their relationship is threatened by the social upheaval that accompanies the Vietnam War.

Director: Julie Taymor
Producer: Matthew Gross, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
Screenwriter: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Revolution Studios
Rating: PG-13 (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Some Drug Content|Violence)
Genre: Musical, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.3M
Runtime: 2h 11m