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Preparation for the Next Life

2025·Movie
1h 56min·R
IMDb5.9Metacritic806.8Rotten Tomatoes97%56%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVMGM+Philo

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Preparation for the Next Life fingerprint

Strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Violence3
  • Adrenaline2

Heart

Romantic and melancholic

  • Romance8
  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor2
  • Situational Comedy1

World

Everyday modern life and the mind

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances, direction, and dialogue

  • Acting9
  • Direction8
  • Dialogue Quality8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Melancholic moviesBittersweet moviesRomantic movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Love isn’t an escape, it’s a reason to keep going.

Aishe, a Uyghur woman trained by her military father, migrates to New York City where she finds herself laboring in Chinatown’s underground kitchens. She fatefully encounters Skinner, a young American soldier who has just returned from three tours in the Middle East. While falling in love, they discover the possibility of a better life together than the ones they believed they were destined to live alone.
Intimate Character StudyPost-War TraumaCross-Cultural RomanceMelancholic RealismQuiet DramaEmotional VulnerabilityIndie SensitivitySlow-Burn Narrative

Crew

Directed by:
Bing Liu, Chris Carroll, Zorinah Juan-Lieber
Written by:
Martyna Majok, Atticus Lish
Produced by:
Brad Pitt, Barry Jenkins, Dede Gardner
Composed by:
Susan Jacobs, Igor Nikolic, Dave Paterson

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Preparation for the Next Life

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Preparation for the Next Life legally?

PrimefuboTVMGM+Philo

Preparation for the Next Life is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, and MGM+ in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Preparation for the Next Life worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75/100 (IMDb 5.9, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Preparation for the Next Life rated?

RStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language and disturbing imagery.

How long is Preparation for the Next Life?

1 h 56 min

Preparation for the Next Life runs 1 h 56 min.

Is Preparation for the Next Life based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on Preparation for the Next Life?

Critics89
Audiences61

Not quite. Critics rate Preparation for the Next Life higher (89) than audiences (61). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Preparation for the Next Life in?

EnglishChineseUyghur

It was made in English, with some Chinese, Uyghur. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Preparation for the Next Life?

123ADAEAGALARATAUBABBBEBFBGBHBO+109

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Preparation for the Next Life in 123 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.