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Waking Life

2001·Movie
1h 41min·R
IMDb7.6Metacritic857.8Rotten Tomatoes81%87%

Where to watch

Prime

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

What's your score?

Your score

Waking Life fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension3
  • Fast Pace3
  • Spectacle3

Heart

Wondrous and hopeful

  • Wonder8
  • Hopefulness7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

Some absurdist humor and sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Absurdist Humor7
  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Satire & Parody4

World

Everyday modern life, the mind, and faith and meaning

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality10
  • Novelty9
  • World Immersion8

Craft

Standout dialogue and direction

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Direction8
  • Complexity8

Style

Standout visual style and cinematography

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization9
  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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

About

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself?

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life.
Philosophical ExplorationRotoscoped AnimationDreamlike NarrativeExistential ThemesSurreal ScenariosIntellectual DialogueIndie FilmMind-ExpandingContemplative

Crew

Directed by:
Richard Linklater
Written by:
Richard Linklater
Produced by:
John Sloss, Jonathan Sehring, Caroline Kaplan
Composed by:
Larry Blake, Wayne Bell, Wayne Bell

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Waking Life

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Waking Life legally?

Prime

Waking Life is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Waking Life worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 85). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Waking Life rated?

R

It's rated R in the United States.

How long is Waking Life?

1 h 41 min

Waking Life runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Waking Life?

Critics83
Audiences80

Yes. Critics average 83 and audiences 80 out of 100, so both groups see Waking Life much the same way.

Was Waking Life a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$3 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $2 million to make and earned $3 million worldwide, 1.6 times its budget.

What language is Waking Life in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Waking Life?

24ARAUAZBECACHCLCODKFIFRGBGGIE+10

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Waking Life in 24 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Waking Life use?

Creepy MonotoneDeranged AnimationStealth ParodyDoing It for the ArtRotoscopingTranshuman AlienTheseus' Ship ParadoxAuthor AppealSliding Scale of Free Will vs. FateYou Look FamiliarMood WhiplashDespair Event Horizonand 24 more

TV Tropes lists 36 storytelling tropes for Waking Life, including Creepy Monotone, Deranged Animation, Stealth Parody.