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What Dreams May Come
1998
Romance, Drama
1h 53m
Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife, Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in hades for the small chance that he will be able to bring her back to heaven. (imdb)
Directed by:
Vincent WardWhat Dreams May Come
1998
Romance, Drama
1h 53m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 45.41% from 3266 total ratings
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Rated 21 Jun 2008
2
0th
Psychobabble: The Movie! The writing is the kind of smug, sophomoric writing where EVERYTHING sounds like a cliché, even when it isn't (which is almost never), and the whole mess is capped by a New-Age retelling of the Orpheus legend, with an underworld populated by countless kvetching souls. Robin Williams has two modes here: twinkly, calculated lovability and scrappy earnestness--it's impossible to say which one is more annoying. The whole thing is utterly nauseating.
Rated 21 Jun 2008
Rated 20 Jun 2016
82
50th
Yeah, it's kinda saccharine, but holy crap does it look cool. Also, if there isn't a porn parody called Wet Dreams May Come, there should be.
Rated 20 Jun 2016
Rated 19 Dec 2013
74
54th
So when you die, you get to assume your former life as a perfect family, unless you suicide. But, if you suicide, you can get saved if one of your family members comes for you...only it's never been done? Wow. Heaven is full of dicks.
Rated 19 Dec 2013
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
71st
This movie is highly underrated. While it is mostly known for it's stunning visual appeal, the acting hear is top-notch. Cuba Gooding, Jr. gives one of my favorite performancess of his carrer. Robin Williams anchors this exploration of heaven and hell.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 26 Feb 2007
70
57th
Actually I guess this movie isn't too fantastic (pretty cheesy to be honest) but it IS however a really creative and pretty take on the afterlife with some pretty cool visuals.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
Rated 08 Apr 2014
81
92nd
You don't have to believe a word of it to see that it speaks to a real human longing. It's a complete Renaissance vision of the joy and terror of afterlife, and were it more subtle, the big emotional moments wouldn't work. And they do.
Rated 08 Apr 2014
Rated 12 Mar 2011
65
8th
I expected the screenplay to be sort of dumb, which it is, but I was surprised and disappointed to discover that the visuals were sort of dumb too: Heaven looks like a New Age version of that hack painter Thomas Kinkade and Hell looks like a less scary version of Gustave Dore's Dante. Sure, I cried at the end, but I'm not proud of myself.
Rated 12 Mar 2011
Rated 17 Oct 2009
69
20th
The makers of this film sat down with Dante's Divine Comedy with the intention of making a loose remake. When they finished it, they read it over again and started crossing out parts they thought the viewers would be too dumb to understand. Then they sent it over to half-liberal doves-and-sunshine Protestants, got their revisions. Then they sent it over to marketing, got their input. Then they sent it over to the big movie studios who had their say. And so we got this tepid piece of shit.
Rated 17 Oct 2009
Rated 11 Sep 2009
30
7th
loosely based on Dante's Inferno. do yourself a favor and read it, rather than watch this crap
Rated 11 Sep 2009
Rated 15 Nov 2008
67
48th
I have to completely agree with the general consensus on this movie: superbly stylish with gorgeous sets and special effects but the movie itself is corny. Or rather it's not all corny but as the film progresses it gets more and more corny and the use of incredible special effects becomes less and less. So the negative aspects of the film increase as the positive ones decrease thus the film ends up disappointing. Still it's worth seeing for the art direction.
Rated 15 Nov 2008
Rated 30 May 2008
74
28th
Overly sentimental and it seems like its entire purpose is to tug at your heart strings. It does succeed at that to a minor degree, but I think it did a better job on its ideas about the afterlife and also, obviously, with its visual effects.
Rated 30 May 2008
Rated 06 May 2008
92
96th
The art of the sets, the mysticism of the story, and the acting bring this amazing story such heart. I'm amazed more don't love it.
Rated 06 May 2008
Rated 14 Aug 2007
96
98th
The sets and effects were simply breathtaking. Though the story is mainly about Williams' and Sciorra's characters, I found the best parts to be Williams' interactions with his children.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 18 Jul 2007
90
79th
Suprisingly original, and visually stunning.
Rated 18 Jul 2007
Rated 25 Mar 2007
63
34th
Conceptually a great film. Didn't really pull it off the way you would hope, though. They should make a sequel where someone goes and saves Robin Williams from hell.
Rated 25 Mar 2007
Rated 25 Feb 2021
100
86th
115/100. This movie is brilliant and gorgeous and sad and lovely. I love this so much. https://esperwatchesfilms.tumblr.com/post/644059106222718976/what-dreams-may-come-1998
Rated 25 Feb 2021
Rated 06 Nov 2019
64
48th
There's a lot I like and dislike about this film. While the CGI and use of color are stunning, it's not enough to make it a great film. The bulk of the camera angles throughout the entire film are rather tiresome and uninspired. It's a strange juxtaposition--even a little unsettling. The story drags on a bit a times, the script a bit dull, and is generally just a bit too corny. The score is equally uninspired. My only other grievance is that aside from Williams, the casting is just kind of bad.
Rated 06 Nov 2019
Rated 28 Aug 2016
71
53rd
It looks really beautiful and it is clear a lot of creative thought went into this. I was intrigued because of this, however the story and writing feel overly cheesy and typically Hollywood. The ending in particular I didn't like.
Rated 28 Aug 2016
Rated 26 Feb 2015
50
17th
Nice idea. Didn't work for me though. Robin Williams miscast I think, pretty bad writing, just too schmaltzy to be what it wanted to be.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
Rated 03 Jan 2015
5
3rd
A long winded heaven and hell borefest. Really corny too. If you automatically go to hell for committing suicide, I can think of no better punishment in pergatory than running this piece of turd on an endless loop...
Rated 03 Jan 2015
Rated 04 Sep 2014
70
22nd
It ought to be much worse than it is but its interpretation of the novel's most potent images is just arresting.
Rated 04 Sep 2014
Rated 16 Aug 2014
96
99th
One of my favorite movies. So beautiful and I loved Robin Williams.
Rated 16 Aug 2014
Rated 27 Mar 2014
93
95th
Good drama, and really touching story. Great actors.
Rated 27 Mar 2014
Rated 11 Jan 2014
24
18th
Great visuals did not make the movie. The story started nice and there was a lot of fine emotions but I did not like where they led the story. It gave too positive message for suicide as a solution.
Rated 11 Jan 2014
Rated 29 Jan 2013
85
82nd
Great story, really great visuals. The way Heaven and Hell are portrayed is beautifully done and allows for some thought as to what an afterlife may very well be like. Emotionally touching as Robin Williams character attempts to contact and then find his wife in both life and death.
Rated 29 Jan 2013
Rated 29 Nov 2011
94
93rd
"Good people go to hell because they can't forgive themselfs." ~ What dreams may come 01:36:36
Rated 29 Nov 2011
Rated 20 Oct 2011
99
99th
You like it, or not. It is all about colors and impressionistic feelings. And Robin and Cuba. Although story is tin, and there is not much reality check in it, still, it is story about dreams, optimistic, sometimes fun, sometimes sad, but utterly optimistic dreams, and impressionistic and colorful set are perfect match for this movie. At the end, it comes to feelings and imagination. Either you feel the story, or not. There is no middle ground.
Rated 20 Oct 2011
Rated 08 May 2011
0
0th
If there is a hell, watching this on loop forever would probably be my personal punishment.
Rated 08 May 2011
Rated 08 May 2011
2
37th
Great visuals whereas story could do some patching. Memories aren't really connected and they appear pretty random. Children should got a bit more screen time, since they have larger impact on story than it's shown, IMHO.
Rated 08 May 2011
Rated 31 Oct 2010
81
39th
(SPOILERS)
this movie MAY have gotten a 100 from me if it weren't for the really stupid ending. 'We went through hell but we're finally in heaven with both of our kids and we can enjoy the rest of eternity together, but wait! robin williams has an idea, lets leave the kids behind and get reincarnated in new jersey together!' what the fuck?
Rated 31 Oct 2010
Rated 21 Sep 2010
63
34th
Beautifully filmed, poorly written, and seems very long.
Rated 21 Sep 2010
Rated 03 Sep 2010
99
98th
it'll tear your heart out if you let it, and then put it back just a little bit nicer. Williams plays his role very well and the conveyed ideas of heaven and hell (whether you believe or not) are very intriguing. just about every scene, once the movie really starts moving along, is a beautiful work of art. sincerely a must-see.
Rated 03 Sep 2010
Rated 23 Aug 2010
60
12th
Fantastic cinematography but ultimately hard to watch because of the depressing nature. Good cast seems a bit wasted. Kept waiting for Williams to break out with the jokes. Watch at your own risk.
Rated 23 Aug 2010
Rated 18 Aug 2010
70
30th
While the film has a lot of solid aspects: Plays on visuals, has a good idea for a plot, good acting and what not. It is missing the small details that make a good film, excellent and highly recommendable. However, I still enjoyed it and it def. brings on the water works.
Rated 18 Aug 2010
Rated 19 Jul 2010
45
23rd
I'm giving it a 45 because of those striking visuals and specially the lovely art direction. The story is kind of absurd, you know, even though it tries to be heartbreaking.
Rated 19 Jul 2010
Rated 01 Apr 2010
100
88th
Philosophical, romantic.
Rated 01 Apr 2010
Rated 11 Mar 2010
83
81st
There are some amazing visuals in this movie. I think a lot of people end up trashing this film, and I get why. But, I think the film has some interesting ideas about what happens after death. It's not a great film, but at least it's interesting and creative.
Rated 11 Mar 2010
Rated 26 Feb 2010
2
15th
That's not a title, it's a warning. *rimshot*
Rated 26 Feb 2010
Rated 25 Nov 2009
75
72nd
Although it juggles concepts like heaven and hell rather nicely, there's a Hallmark feel to it, not unlike the the heaven-made-of-paint in the film. Budgetary restraints are to blame of course, but perhaps also the casting: It's just this thing with Robins. Believe him when he's cast as inspirational teacher, lonely psychologist, even a psychopath? sure! As a family man? no.
Rated 25 Nov 2009
Rated 17 Nov 2009
100
81st
Beginning with sadness and diving ever deeper into the realm of emotional loss, struggle, and lost love, this film is bound to tear your heart to pieces. But this is a true romantic's story that pulls you with it through the depths of hell to rescue a love that can never truly die. You'll be amazed and mystified and filled with joy at the hope and the love that emanates from the screen.
Rated 17 Nov 2009
Rated 20 Jul 2009
40
32nd
For a Hollywood movie, it is quite innovative and original, however, at the end of the day, it is still a Hollywood movie. "What Dreams May Come" is a colourful love story spiced with themes of friendship, death and the power of love. A bit cliched.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
Rated 06 Jul 2009
90
74th
Robin Williams pulls this movie off terrifically. This movie will fill you up with so much love that you will want to find somebody to be with and share your life and this movie with. A interesting way of retelling Dante's Inferno and it is pulled off so well. Not horrifying as Dante Aligheri's tell but still sobering enough to make you re evaluate your life and take stock of all things that are truly most important. If you are not in tears by the end of this one then you have no soul.
Rated 06 Jul 2009
Rated 27 Oct 2008
50
27th
I saw it with my mom and sister 4 days after my Grandma died. Yeah needless to say it choked me up a bit. Watching it now I can really see how insanely corny it is, but fuck it looks beautiful at times.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
Rated 16 Oct 2008
80
72nd
Underrated film. Welcome to the land of the dead. This film features beautiful scenery and cinematography. It's is a film that is ultimately joyful, although it has dark edges.
Rated 16 Oct 2008
Rated 15 Oct 2008
100
97th
Absolutely amazing.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
Rated 14 Oct 2008
80
58th
Touching and very visual. This is a great movie if you want to be pulled through despair by an undying love.
Rated 14 Oct 2008
Rated 02 Aug 2008
59
27th
Cheesy and corny and it goes on way too long but at least it's nice to look at.
Rated 02 Aug 2008
Rated 15 May 2008
75
48th
Movie was pretty sucky, but it gets higher marks for visual beauty. And because it inspired a hilarious "double D" joke, which I will not share.
Rated 15 May 2008
Rated 30 Nov 2007
10
6th
Film manipulation at its' finest. Cheesy, campy, over-the-top with just plain bad acting and a weakly written script make this film barely tolerable. BARELY.
Rated 30 Nov 2007
Rated 16 Nov 2007
0
5th
what a pile of....
Rated 16 Nov 2007
Rated 17 Oct 2007
40
36th
A late life romantic fantasy where a dude goes to hell for his wife that has topped herself. Great visual imagery and lots of soopiness as only Robin Williams knows how.
Rated 17 Oct 2007
Rated 15 Sep 2007
85
94th
Wonderful and emotional film has a few weak moments, but the impact still remains.
Rated 15 Sep 2007
Rated 26 Aug 2007
0
0th
Oh my God what a piece of shit. Nearly made me homicidal it pissed me off so much.
Rated 26 Aug 2007
Rated 20 Aug 2007
50
25th
Beautiful visuals, but that's the best you can say about this movie unfortunately.
Rated 20 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
42nd
I watched this movie the night a friend of mine shot himself. Seriously. It was pretty affecting. I just hate Robin Williams though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
13th
The move was well done, I just hated the dark Christian vision of unforgiveness.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
96th
Talk about a tear jerker! Hopeful and nice.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
30
14th
Visually arresting & of awkward construction which all helps convey reality to a difficult subject. The ambiguous skirting of issues is generally not glaring, but the strong tendency to talking heads, long running time & slow pacing make the emotional manipulation forced & obvious. With a moral like "love conquers all" i suspect an audience favorite.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
0
0th
Does this thing do Negative scores (nope, I just tried)??? This is the worst film ever made! Watching this was torture. Half way through (we saw it on video) the phone rang and it was paused. That pause was like having a giant weight removed from your chest. UPDATE: this was on telly on the weekend and as an experiment, I got drunk and watch it. It's STILL complete crap, but I giggled a couple of times. I can't believe this is based on a book by the great Richard Matheson
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
73rd
just the fact that Robin Williams played such a great charcter in this is enough to make it a great movie. loved the movie, the whole paint scenes in heaven were so amazingly done.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 12 Jul 2007
85
41st
Interesting idea... thought Cuba Gooding Jr. was better than Robin Williams in this.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
Rated 05 Jul 2007
79
46th
This film, based on the novel by Richard Matheson, is one of wonder, a visual feast that is used to push a plot along. Since the two are so closely tied together, this movie works perfectly, and also makes it one of the most unique films ever made. The places he goes, from Heaven to Hell are what his journey comprises of, he will go through anything tossed at him to find his wife. At the same time, without the visuals that this film provides, the story would never work. Matheson's novel wor
Rated 05 Jul 2007
Rated 13 Jan 2007
70
66th
Probably the corniest movie I have ever seen, but it paints (pun intended) a beautiful view of the afterlife.
Rated 13 Jan 2007
Rated 05 Dec 2006
80
78th
I don't know what it is about this movie, but I love almost everything about it and I'm not a religious man.. err.. woman. I was crying one scene right after the other.
Rated 05 Dec 2006
Rated 14 Aug 2024
100
99th
The poor ratings & reviews of this movie made me wait 22 years to watch it. Today I have lost all faith in most all of other peoples’ opinions. How can people love such shitty demoralizing garbage & then sneer at something with so much beauty, originality & heart? Who has a soul & shred of romanticism? Probably the most romantic movie ever made & it’s largely about the ugliness and despair of loss & ensuing emotional devastation. Basically an areligious story, except zealous devotion to love.
Rated 14 Aug 2024
Rated 07 Feb 2024
32
4th
It seems reaction to this film breaks down somewhat according to spiritual beliefs (agnostic atheist here); well-cast, beautifully designed film just didn’t work for me because I couldn’t buy its conceit of noble suffering (and found the rain of tragedy on the Neilson family more comically heavy-handed than moving). Cleverest touch is Bergman regular von Sydow presiding over the gateway to hell, and the elaborate set designs are quite striking, but overall a big swing (and even bigger miss).
Rated 07 Feb 2024
Rated 18 Sep 2023
85
82nd
A beautiful story of soul mates and the world you create with your own beliefs.
Rated 18 Sep 2023
Rated 12 Oct 2020
65
29th
Top badass moment? Next time I have a crappy day I’ll just remember the Neilson family and it won’t seem so bad. There aren't enough lemons in the world to counteract the tsunami of sickening, cloying sweetness in this film. It also contains two awful movie clichés; love conquers everything and a woman trips up. It’s saving grace is its pretty special effects but be warned; don’t watch it on a big telly unless it’s in HD, or you will kill yourself. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 12 Oct 2020
Rated 12 Dec 2019
10
1st
God-awful. I'm not sure what I hate more, the pseudoprofundity or the butt-ugly visuals. Hollywood at its very, very worst. In fact, even worse than the in some ways similar and also enormously silly 'Field of Dreams'.
Rated 12 Dec 2019
Rated 25 Aug 2018
80
54th
I remember liking this but don't remember why.
Rated 25 Aug 2018
Rated 03 Jul 2018
35
7th
Starts off well, but it’s very tonally inconsistent early on. Sometimes it has a family-fantasy-adventure type of feel and sometimes it’s a relatively dark adult drama. But it’s entertaining and beautiful. Then we get to Hell, and it becomes a dull snooze fest. It’s a shame because the first 30 or so minutes show a lot of promise, and the last 5 minutes aren’t bad either. But that middle part is just, no.
Rated 03 Jul 2018
Rated 07 Oct 2017
80
46th
Looks so cool I can almost forgive all the exposition.
Rated 07 Oct 2017
Rated 05 Feb 2017
70
83rd
ger; [what dreams may come; hinter dem horizont - das ende ist nur der anfang]; als ein mann stirbt findet er sich im malerischen himmel wieder und trifft dort seine kinder - doch seine frau fehlt und er macht sich bis in ihre persönliche hölle auf um sie zu finden.;
Rated 05 Feb 2017
Rated 16 Oct 2016
68
42nd
What Dreams May Come is a visually gorgeous tear-jerker with a bit of wonky writting and a decent performance from the leads. Definitely worth a watch ... with tissues.
Rated 16 Oct 2016
Rated 03 Nov 2015
55
21st
Misses the point of the book
Rated 03 Nov 2015
Rated 16 Oct 2015
70
47th
The effects are mesmerizing, the acting is good, and now the film's gotten more eerie with Robin actually dead
Rated 16 Oct 2015
Rated 22 Sep 2015
40
32nd
Some really beautiful imagery, and a few exceptionally clever scenes, such as the countryside painting and some of the beautiful settings & fanciful special effects. However, the relentless preachy religious message was tedious, quite difficult to enjoy, and became almost intolerable at times. With that said, there are a few good and fun scenes almost entirely overshadowed by the heavy handed slog through the dogma. Probably worth watching, depending on your threshold for religious bombardment.
Rated 22 Sep 2015
Rated 13 Aug 2014
70
53rd
It's really impressive but I will never watch this again.
Rated 13 Aug 2014
Rated 22 Jul 2014
65
47th
I haven't watched this film in a very long time but from the first time, I remember being stunned by the beautiful visuals and that it was rather depressing at times.
Rated 22 Jul 2014
Rated 20 Jul 2013
73
57th
The writing feels more than a little manipulative, but those pretty visuals go a LONG way.
Rated 20 Jul 2013
Rated 16 Jun 2013
60
7th
Shoutout to whoever did the world of paint sequence, because who ever did that must not have been involved with the rest of the movie. This made a lot of people cry? I've seen more affecting and less manipulative movies on the Hallmark channel. Didn't hate it as much as the score suggests but it is A Bad Movie.
Rated 16 Jun 2013
Rated 24 Nov 2012
90
98th
Can't explain why I love this film so much. It's weird as hell but it makes me weep.
Rated 24 Nov 2012
Rated 05 Apr 2012
80
95th
4 of 4 -- Entertainment.
2 of 2 -- Food For Thought.
2 of 2 -- Opens The Heart.
0 of 2 -- Sustainability Values.
Rated 05 Apr 2012
Rated 26 Mar 2012
30
3rd
Just really disliked it. Some of the scenes were visually pleasing... but that's all I really enjoyed.
Rated 26 Mar 2012
Rated 12 Mar 2012
70
29th
One of the most beautiful bad movies ever made.
Rated 12 Mar 2012
Rated 07 Feb 2012
47
17th
The images of hell are pretty surreal and so I'll give it some credit.
Rated 07 Feb 2012
Rated 26 Feb 2011
75
72nd
The plot and pacing were compelling and surprisingly epic at points. They were accompanied by outstanding cinematography and art direction, borrowing from many different cultures to portray the afterlife in a spectacular manner that stills looks great now. The acting was good if not a little cheesy at times, but the real winner was the gorgeous and creative set pieces.
Rated 26 Feb 2011
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Directed by:
Vincent WardCollections
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