What Dreams May Come (1998)
78%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
7 wins & 2 nominations total
An insubstantial plot overshadows the beautiful, surreal scenery
What Dreams May Come is a movie that’s as confusing as trying to figure out what to wear on a first date. Some critics loved it, some hated it, and some were just plain bored. But one thing we can all agree on is that Robin Williams’ face is way too big for the giant movie screens. The special effects are pretty cool though, and the journey to heaven, hell, and beyond is visually stunning. Just don’t expect to leave the theater feeling like you’ve just watched a masterpiece.
Production Company(ies)
First Thought Films,
Distributor
Polygram
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Angel Falls, Canaima National Park, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 12.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 53m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 18, 2005
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, directed by Vincent Ward, written by Richard Matheson, Ronald Bass, fantasy, romance, drama, PG-13, box office gross $55.5M, reviewed by Nell Minow, Michael Wilmington, Bob Fenster, Susan Stark, Owen Gleiberman, Marjorie Baumgarten, Felix Vasquez Jr., Cole Smithey, Steve Biodrowski, Christopher Smith, Robin Williams as Chris Nielsen, Cuba Gooding Jr as Albert Lewis, Annabella Sciorra as Annie Nielsen, Max von Sydow as The Tracker, Stephen Deutsch as producer, Barnet Bain as producer, SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $55,382,927
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $101,635,480
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,012
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 11,083,477
US/Canada gross: $55,382,927
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $101,635,480
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 744
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,833,592
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $29,056,874
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 479
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $85,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $155,986,986
Production budget ranking: 209
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $83,998,992
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$138,350,497
ROI to date (est.): -58%
ROI ranking: 1,731
Cuba Gooding Jr. – Albert Lewis
Annabella Sciorra – Annie Nielsen
Max von Sydow – The Tracker
Jessica Brooks Grant – Marie Nielsen
Josh Paddock – Ian Nielsen
Director(s)
Vincent Ward
Writer(s)
Richard Matheson, Ronald Bass
Producer(s)
Stephen Deutsch, Barnet Bain
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
7 wins & 2 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Visual Effects Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (32)
Worthwhile for thoughtful teens.
December 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
As rare and odd, and visually breathtaking, as modern filmmaking gets!
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Here’s what’s wrong with giant movie screens: You can fill them with extreme close-ups of Robin Williams’ face!
January 1, 2000
Bob Fenster
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
In both concept and execution, they testify to painfully banal sensibilities.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 1/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
If the film’s morose sentimentality sidesteps ludicrousness, it’s also not very dramatic.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: C+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
A stunningly original visual journey to heaven, hell, and beyond.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s a sullen and woefully boring religious sermon…
May 12, 2013
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Aside from having one of the worst titles in recent film memory, “What Dreams May Come” fails by trying to be all things to all people.
May 20, 2009 | Rating: D
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
The film lurches … toward greatness, dazzling the viewer with a spectacular view of heaven that is not only beautiful but also profoundly moving.
July 7, 2008
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter
Has two things going for it–its spectacular, Academy Award-nominated special effects and the fact that it ends. Everything else about this ridiculous, three-hanky film sends it sharply into nightmare.
August 19, 2007 | Rating: D
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Visually, it’s one of the great movies of its decade; dramatically, it’s rather blurry and baffling.
July 23, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
March 14, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/5
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons…
Plot
During a holiday in Switzerland, a young Chris Nielsen meets Annie Collins in a lake when their boats collide. Sharing a snack a few hours later, Chris and Annie fall in love. Marrying quickly, Chris works as pediatrician and Annie as artist painter and art dealer, and have two children, Ian and Marie. But their happy family life torn apart when Ian and Marie are in a car accident that kills them both and the nanny who was driving. Four years later, Chris and Annie try to restore their life despite the tragedy and celebrate their anniversary. When returning that night, Chris witnesses a car accident, after exiting the car in an attempt to help people, another car crashes into him, fatally hurting him. As he is dying in the hospital, Chris turns into a ghost in an attempt to tell Annie that he still exists and loves her, but his efforts cause more pain, and he decides to leave. Traveling Afterlife, Chris wakes up in Heaven, where he meets Albert Lewis, his former mentor. While Albert helps Chris to adapt to his new existence in Heaven. Annie falls into a deeper depression, tormented by the reminder of her husband and children. Unable to resist the suffering, Annie commits suicide, and Albert returns to Chris to explain him Annie’s death. Determined to save Annie, Chris decides to travel to Hell to find her. As the travel advances, Chris’ memories of his life with Ian and Annie put the mission in danger, making it harder to connect with Annie. Making a discovery about Albert’s true identity, The Tracker splits them. But when they find her, Chris’ memories of his life with Annie will make Chris question the success of the travel, having to make a decision that can change everything forever.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Annabella Sciorra in leading roles.
Vincent-Ward.jpg
