Past Lives (2023)

Kernel Score: 88% · 2,215 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Drama, Romance

Released: 2023-06-02

Runtime: 106 minutes

Is Past Lives worth watching?

Must-watch. A quiet, honest romance about two childhood friends meeting again after decades, and about the lives each of them chose instead. It trusts small silences over big speeches and lands emotionally without melodrama.

Watch it if you

  • like slow, character-driven love stories
  • enjoy films about memory, distance and what-ifs
  • want a short, intimate drama with no villains

Skip it if you

  • need plot twists or fast pacing
  • want a conventional romance with a clear winner

Best for: Quiet night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Past Lives

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

After decades apart, childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung are reunited in New York for one fateful weekend as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

Past Lives parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that Past Lives is a PG-13 romantic drama about childhood friends reconnecting decades later, touching on marriage and unfulfilled love.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Past Lives

If you liked Past Lives, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Brooklyn (2015) — 82%: Another gentle immigrant love story about choosing between two lives and two places.
  • Columbus (2017) — 80%: Calm, observant drama about connection built through small conversations.
  • Her (2013) — 94%: Reflective, tender look at intimacy, loneliness and longing in a modern city.
  • Minari (2021) — 82%: Soulful immigrant family story told with patience and warmth.
  • Blue Bayou (2021) — 85%: Emotional Asian American drama about belonging and what home costs.
  • Eternity (2025) — 76%: Romantic fantasy about choosing between two loves, with real feeling.

Director

Celine Song

Cast

  • Greta Lee as Nora
  • Teo Yoo as Hae Sung
  • John Magaro as Arthur
  • Moon Seung-ah as Young Nora
  • Yim Seung-min as Young Hae Sung
  • Yoon Ji-hye as Nora's Mom
  • Choi Won-young as Nora's Dad
  • An Min-young as Hae Sung's Mom
  • Seo Yeon-woo as Young Si Young
  • Chang Ki-ha as Hae Sung's Friend 1

Past Lives FAQ

Is Past Lives worth watching?

Must-watch. A quiet, honest romance about two childhood friends meeting again after decades, and about the lives each of them chose instead. It trusts small silences over big speeches and lands emotionally without melodrama.

Where can I watch Past Lives?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Past Lives OK for kids?

Past Lives is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Past Lives is a PG-13 romantic drama about childhood friends reconnecting decades later, touching on marriage and unfulfilled love.

What movies are like Past Lives?

If you liked Past Lives, try Brooklyn, Columbus, Her and Minari.