Eternity (2025 Movie)

Introduction

Released in late 2025, Eternity emerged as one of the most talked‑about romantic comedies in years – not merely for its narrative, but for what its story attempts to say about love, memory, identity, and the weight of choices we carry into eternity. Directed by David Freyne and written by Pat Cunnane and Freyne, this American fantasy romance combines whimsy with introspection, comedy with drama, and existential speculation with heartfelt human emotion.

Plot Overview: Love in a Metaphysical Waiting Room

Eternity centers on Joan Cutler (played by Elizabeth Olsen), a woman who dies soon after her longtime husband Larry (Miles Teller) – around a week later – and finds herself in a surreal metaphorical afterlife.

This afterlife is not abstract or spiritual in the traditional sense, nor is it a place of judgment – instead, it is a bureaucratic, often humorous space modeled somewhere between a convention center and a conference-style hotel called “the Junction.” Here, newly deceased souls gather to choose from a diverse array of “eternal worlds” – from cosmic realms themed around abstract ideals to hyper-specific paradises such as a “Man‑Free World.”

But the philosophical and emotional bulk of the film lies not in these thematic realms. It lies in the choice that Joan faces: she must choose between spending eternity with her second husband – Larry, the partner with whom she lived a full life and raised a family — or with her first love, Luke (Callum Turner), who died decades earlier in the Korean War and has been waiting for her in this afterlife.

This setup, at first glance a love triangle, expands into something far richer: it becomes an exploration of human love as memory, ritual, duty, passion, and authenticity. How much does the comfort of what you know – with all its imperfections – weigh against the possibility of passion lost in time? And if one could perfectly relive youth (or any version of life), would that be preferable to a richer, flawed life lived in full?

Joan’s struggle is not merely between two men; it is between two understandings of love itself – the passionate but fleeting, and the steady but familiar.

Creative World-Building: An Afterlife With Personality

One of the strengths of Eternity is the highly imaginative — and deeply playful — world that Freyne and his team have created. Instead of depicting the afterlife as a transcendental void or spiritual paradise, the film treats it like a bureaucratic extension of life itself — complete with conventions, themed “eternal worlds,” catalogues, coordinators, and trade-show-style presentations.

Critics have noted how this imaginative afterlife owes something to works like Defending Your Life, but it strikes out in its own direction, blending existential inquiry with charm and humor.

Among the comedic highlights are the afterlife coordinators — characters tasked with assisting the recently deceased as they navigate the bewildering array of choices before them. These guides add levity to moments that might otherwise feel sorrowful or overwhelming, underscoring the film’s tonal blend of whimsy and heartfelt reflection.

The result is a world that feels both metaphysical and mundane — like a surreal travel fair crossed with an emotional labyrinth. In doing so, Eternity doesn’t just set its plot in a fantastical realm; it uses that realm to comment on the real choices we make in life and how we imagine meaning beyond death.

Characters and Performances

Joan: The Heart of the Dilemma

Joan is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary predicament. Olsen imbues Joan with an emotional resonance that is at once grounded and transcendent. She is not a heroine of epic battles or mythic quests — but she is deeply human, faced with a decision that goes beyond romance to touch on identity, memory, and self-understanding.

Her conflict doesn’t simply reflect indecision between two lovers; it mirrors the real human challenge of reconciling the past with the present — what we once were versus what we have become. In a sense, Joan is both every person and uniquely layered in her emotional journey.

Olsen’s performance has been widely praised for its depth and authenticity. Critics and audiences alike note her capacity to carry a whimsical narrative while anchoring it with emotional realism. Many have commented that her work elevates the film’s exploration of love and choice into something genuinely affecting rather than superficially clever.

Larry and Luke: Two Versions of Love

Miles Teller’s Larry personifies devotion and endurance — the partner with whom Joan built a life, faced aging, and shared every mundane and remarkable day. Teller’s portrayal gives Larry a warmth and groundedness that counterbalances the romantic allure of Luke’s idealized love.

In contrast, Callum Turner’s Luke represents youthful passion and what might have been — the first big love tragically cut short by war. Luke’s presence in the afterlife is poignant, tinged with the ache of deferred destiny and the longing for unfulfilled promise.

This contrast is crucial. Larry is what Joan knows — the familiar comfort of partnership. Luke is what could have been — the romantic of a time frozen by death.

By crafting these two men with distinct emotional cores, the film invites audiences to ask not just who Joan should choose, but why she would choose them — and what those choices say about love, memory, and priority.

Themes: Love, Memory, Choice, and the Afterlife

At the heart of Eternity are themes that resonate far beyond the film’s romantic setup and comedic elements. Beneath its fantasy trappings lies a core meditation on what it means to love, to remember, and to choose.

1. The Weight of Memory

Eternity suggests that memory is not merely the recollection of moments but the architecture of identity itself. The choices characters make are shaped not by abstract principles but by the emotional weight of specific moments and relationships.

Joan’s struggle, in particular, treats memory not as a passive recall but as an active force with the power to shape her future — her eternity. The film asks: Can we ever truly separate what we remember from who we become?

2. The Nature of Love

The film explores love not as a static ideal but as a dynamic, complex force. Through Larry and Luke, the narrative examines different kinds of love — steadiness, passion, nostalgia, commitment, regret, and acceptance.

This reflection goes beyond trivial romance. Eternity invites us to consider what happiness means not just in isolation, but within the rhythms of life — and even beyond life.

3. The Reality of Choice

Perhaps the most evocative theme in Eternity is the nature of choice itself. The premise presumes that the afterlife requires a definitive decision, yet then complicates that choice with emotional nuance, doubt, and unexpected outcomes. The film eventually confronts the paradox of choice in the afterlife — does freedom amplify dilemmas, or does it clarify them? Does eternity diminish meaning if choices can be reversed?

From a philosophical standpoint, these questions deepen the narrative beyond romantic trope into existential inquiry.

Critical Reception: Praise and Critique

Positive Responses

Upon release, Eternity garnered generally positive reviews. It was praised for its clever premise, fresh take on rom-com conventions, and charming performances.

Many critics were charmed by the film’s world-building, likening it to a spiritual descendant of classic screwball romantic comedies that marry sharp wit with deeper emotional insights.

Mixed to Average Critical Scores

At the same time, Eternity has been met with some criticisms common to high-concept films. While many appreciated its ambition and performances, some critics felt it didn’t fully explore its themes or sustain its narrative momentum.

Some reviewers felt that the second act stalled, or that certain emotional beats lacked enough development to fully resonate. Others argued that the film leaned too heavily on whimsical set pieces at the expense of deeper insight.

Audience Reception: A Cult Favorite in the Making

Despite mixed critical commentary, audiences responded warmly to Eternity. Verified audience scoring systems showed a strong approval rating, indicating strong viewer engagement and enthusiasm.

Social media platforms hosted discussions that ranged from heartfelt praise for the film’s emotional core to debates about its thematic implications. Some praised its charm, while others critiqued its narrative inconsistencies — particularly around the rules of its afterlife premise.

This enthusiastic audience reception suggests that Eternity resonated with viewers on an emotional and cultural level. It wasn’t just about plot mechanics; it was about connection, memory, and the shared human experiences that the film dramatizes.

Cultural Context and Genre Placement

Eternity arrives at a fascinating intersection of genres. It is, at once, a romantic comedy, a fantasy, an existential drama, and a speculative exploration of life after death.

In cinematic history, the idea of the afterlife being a place of choice, reflection, and personal growth has been explored before. Films such as Defending Your Life and narratives involving cosmic judgment or metaphysical realms have probed similar terrain. Yet Eternity distinguishes itself by centering that inquiry on choice in love – not fate, punishment, or reward.

In doing so, it taps into a deeper cultural moment where audiences are simultaneously skeptical of simplistic metaphysics yet yearn for stories that have emotional clarity. It’s notable that Eternity engages with afterlife themes without leaning on religious frameworks, instead constructing a universe based on emotional logic rather than theological doctrine.

Box Office and Later Availability

Eternity premiered at major film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, and received a theatrical release in the United States on November 26, 2025, via A24.

Though not a blockbuster in traditional terms, it achieved respectable box office returns – exceeding its $12 million budget and grossing around $36 million worldwide with continued viewership in theatres into early 2026.

As of early 2026, the film also began streaming on Apple TV+, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond cinemas.