What Dreams May Come
What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come

1998Movie113 minEnglish

Chris Nielsen 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.

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Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes55%
Metacritic53/100
Google Users80%
Director: Vincent WardGenres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary

A compassionate pediatrician, Chris Nielsen, tragically dies in a car accident, leaving his artist wife, Annie, devastated. Despite his passing, Chris's soul embarks on an extraordinary journey through a vivid and imaginative afterlife, guided by a wise entity. Meanwhile, Annie, consumed by grief and despair, descends into a hellish personal torment. Chris must overcome the boundaries of heaven and hell to reunite with his beloved Annie, proving that love transcends even death.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'What Dreams May Come' garnered a mixed reception from critics, with many praising its stunning visual effects and ambitious exploration of the afterlife, while others found its narrative and emotional depth lacking. Audiences, however, were often moved by its powerful portrayal of love and loss, making it a polarizing yet memorable film.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its groundbreaking and visually inventive depiction of the afterlife.
  • Commended for its emotional exploration of grief, love, and the human spirit.
  • Criticized by some for a plot that occasionally feels overly sentimental or melodramatic.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's powerful emotional impact and its unique visual style, with many finding the story of love and loss deeply moving. Some viewers felt the plot was predictable or overly dramatic, but the overall sentiment leans towards a positive and impactful viewing experience.

Awards & Accolades

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects; Nominated for Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (Robin Williams) and Best Original Song.

Fun Fact

The distinctive, vibrant colors of the afterlife were achieved using a technique called 'color grading,' where each scene was digitally manipulated to enhance and saturate specific hues, creating a dreamlike and otherworldly aesthetic.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Hindsight, and all that, but I wonder how much of the things going through the mind of his character here were actually going through the mind of Robin Williams himself in his later life? Here, he is doctor “Chris” who quite literally colli...