David Freyne’s Eternity arrives as one of the year’s most unusual studio-backed romantic comedies, blending afterlife mythology with an old-fashioned love triangle. The film builds its premise on a tender question—what happens when the two great loves of your life collide beyond death? With Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner at its center, and backed by A24, Eternity attempts to revive the classic Hollywood afterlife romance with a contemporary lens while still leaning on traditional rom-com warmth. Critics in their Eternity Review have responded with admiration for its ambition and charm, even as many point out its limitations in character depth and thematic reach.
The story follows Larry and Joan, an elderly couple whose 65-year marriage ends almost abruptly when Larry dies unexpectedly, despite Joan being terminally ill. Larry wakes up in a surreal afterlife “Junction,” a place somewhere between an airport, a Radisson hotel, and a travel convention. There he reverts to his younger self and is guided by an afterlife coordinator as he prepares to choose his eternal setting. When Joan arrives, also in the form of her younger self, the film reveals its emotional hook: her long-dead first husband Luke has been waiting decades to see her again. What unfolds is a triangular push and pull between comfort and novelty, past and present, familiarity and longing, as Joan is offered trial runs with both men before choosing her eternity.
Critics widely agree that the film’s premise is both charming and ripe with potential. Variety praises Freyne’s direction and the film’s “gentle melancholy,” noting how the emotional tension is played not for melodrama but for quiet, mature reflection. The Hollywood Reporter highlights the performances—especially Teller’s jittery vulnerability and Olsen’s grounded sincerity—while observing that the film’s concept is strong enough to sustain interest even when the screenplay occasionally repeats its ideas. IndieWire calls Eternity “sweetly sincere and pleasantly retro,” appreciating its refusal to resort to cynicism, though also suggesting that the movie settles for a softer emotional payoff than it could have achieved. The Guardian points out that the afterlife world-building is imaginative, even if the film doesn’t explore it as deeply as its setup promises. RogerEbert.com compliments the film’s charm and emotional accessibility but notes that it sometimes hesitates to push its philosophical themes to their full potential.
Some Eternity reviews brings sharper detail and complexity to the critical conversation. The LA Times argues that Eternity stands in a long tradition of celestial rom-coms, drawing comparisons to past classics like A Matter of Life and Death and Heaven Can Wait. Robert Abele highlights Miles Teller’s standout performance, describing his old-school charisma as a throwback to Jack Lemmon-style spiky spontaneity. However, Abele also critiques the uneven writing of Olsen’s character, suggesting that Joan isn’t given the same depth and internal conflict as Larry. Slant Magazine, in Justin Clark’s review, admires the commitment of the cast and the film’s high-concept energy but finds the film’s attitudes toward love and marriage somewhat dated, especially for a 2025 release. The film, Clark notes, offers charm and sincerity but confines its characters to a narrow thematic range. Rolling Stone’s review echoes this sentiment, appreciating the movie’s nostalgic quality while questioning its decision to remain so traditional in its exploration of a modern emotional dilemma.
Audience reactions paint a slightly warmer picture. Most viewers appreciate the film’s sincerity and its refusal to go for cheap emotional tricks. Early audience scores on platforms like IMDb trend positive, with many praising the chemistry between Teller and Olsen and the film’s visually pleasing take on the afterlife setting. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics are mixed-to-positive, while the audience score sits higher, reflecting the film’s appeal as a comforting, gentle experience rather than a bold reinvention of the genre.
What stands out in the collected criticism is a shared sense of where the film succeeds and where it misses. On the positive side, the performances carry immense strength. Teller brings humor, confusion, longing, and neurosis into a single, coherent portrayal of a man struggling with eternal stakes. Olsen, despite being underwritten according to several critics, brings grace and emotional clarity to Joan. Callum Turner lends Luke a quiet desperation that enriches the triangle. Da’Vine Joy Randolph receives widespread praise for her warmth and timing, frequently being singled out as the movie’s emotional glue. The afterlife world-building, though whimsical and visually inventive, varies in its reception—some critics admire its imaginative playfulness, while others wish the script engaged more meaningfully with its philosophical possibilities.
The screenplay sits at the heart of the film’s mixed reviews. Critics like IndieWire and Slant Magazine describe it as earnest but conservative, unwilling to challenge its characters beyond traditional romantic dilemmas. The LA Times notes that the film is at its best not when exploring the triangle, but when diving into the prickly, soulful dynamic between Teller and Randolph, which hints at a richer emotional territory left largely untouched. Editing and pacing receive generally positive remarks, especially for keeping the film emotionally light and tonally consistent. Cinematography has been admired for its gentle palette and its soft, dreamlike lighting that complements the afterlife setting without overwhelming it.
In terms of craft, Eternity emerges as a film built on strong performances, warm direction, and a concept that sparks more emotional resonance than philosophical depth. It succeeds most when embracing its classic romantic roots and allowing its actors to breathe within that framework. It falters when it tries to wrestle with its own high-concept metaphysics but chooses sentimentality over deeper exploration. Yet for many viewers, that sentimentality is precisely the charm.
Directed by David Freyne, written by Pat Cunnane and Freyne, and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, Callum Turner, and a strong supporting cast including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, John Early, Barry Primus, Betty Buckley, and Olga Merediz, Eternity is a film made with sincerity. A24 backs the project with its signature blend of indie texture and mainstream accessibility.
In summary, Eternity is a tender, lightly philosophical afterlife romance that works better as an emotional experience than as a conceptual one. It is buoyed by excellent performances—especially from Teller and Randolph—and offers a comforting, nostalgic tone reminiscent of older Hollywood romances with a modern afterlife twist. Not all the ideas land as strongly as they could, but the film’s heart remains in the right place.
Eternity is rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language. The film runs 1 hour and 52 minutes and was released in wide theatrical distribution on November 26, 2025.
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