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What's After the Movie?
Romantic drama

After (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

After (2019) movie poster

After is a 2019 romantic drama directed by Jenny Gage, starring Peter Gallagher as Chancellor Ken Scott, Josephine Langford and Selma Blair. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $69.5 million worldwide on a $14 million budget. Critics gave it 18% on Rotten Tomatoes and 30 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
18%
worldwide gross
$69.5M
Echo Score
38
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After (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Jenny Gage
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$14M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is After About?

The premise of After without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Tessa is adjusting to college when she meets Hardin Scott, a mysterious and captivating young man. Their connection challenges her beliefs about love and loyalty, pushing her to examine her past and question her future. As she falls for Hardin, she’s forced to confront painful truths and navigate the complexities of a relationship that tests her self-discovery.

After Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • based on novel
  • man and woman share a bubble bath
  • co written by director
  • one word title
  • sex scene
  • college
  • teenage girl
  • teenage boy
  • teenager
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father son relationship
  • high school senior
+38 more
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
  • loss of virginity
  • sex
  • swimming
  • swimming in underwear
  • female virginity
  • roommate
  • swimming in a t shirt
  • single mother
  • truth or dare the game
  • title directed by female
  • f rated
  • montage
  • living together
  • cafe
  • restaurant
  • return home
  • overalls
  • female female kiss
  • swimming in a lake
  • pool party
  • reference to pride and prejudice
  • going away to college
  • dorm room
  • first day at college
  • no opening credits
  • library
  • triple f rated
  • long legs
  • cheating girlfriend
  • first time
  • broken heart
  • teen drama
  • teen romance
  • 2010s
  • 21st century
  • steamy romance
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Cast & crew

After Cast & Characters

Peter Gallagher leads the cast as Chancellor Ken Scott, with Josephine Langford as Tessa Young and Selma Blair as Carol Young. Directed by Jenny Gage; 14 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Jenny Gage

One more film directed by Jenny Gage: All This Panic.

Full filmography
Ratings

After Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave After 18% on Rotten Tomatoes and 30 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (25).

38 /100

After Echo Score Breakdown

The overall reception of After is predominantly negative, with critiques focusing on its cliched narrative and uneven performances outweighing occasional aesthetic strengths. Critics and audiences alike characterized the storyline as predictable and sluggish, noting thin character development and uninspired dialogue. While some users praised the romantic elements and certain visual flourishes, this enthusiasm is overshadowed by broad dissatisfaction with the screenplay and character motivations. Consequently, After struggles to distinguish itself within the romance genre, leaving a generally unfavorable impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of art and craft, After offers intermittent visual appeal through its Instagram-inspired cinematography, showcasing a softly filtered palette and polished production design. However, directing choices yield a formulaic presentation, and editing often feels measured only to maintain pace rather than enhance dramatic tension. While certain camera compositions stand out, the overall visual craftsmanship remains uneven. These aesthetic strengths are present but infrequent across the film’s duration.

  • Character & Emotion 35

    When it comes to character and emotion, After suffers from thinly drawn personalities and stilted performances that rarely evoke genuine engagement. Dialogue is often on-the-nose, and character motivations appear underdeveloped or inconsistent throughout the narrative. A minority of viewers appreciated the leads’ chemistry in romantic scenes, but these moments are overshadowed by a monotone delivery and logical lapses in behavior. Overall, the emotional resonance remains muted and unconvincing.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, After is frequently criticized for its reliance on clichés and predictable beats that hinder narrative engagement. Pacing is uneven, with prolonged build-up yielding minimal plot development until a late ‘big reveal,’ which fails to deliver meaningful impact. Originality is notably lacking, and audience reflections point to a saga that feels stagnant rather than evolving. The overall plot coherence remains compromised by formulaic tropes.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When evaluating the sensory experience, After presents a cohesive visual style through its pastel-infused color grading and polished set design. The soundtrack and sound design remain serviceable yet unobtrusive, supporting scenes without creating distinct audio moments. While the film’s aesthetic identity is clearly defined, the lack of memorable musical themes or dynamic soundscapes limits its sensory impact. Overall, the presentation is consistent but rarely transcends functional craftsmanship.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    When assessing rewatch factor, After offers limited replay value due to its static narrative and predictable character arcs. Enthusiasts might revisit for brief romantic highlights or specific visual moments, but the film’s overall lack of engagement diminishes enjoyment on subsequent viewings. Without significant emotional depth or plot surprises, the appeal wanes quickly after initial exposure. As a result, After struggles to maintain lasting attraction beyond a single viewing.

Plot

After Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in After from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with a reflective voice-over from a teenage girl who shares how certain moments can shape a person’s life. We are treated to a dreamy montage of a couple enjoying time together, leading us to Tessa’s (Josephine Langford) life as she wakes up from a significant dream. As she prepares for college, we see her interacting with her mother, Carol Young, and her best friend, Noah. Tessa’s mother emphasizes packing essentials, reminding her that college isn’t a survival expedition, while Noah volunteers to help if Tessa forgets anything.

Full summary

The whole story of After, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

After Box Office & Budget

After grossed $69.5 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, 5.0 times what it cost. $12.1 million came from the US and Canada and $57.4 million (83%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$69.5M

5.0× its budget

US & Canada
$12.1M
International
$57.4M
Budget
$14M
US & Canada 17% Rest of the world 83%
Videos

After Trailers & Videos

The trailer of After.

Official Teaser Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know After?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is Tessa's best friend in 'After'?

Cars

Cars in After

9 cars on screen, including the 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS and the 2003 Subaru Outback.

All 9 cars
  • 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS in After 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Important role
  • 2003 Subaru Outback in After 2003 Subaru Outback Important role
  • 2017 Ford Escape in After 2017 Ford Escape Minor role
  • 1991 MCI MC-12 in After 1991 MCI MC-12 Minor role
Details

After Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “After - La rencontre” and “После”.

Also known as
  • After - La rencontre
  • После
  • אחרי ש... 1
  • After Passion
  • After - Chapitre 1
  • After: Aquí empieza todo
  • След
  • Після
  • Μετά
  • Miután
  • After: Bozk
  • După ce ne-am întâlnit
+17 more
  • After : la rencontre
  • 之后
  • 애프터
  • אחרי ש...
  • Cuộc Gặp Định Mệnh
  • حياتي من بعد لقائك
  • After: Polibek
  • Poslije svega
  • After. Kai mes susitikom
  • After. Pēc mūsu tikšanās
  • 禁忌世代:邂逅, შემდეგ
  • アフター
  • بعد از
  • อาฟเตอร์
  • After: Aquí comença tot
  • 禁忌世代
  • Prvič

Seen After?

FAQ

After FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of After, each answered in a sentence.

How long is After?

After runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was After released?

After was released on April 12, 2019.

Who directed After?

After was directed by Jenny Gage.

More films by Jenny Gage

Who is in the cast of After?

After stars Peter Gallagher as Chancellor Ken Scott, Josephine Langford as Tessa Young and Selma Blair as Carol Young, among 14 credited actors.

How much did After make at the box office?

After grossed $69.5 million worldwide ($12.1 million domestic, $57.4 million international) on a budget of $14 million.

How is After rated?

After has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, 30 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Does After have a post-credit scene?

No. After has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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