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Action thriller

Between Worlds (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Between Worlds (2018) movie poster

Between Worlds is a 2018 action thriller directed by Maria Pulera, starring Nicolas Cage as Joe, Lydia Hearst and Franka Potente. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $146,339 worldwide. Critics gave it 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.9/10.

IMDb rating
3.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
33%
worldwide gross
$146.3K
Echo Score
44
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Between Worlds (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Maria Pulera
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Between Worlds About?

The premise of Between Worlds without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A truck driver's already difficult life takes a turn for the surreal when he encounters a woman whose daughter is caught between life and death. As the girl miraculously recovers, she becomes a vessel for vengeful spirits connected to the driver's past. He must then embark on a dangerous journey to restore harmony and confront the lingering ghosts that threaten to consume him.

Between Worlds Themes & Keywords

· 38 tags
  • sex scene
  • truck driver
  • answering the door shirtless
  • title directed by female
  • male wears underwear
  • flashback
  • gas station
  • gas station bathroom
  • hospital
  • hospital bed
  • drowning
  • cardiac arrest
+26 more
  • widower
  • drug use
  • smoking marijuana
  • nudity
  • female nudity
  • possessed by a spirit
  • possessed by the dead
  • caught having sex
  • shot to death
  • possessed by a ghost
  • hit on the head with a baseball bat
  • alabama
  • grieving husband
  • grieving father
  • malevolent spirit
  • loss of mother
  • setting oneself on fire
  • pouring gasoline on oneself
  • male pubic hair
  • female rear nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • possessed by a female spirit
  • sex
  • strangulation
  • man on fire
  • f rated
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Cast & crew

Between Worlds Cast & Characters

Nicolas Cage leads the cast as Joe, with Lydia Hearst as Mary Majors and Franka Potente as Julie. Directed by Maria Pulera; 14 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Between Worlds Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Between Worlds 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 44/100, strongest in art & craft (60) and weakest in sensory experience (30).

44 /100

Between Worlds Echo Score Breakdown

Between Worlds presents a distinctive visual style and Nicolas Cage’s intense performance, but is undermined by a disjointed narrative and distracting audio choices. The film’s pacing and plot coherence falter amid unclear supernatural elements, and its character portrayals oscillate between compelling commitment and superficial execution. While occasional moments of inspired lunacy offer intrigue, overall appeal is constrained by uneven craftsmanship and limited replay value.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of direction and cinematography, the film offers occasional striking imagery but lacks consistent visual polish. The direction shows moments of inspired alchemy, yet the editing feels uneven and the production design remains underdeveloped. Some reviewers cited a vaguely gothic aesthetic, but others found the cinematography less haunting than expectations. Overall, the art remains uneven and underrealized.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    Regarding acting and character depth, Nicolas Cage’s committed performance stands out amid otherwise shallow portrayals. His intense delivery adds emotional resonance, but supporting characters suffer from inconsistent accents and limited development. The chemistry between leads was often undercut by abrupt shifts in tone and unclear motivations. In summary, the character work oscillates between compelling moments and superficial inconsistencies.

  • Story & Flow 35

    When it comes to plot coherence and pacing, Between Worlds struggles with a confusing narrative structure. Flashbacks and supernatural elements appear without sufficient context, resulting in sluggish progression and uneven engagement. While the gothic melodrama premise has potential, the film fails to maintain momentum or deliver satisfying resolutions. Consequently, the story feels fragmented and lacking in sustained suspense.

  • Sensory Experience 30

    In terms of score and sound design, the film features a jarring soundtrack that many reviewers found distracting. The industrial and occasionally Twin Peaks–inspired score clashes with the action, creating awkward tonal shifts. Visually, the style alternates between striking and underwhelming imagery, leading to a cohesive aesthetic. Overall, the sensory experience is uneven and often detracts from the narrative.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Concerning replay value and lasting appeal, Between Worlds offers limited incentive for subsequent viewings. Some viewers might appreciate its so-bad-it’s-good moments, but the film’s awkward scenes and unclear supernatural narrative reduce its enduring charm. The lack of coherent thematic depth and emotional payoff undermines potential rediscovery. Ultimately, the rewatch factor remains modest and unlikely to attract repeat audiences.

Plot

Between Worlds Plot Summary

What happens in Between Worlds from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

At a busy truck stop in Alabama, weary truck driver Joe Majors unexpectedly stumbles upon a troubling sight: a woman named Julie in a seemingly dangerous situation with a man. Without a moment’s hesitation, Joe intervenes, pulling the man away from Julie and restoring some semblance of order to the chaos around them. Once the initial confusion dissipates, Julie reveals that her distress was a result of her own actions, driven by a need to connect with her daughter Billie, who lies comatose. Julie’s quest for connection stems from a harrowing childhood experience where she narrowly escaped drowning and caught a fleeting glimpse of the afterlife. This supernatural experience convinces her that by traversing into the other realm, she can guide Billie’s spirit back into her body.

Full summary

The whole story of Between Worlds, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Between Worlds Box Office

Between Worlds grossed $146,339 worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$146.3K

International
$146.3K
Videos

Between Worlds Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Between Worlds.

Official Trailere
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Between Worlds?

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

What motivates Julie to engage in self-induced restraint?

Cars

Cars in Between Worlds

15 cars on screen, including the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty and the 2018 Freightliner Cascadia.

All 15 cars
  • 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty in Between Worlds 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Important role
  • 2018 Freightliner Cascadia in Between Worlds 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Important role
  • Honda CBR 300 R in Between Worlds Honda CBR 300 R Important role
  • 2015 BMW S 1000 RR in Between Worlds 2015 BMW S 1000 RR Minor role
Details

Between Worlds Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Между мирами” and “Dünyalar Arasinda”.

Also known as
  • Между мирами
  • Dünyalar Arasinda
  • Entre deux mondes
  • El Portal del mas Alla
  • El Portal de la Muerte
  • 返魂
  • Powrót z zaświatów
  • Между световете
  • El portal del más allá
  • 世界之间
  • Entre Mundos
  • Mezi světy
+9 more
  • Possession
  • Dünyalar Arası
  • 비트윈 월즈
  • Між світами
  • Hồn Ma Mượn Xác
  • Vite parallele
  • Medzi svetmi
  • トゥ・ヘル
  • El portal del més enllà

Seen Between Worlds?

FAQ

Between Worlds FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Between Worlds?

Between Worlds runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Between Worlds released?

Between Worlds was released on December 21, 2018.

Who directed Between Worlds?

Between Worlds was directed by Maria Pulera.

More films by Maria Pulera

Who is in the cast of Between Worlds?

Between Worlds stars Nicolas Cage as Joe, Lydia Hearst as Mary Majors and Franka Potente as Julie, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Between Worlds make at the box office?

Between Worlds grossed $146,339 worldwide.

How is Between Worlds rated?

Between Worlds has 3.9/10 on IMDb, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, 24 on Metacritic and 51% on TMDB.

Does Between Worlds have a post-credit scene?

No. Between Worlds has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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