Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Destination Wedding (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Destination Wedding (2018) movie poster

Destination Wedding is a 2018 comedy drama directed by Victor Levin, starring Keanu Reeves as Frank, Winona Ryder and Greg Lucey. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $2.2 million worldwide on a $7 million budget. Critics gave it 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.

IMDb rating
6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
51%
worldwide gross
$2.2M
Echo Score
63
Loading streaming availability…
Destination Wedding (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Victor Levin
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$7M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Destination Wedding About?

The premise of Destination Wedding without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two individuals with very different personalities find themselves reluctantly attending a destination wedding. Frank and Lindsay, both out of place and openly critical of the festivities, unexpectedly connect through their shared cynicism. As the weekend progresses and they are repeatedly thrown together, their sharp and witty exchanges evolve into something more. They must confront their own misgivings and consider whether a genuine connection can bloom amidst the wedding celebrations.

Destination Wedding Themes & Keywords

· 49 tags
  • outdoor wedding
  • ex boyfriend getting married
  • brother getting married
  • airport
  • dialogue heavy
  • wedding
  • rehearsal dinner
  • mountain lion
  • talking during sex
  • reference to tinder
  • reference to caitlyn jenner
  • foot massage spa
+37 more
  • cougar
  • paso robles california
  • winery tour
  • title spoken by character
  • one night stand
  • outdoor sex
  • spilling wine
  • two word title
  • two hander
  • chance encounter
  • destination wedding
  • san luis obispo california
  • massage
  • winery
  • shared shower
  • singing in the shower
  • reference to aphrodite
  • reference to trader's joe
  • no opening credits
  • written by director
  • ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
  • woman wears pajamas
  • san luis obispo airport
  • phlegm
  • propeller airplane
  • wine tasting
  • ceremony
  • minister
  • reception
  • dancing
  • puma
  • wind knocked out
  • sex scene
  • kiss
  • reference to face golden ratio
  • obscene gesture
  • man carries a woman in his arms
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Destination Wedding Cast & Characters

Keanu Reeves leads the cast as Frank, with Winona Ryder as Lindsay and Greg Lucey as Frank's Stepfather. Directed by Victor Levin; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Destination Wedding

· 8 more
From the director

More from Victor Levin

One more film directed by Victor Levin: 5 to 7.

Full filmography
Ratings

Destination Wedding Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Destination Wedding 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

63 /100

Destination Wedding Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Destination Wedding delivers an idiosyncratic romantic comedy with pronounced strengths in dialogue and lead chemistry alongside uneven narrative execution. The film’s high-concept approach and concise setting are frequently praised for allowing sharp verbal banter and concentrated emotional interplay, though many note that the confined staging and slow pacing expose the script’s limitations. While the performances of Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder are consistently engaging, critics and audiences alike find the unbroken focus on verbal sparring occasionally tiresome. Ultimately, the film offers a distinctive yet uneven viewing experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, Destination Wedding employs a minimalist production design that underscores its intimate focus. Critics observe that the staging often defers to the dialogue, though intermittent panoramic shots and clean framing introduce visual interest. The restrained color palette and measured editing pace align with the film’s tone, but the sparse mise-en-scène underlines the limited scope of locations. Overall, the visual execution is serviceable yet understated.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    In terms of character and emotion, Destination Wedding features strong performances from its leads that emphasize sharp chemistry. The verbal interplay between the protagonists is praised for its wit and engagement, though many note the characters’ relentless negativity can reduce empathy. While the protagonists exhibit depth through subtle reactions, their misanthropic banter may feel overextended. Overall, the character portrayals are compelling but occasionally alienating.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, Destination Wedding adopts a high-concept premise centered on uninterrupted dialogue. Reviews highlight the originality of this confined experiment but criticize the pacing as uneven and the script as clunky at times. While some applaud the film’s subversion of conventional romantic comedy, others find the lack of additional plot threads detracts from engagement. Overall, the narrative feels bold yet inconsistently executed.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, Destination Wedding features a restrained soundtrack and naturalistic sound design that support its dialogue focus. The visual style uses clean framing and occasional panoramic vistas to introduce scale within the limited setting. Minor production sound issues, including audible phlegm-clearing, can be distracting. While these sensory elements consistently align with the film’s intimate tone, they remain unobtrusive. Overall, the sensory execution is competent but seldom memorable.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of rewatch factor, Destination Wedding offers moments of sharp dialogue that may reward repeat viewings. The wittiness of the banter provides observations on subsequent watches. However, the film’s unvarying two-person structure and deliberate pacing can lessen its replay appeal. The confined setting and lack of narrative surprises limit discovery on additional viewings. Overall, the rewatch value is moderate, appealing to dialogue enthusiasts but limited in broader replay appeal.

Plot

Destination Wedding Plot Summary

What happens in Destination Wedding from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As destiny would have it, two people from contrasting backgrounds, Frank and Lindsay, crossed paths unexpectedly at an airport gate—leading to an unfortunate clash, quite literally. Their mutual distaste morphed into an all-out argument when they realized they were trapped together in an eight-seat airplane en route to Paso Robles. The aggravation only intensified when they discovered they were both guests at the same wedding celebration, a gathering meant to honor love and unity. Adding a layer of complexity to this already awkward scenario was the revelation that they shared a familiar connection—Keith, the groom, who happened to be Frank’s half-brother and Lindsay’s ex-fiancé.

Full summary

The whole story of Destination Wedding, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Destination Wedding Box Office & Budget

Destination Wedding grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a $7 million budget, 31% of what it cost.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.2M

31% of its budget back

International
$2.2M
Budget
$7M
Videos

Destination Wedding Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

DESTINATION WEDDING | OFFICIAL TRAILER – Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves Movie | In Theaters August 31
  • Teaser Destination Wedding (2018) - TV Spot - Own It
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Destination Wedding?

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

Where do Frank and Lindsay meet for the first time?

Cars

Cars in Destination Wedding

17 cars on screen, including the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria and the 2008 Ford E-Series.

All 17 cars
  • 2001 Ford Crown Victoria in Destination Wedding 2001 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2008 Ford E-Series in Destination Wedding 2008 Ford E-Series Minor role
  • 2012 Kia Soul in Destination Wedding 2012 Kia Soul Minor role
  • 2016 Chevrolet Silverado in Destination Wedding 2016 Chevrolet Silverado Background role
Details

Destination Wedding Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “Destination Wedding or: A Narcissist Can't Die Because Then the Entire World Would End” and “ไปงานแต่งเขา แต่เรารักกัน”.

Also known as
  • Destination Wedding or: A Narcissist Can't Die Because Then the Entire World Would End
  • ไปงานแต่งเขา แต่เรารักกัน
  • おとなの恋は、まわり道:2018
  • Как женить холостяка
  • Екзотичне весілля
  • Πρόσκληση Σε Γάμο
  • היעד... חתונה
  • Дестинация сватба
  • Végállomás: esküvő
  • 데스티네이션 웨딩
  • La boda de mi ex
  • Tikslas – vestuvės!
+17 more
  • İstikamet: Düğün
  • Weselne przeznaczenie
  • Ten pravý, ta pravá?
  • Cesta za láskou
  • 婚禮進行識
  • Destinazione matrimonio
  • Com Quem Será?
  • Satikšanās vieta: Kāzas
  • 终点的婚礼
  • 婚禮冤家
  • Како ухватити нежењу
  • La Boda de mi Ex, ბევრი ნახვით შეყვარება
  • おとなの恋は、まわり道
  • Destination mariage et plus si affinités...
  • Nuntă la distanță
  • Đám Cưới Phương Xa
  • El casament del meu ex

Seen Destination Wedding?

FAQ

Destination Wedding FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Destination Wedding?

Destination Wedding runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Destination Wedding released?

Destination Wedding was released on August 31, 2018.

Who directed Destination Wedding?

Destination Wedding was directed by Victor Levin.

More films by Victor Levin

Who is in the cast of Destination Wedding?

Destination Wedding stars Keanu Reeves as Frank, Winona Ryder as Lindsay and Greg Lucey as Frank's Stepfather, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Destination Wedding make at the box office?

Destination Wedding grossed $2.2 million worldwide on a budget of $7 million.

How is Destination Wedding rated?

Destination Wedding has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.

Does Destination Wedding have a post-credit scene?

No. Destination Wedding has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app