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

Hope Gap (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Hope Gap (2020) movie poster

Hope Gap is a 2020 romantic drama directed by William Nicholson, starring Annette Bening as Grace, Bill Nighy and Josh O'Connor. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $1.3 million worldwide. Critics gave it 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
63%
worldwide gross
$1.3M
Echo Score
75
Loading streaming availability…
Hope Gap (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Genres
Drama , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Hope Gap About?

The premise of Hope Gap without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After nearly three decades of marriage, Grace's life is unexpectedly upended when her husband announces he's leaving her. The sudden separation sends shockwaves through their family, impacting not only Grace but also their adult son. As she navigates the painful aftermath, Grace must confront her past and find a way to rebuild her life and identity while her son grapples with his own challenges.

Hope Gap Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • krispy kreme
  • gay man
  • father son relationship
  • ice cream cone
  • reference to wikipedia
  • poetry
  • mother son relationship
  • little boy
  • suicidal thoughts
  • dog
  • feeling like a failure
  • loneliness
+38 more
  • yellow labrador retriever
  • gay character
  • husband wife relationship
  • reference to napoleon bonaparte
  • catholic mass
  • history lesson
  • reference to nelson mandela
  • written by director
  • begins with voice over narration
  • begins with childhood flashback
  • marital separation
  • voice over narration
  • cove
  • argument
  • stairway
  • reading a book
  • voice over reading
  • woman wears eyeglasses
  • tea
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • class
  • classroom
  • cell phone
  • telephone call
  • reference to freezing to death
  • computer
  • reference to dante gabriel rossetti
  • train
  • telephone message
  • train station
  • backpack
  • boyhood bedroom
  • setting a table
  • wine
  • wedding anniversary
  • overhearing a conversation
  • drinking
  • reference to god
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Hope Gap Cast & Characters

Annette Bening leads the cast as Grace, with Bill Nighy as Edward and Josh O'Connor as Jamie. Directed by William Nicholson; 17 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Hope Gap

· 13 more
From the director

More from William Nicholson

More films directed by William Nicholson: Hope Gap and Firelight.

Full filmography
Ratings

Hope Gap Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Hope Gap 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

75 /100

Hope Gap Echo Score Breakdown

Hope Gap’s strongest asset is its thoughtfully crafted performances, which provide nuanced insight into long-term relationships. The film’s artistic elements, particularly its scenic cinematography and integrated score, evoke a melancholic atmosphere, though extended landscape sequences occasionally impede narrative flow. Character depth remains high due to compelling portrayals by Bening and Nighy, even as pacing and story resonance feel uneven at times. Sensory design enriches the emotional tone, but a subdued structure may limit its lasting appeal. Overall, Hope Gap offers earnest reflection with uneven engagement.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of Art & Craft, the film’s direction and cinematography are consistently polished. William Nicholson’s measured staging allows coastal vistas to accentuate the emotional drama, while the score integrates with visuals effectively. Some reviewers noted that extended scenic compositions occasionally disrupt narrative flow. Overall, the visual design remains a strong, if occasionally overextended, element.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    In terms of Character & Emotion, performances anchor the film with emotional depth. Annette Bening and Bill Nighy deliver nuanced portrayals that convey long-term marital strain, while Jack O’Connor’s son embodies subdued conflict. Reviewers highlighted the leads’ chemistry and the sincerity of their interactions. Overall, character work remains the film’s most compelling strength.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of Story & Flow, the narrative offers an intimate exploration of a marriage’s dissolution but moves at a deliberately restrained pace. Viewers noted the personal focus on the son’s perspective and the absence of major dramatic spikes. While the subtle approach underscores emotional realism, several critics found the pacing uneven and the plot’s resonance limited. Overall, the story engages unevenly.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of Sensory Experience, the soundtrack and visual design work in concert to evoke the film’s melancholic tone. Critics praised the music’s integration with scenic coastal imagery and subtle sound cues. Some reviewers, however, felt extended landscape shots disrupted narrative rhythm. Overall, the auditory and visual elements contribute a cohesive, if occasionally obtrusive, atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film’s reflective tone and restrained pacing may limit its appeal on repeat viewings. While the emotional depth and performances offer rewards on a second viewing, several critics observed that the narrative’s deliberate subtlety and lack of dramatic turns reduce lingering impact. Overall, the rewatch value remains moderate.

Plot

Hope Gap Plot Summary

What happens in Hope Gap from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Grace Annette Bening and Edward Bill Nighy have shared a long, weathered life at a seaside home in Seaford, Sussex, near the rugged cliffs of Hope Gap. Their 29-year marriage sits under pressure: Grace is devout, literary, emotionally exacting, and at times physically sharp, frequently voicing her discontent with Edward’s quiet, passive stance. Edward, a high school history teacher, is withdrawn and sorely unhappy, retreating into silence as a way to dodge open conflict.

Full summary

The whole story of Hope Gap, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Hope Gap Box Office

Hope Gap grossed $1.3 million worldwide. $104,732 came from the US and Canada and $1.1 million (92%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.3M

US & Canada
$104.7K
International
$1.1M
US & Canada 8% Rest of the world 92%
Videos

Hope Gap Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Hope Gap |Official Trailer | Roadside Attractions
  • Clip HOPE GAP clip | BFI London Film Festival 2019
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Hope Gap?

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 plays Grace in Hope Gap?

Details

Hope Gap Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Co przyniesie jutro” and “海邊走走”.

Also known as
  • Co przyniesie jutro
  • 海邊走走
  • Umut Hep Olacak
  • Wer wir sind und wer wir waren
  • Ce qui nous sépare
  • 우리가 사랑이라고 믿는 것
  • Enquanto Houver Amor
  • 希望沟壑
  • 希望的缺口
  • 海边走走
  • Le cose che non ti ho detto
  • В плену надежды
+14 more
  • Goodbye
  • Разрив
  • Regreso a Hope Gap
  • Inkább lennék özvegy
  • 下一步幸福
  • Ceea ce ne desparte
  • תקווה בהופ גאפ
  • Umut Vadisi
  • Propast mezi námi
  • Zarobljena nada
  • Retorn a Hope Gap
  • 幸せの答え合わせ
  • У полоні надії
  • Pod belimi pečinami

Seen Hope Gap?

FAQ

Hope Gap FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Hope Gap?

Hope Gap runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Hope Gap released?

Hope Gap was released on March 6, 2020.

Who directed Hope Gap?

Hope Gap was directed by William Nicholson.

More films by William Nicholson

Who is in the cast of Hope Gap?

Hope Gap stars Annette Bening as Grace, Bill Nighy as Edward and Josh O'Connor as Jamie, among 17 credited actors.

How much did Hope Gap make at the box office?

Hope Gap grossed $1.3 million worldwide ($104,732 domestic, $1.1 million international).

How is Hope Gap rated?

Hope Gap has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does Hope Gap have a post-credit scene?

No. Hope Gap 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