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Comedy drama

Krystal (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Krystal (2018) movie poster

Krystal is a 2018 comedy drama starring Rosario Dawson as Krystal Bryant, William H. Macy and Nick Robinson. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $37,516 worldwide. Critics gave it 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.

IMDb rating
5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
14%
worldwide gross
$37.5K
Echo Score
38
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Krystal (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Paladin
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Krystal About?

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

A young man with a heart condition, Taylor Ogburn, seeks connection and romance. To pursue a complicated woman, he pretends to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Their relationship quickly escalates, but is challenged by their individual struggles and hidden pasts. As secrets are uncovered and Taylor's family is impacted, he must face his fears and mature beyond his sheltered upbringing to embrace the future.

Krystal Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • older woman younger man relationship
  • lighting a cigarette
  • alcoholics anonymous
  • crush
  • support group
  • recovering alcoholic
  • cigarette smoking
  • religion professor
  • father is a professor
  • pretending to be an alcoholic
  • single parent
  • single mother
+38 more
  • abusive husband
  • estranged husband
  • disabled son
  • sitting alone on a beach
  • heart condition
  • paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
  • dying pet
  • death of pet dog
  • porn magazines in the attic
  • reference to emory university
  • home seminar
  • hit by a wheelchair
  • divorce
  • dog hit by a car
  • adult magazine
  • porn magazine
  • voice over narration
  • sitting on the beach
  • hospital
  • doctor
  • emergency room
  • artist
  • smoking marijuana
  • getting high
  • father son relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • brother brother relationship
  • painter
  • drinking
  • wheelchair
  • reading in bed
  • drinking from a bottle
  • teenage boy protagonist
  • teenage boy
  • son with a disability
  • person with a disability
  • reference to muhammad
  • reference to jesus christ
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Cast & crew

Krystal Cast & Characters

Rosario Dawson leads the cast as Krystal Bryant, with William H. Macy as Dr. Wyatt Ogburn and Nick Robinson as Taylor Ogburn.

Also Starring in Krystal

· 6 more
Ratings

Krystal Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Krystal 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in character & emotion (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (25).

38 /100

Krystal Echo Score Breakdown

In terms of overall execution, Krystal struggles with a disjointed structure and inconsistent tone. Critics frequently describe the direction as overly broad and chaotic, with the screenplay feeling like multiple scripts jumbled together. While Rosario Dawson’s performance and occasional moments of subtle charm offer glimpses of appeal, the narrative’s forced eccentricities and uneven pacing undermine engagement. The result is a film that rarely coalesces into a satisfying whole and is likely to frustrate viewers seeking coherence and depth.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    In terms of art and craft, Krystal’s direction often feels unfocused and uneven. Critics note overly broad comedic choices and a lack of cohesive visual direction, resulting in a disjointed presentation. Production design and editing support sporadic madcap moments but fail to establish a consistent tone. Overall, the film’s craft undermines rather than enhances its storytelling intentions.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    In terms of character and emotion, the film benefits from Rosario Dawson’s luminous presence and a generally capable supporting cast. However, the material offers limited depth, leaving emotional arcs feeling thin. The interplay among characters yields occasional warmth but is hampered by hackneyed dialogue. As a result, the film’s emotional resonance remains modest overall.

  • Story & Flow 30

    In terms of story and flow, Krystal struggles with a disjointed narrative and uneven pacing. Critics describe the plot as chaotic, as if multiple scripts were combined without coherence. Moments of original humor and charm emerge sporadically, but forced eccentricities and abrupt tonal shifts disrupt engagement. Consequently, the film’s storyline feels thin and difficult to follow from start to finish.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    In terms of sensory experience, the film offers limited impact through its soundtrack and visuals. Reviews do not highlight memorable musical themes or sound design, and the visual style lacks cohesion amid tonal shifts. Occasional comedic set pieces register briefly, but overall the sensory elements do not leave a lasting impression or support the film’s emotional aims effectively.

  • Rewatch Factor 25

    In terms of rewatch factor, Krystal is unlikely to encourage repeated viewings. The uneven tone and fragmented narrative reduce the film’s lasting appeal, making it difficult to revisit with enthusiasm. Some viewers may return for Dawson’s performance and sporadic humor, but the overall inconsistency and lack of cohesion limit its replay value significantly.

Plot

Krystal Plot Summary

What happens in Krystal from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Taylor Ogburn, Nick Robinson, is an 18-year-old who lives with PAT, a persistent arrhythmia, in the rural South where his family’s creativity shapes every corner of their lives: his brother Campbell Campbell Ogburn is an artist, his father Wyatt Wyatt Ogburn is a writer, and his mother Poppy Poppy Ogburn is a poet. This is a world where art and emotion mingle, and where Taylor’s condition quietly shadows even ordinary moments, turning them into potential crises he must navigate with caution and care.

Full summary

The whole story of Krystal, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Krystal Box Office

Krystal grossed $37,516 worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$37.5K

US & Canada
$37.5K
Videos

Krystal Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Krystal.

Krystal Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips Indie
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Krystal?

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 medical condition does Taylor Ogburn suffer from?

Details

Krystal Also Known As

3 alternative titles, including “Кристал” and “크리스탈, კრისტალი”.

Also known as
  • Кристал
  • 크리스탈, კრისტალი
  • 久久戒酒

Seen Krystal?

FAQ

Krystal FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Krystal?

Krystal runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Krystal released?

Krystal was released on April 13, 2018.

Who is in the cast of Krystal?

Krystal stars Rosario Dawson as Krystal Bryant, William H. Macy as Dr. Wyatt Ogburn and Nick Robinson as Taylor Ogburn, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Krystal make at the box office?

Krystal grossed $37,516 worldwide.

How is Krystal rated?

Krystal has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, 39 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does Krystal have a post-credit scene?

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

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