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Comedy drama

Look Both Ways (2022): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Look Both Ways (2022) movie poster

Look Both Ways is a 2022 comedy drama directed by Wanuri Kahiu, starring Lili Reinhart as Natalie, Danny Ramirez and Andrea Savage. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes. Critics gave it 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
62%
Echo Score
49
Metascore
49
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Look Both Ways (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
Wanuri Kahiu
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Look Both Ways About?

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

Natalie's college graduation leads her to experience two distinct and unexpected alternate realities. In one, she embraces motherhood and remains in her hometown, while the other sees her pursuing her artistic ambitions in Los Angeles. As she explores these diverging paths, she grapples with questions of love, self-discovery, and the challenges of following her dreams, ultimately learning about the choices that shape a life.

Look Both Ways Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • college
  • parallel
  • life
  • love
  • feel good romance
  • pregnancy
  • assistant
  • drawing
  • sxsw
  • film festival
  • drum set
  • drummer
+18 more
  • reference to pixar
  • reference to elon musk
  • reference to joseph barbera
  • reference to chuck jones
  • reference to whataburger
  • austin texas
  • university of texas
  • baby shower
  • birthday cake
  • fraternity house
  • birthday party
  • pregnancy test
  • young woman
  • female protagonist
  • female director
  • childbirth
  • crying baby
  • painted cgi
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Cast & crew

Look Both Ways Cast & Characters

Lili Reinhart leads the cast as Natalie, with Danny Ramirez as Gabe and Andrea Savage as Tina. Directed by Wanuri Kahiu; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Wanuri Kahiu

More films directed by Wanuri Kahiu, best-rated first: Rafiki and Pumzi.

Full filmography
Ratings

Look Both Ways Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Look Both Ways 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 49/100, strongest in character & emotion (55) and weakest in sensory experience (40).

49 /100

Look Both Ways Echo Score Breakdown

Look Both Ways delivers a modestly crafted experience that lands in the mixed‑to‑negative range. Critics note uneven direction and bland visual composition, while a few highlight competent handling of the dual timelines. Audience reactions echo this divide, with some finding the narrative rewarding and others describing it as forgettable. The film’s strengths are limited, resulting in a net impression that is neither strongly positive nor wholly dismissive.

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

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of direction and visual craft, the film shows moments of sure‑handedness but is largely hampered by uninspired cinematography. Critics point to bland compositions and a lack of meaningful artistic statement, while a few acknowledge competent editing of parallel stories. Overall the technical execution feels functional rather than distinctive, leading to a below‑average assessment.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When evaluating performances and character depth, Lili Reinhart delivers a competent but not standout portrayal, and supporting roles remain surface‑level. Reviewers cite both likable characters and a deficiency in emotional resonance. Some viewers appreciate the ensemble’s chemistry, yet many note the narrative’s inability to fully develop its protagonists. The result is a moderate rating reflecting mixed character impact.

  • Story & Flow 50

    The story’s premise of parallel life choices is intriguing, yet execution suffers from uneven pacing and generic plot beats. Critics describe the screenplay as both smart in parts and overly simplistic in others. Audience feedback mirrors this split, praising the thematic ambition while calling the overall arc forgettable. Consequently, the narrative earns a middle‑range score.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    Sensory elements such as score, sound design, and visual style receive limited praise. Reviewers mention bland visual composition and a soundtrack that feels typical rather than memorable. Audience comments echo the sentiment, noting that music and production design are adequate but unremarkable. This lack of standout sensory appeal results in a lower score for the aspect.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch value is modest; the film offers a comforting, warm tone that can appeal on repeat viewings for some viewers. However, many critics and users find the narrative lacks lasting impact, describing it as forgettable and unlikely to inspire multiple viewings. The mixed responses yield a moderate rewatch factor.

Plot

Look Both Ways Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Look Both Ways 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

On the eve of her graduation from the University of Texas, Natalie (played by Lili Reinhart) takes a daring step by deciding to have a night of intimacy with her friend Gabe (Danny Ramirez). An aspiring artist, Natalie dreams of creating her own film someday. However, the outcome of a pregnancy test she takes the following day sends her life spiraling into two distinct parallel realities.

Full summary

The whole story of Look Both Ways, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Look Both Ways Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Clip one moment can change ~everything~
  • Featurette Look Both Ways Cast Take the Netflix Screen Test
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Look Both Ways?

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 life-altering decision does Natalie make at midnight on the eve of her graduation?

Details

Look Both Ways Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Plus/Minus” and “สองทาง”.

Also known as
  • Plus/Minus
  • สองทาง
  • 두 인생을 살아봐
  • Une vie ou l'autre
  • Como Seria se...?
  • 双轨人生
  • Mis dos vidas
  • Дивись в обидва боки
  • Nézz mindkét irányba!
  • Dwa życia
  • طريق باتجاهين
  • Linee parallele
+13 more
  • Z každého konce
  • Посмотри в обе стороны
  • Öyle Veya Böyle
  • 2つの人生が教えてくれること
  • כך או כך
  • Kako god okreneš
  • În ambele sensuri
  • Nhìn về hai phía
  • 雙軌人生
  • Δύο Ζωές
  • Molempi parempi
  • दो राहें
  • Dois Caminhos

Seen Look Both Ways?

FAQ

Look Both Ways FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Look Both Ways, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Look Both Ways?

Look Both Ways runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was Look Both Ways released?

Look Both Ways was released on August 17, 2022.

Who directed Look Both Ways?

Look Both Ways was directed by Wanuri Kahiu.

More films by Wanuri Kahiu

Who is in the cast of Look Both Ways?

Look Both Ways stars Lili Reinhart as Natalie, Danny Ramirez as Gabe and Andrea Savage as Tina, among 15 credited actors.

How is Look Both Ways rated?

Look Both Ways has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Does Look Both Ways have a post-credit scene?

No. Look Both Ways has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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