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Mystery drama

Sometimes Always Never (2020): Cast & Ratings

Sometimes Always Never (2020) movie poster

Sometimes Always Never is a 2020 mystery drama directed by Carl Hunter, starring Bill Nighy as Alan, Tim McInnerny and Jenny Agutter. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
82%
Echo Score
70
Metascore
67
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Sometimes Always Never (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Carl Hunter
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Sometimes Always Never About?

The premise of Sometimes Always Never without spoilers.

Consumed by grief years after his son Michael vanished during a Scrabble game, tailor Alan struggles to move forward. As the mystery surrounding Michael’s disappearance intensifies, Alan must confront his youngest son and investigate a potential online rival. He hopes to uncover the truth, find closure, and ultimately reunite his family, while also grappling with his own unresolved emotions and the complexities of their relationships.

Sometimes Always Never Themes & Keywords

· 36 tags
  • feature film directorial debut
  • based on short story
  • wager
  • beach
  • tailor
  • playing a word game
  • playing scrabble
  • missing son
  • tailor shop
  • loss and grief
  • missing person flyer
  • morgue
+24 more
  • bed and breakfast
  • chapter headings
  • label
  • label maker
  • family relationships
  • psychological drama
  • the letter z
  • boat yard
  • car trailer
  • roadside cafe
  • missing person report
  • mistaken identity
  • empty chair
  • beach bonfire
  • playing guitar
  • fireworks
  • father son reconciliation
  • suspense mystery
  • suspense drama
  • family drama
  • domestic drama
  • quirky comedy
  • reference to the prodigal son
  • independent film
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Cast & crew

Sometimes Always Never Cast & Characters

Bill Nighy leads the cast as Alan, with Tim McInnerny as Arthur and Jenny Agutter as Margaret. Directed by Carl Hunter; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Sometimes Always Never

· 6 more
From the director

More from Carl Hunter

One more film directed by Carl Hunter: Sometimes Always Never.

Full filmography
Ratings

Sometimes Always Never Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Sometimes Always Never 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).

70 /100

Sometimes Always Never Echo Score Breakdown

Sometimes Always Never presents a thoughtfully composed exploration of familial bonds supported by distinctive visual flourishes, yet its deliberate pacing and modest narrative scope may not appeal to all viewers. The ensemble cast’s nuanced performances consistently ground the film’s idiosyncratic tone, while creative production design and deadpan humor enliven each scene. However, some critics note that minimal plot progression and stylized eccentricities lead to a slightly muffled engagement. Overall, the film delivers a quietly affecting experience with moderate resonance.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    Art direction and cinematography stand out for their inventive framing and color schemes, though at times stylization feels overemphasized. Creative use of graphics and patterned glass sequences accentuate emotional beats, and symmetry in composition underlines narrative themes. However, occasional eye-jangling palettes and calculated flourishes can border on distracting. Overall, the visual craft remains compelling.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    Characterization is a principal strength, anchored by consistently nuanced performances that convey emotional depth. Bill Nighy and his co-stars inhabit their roles with subtlety, delivering dry humor and heartfelt connection without overt affectation. On-screen chemistry abounds across the ensemble, sustaining the emotional journey. In sum, the film’s character work offers a resonant and authentic portrayal.

  • Story & Flow 60

    The narrative’s deliberate pacing and modest plot afford space for emotional nuance, but result in a somewhat understated progression. Moments of clever wordplay and tonal shifts between comedy and drama engage intermittently, yet the overall arc can feel slight and occasionally fragmented. Despite original premise elements, some viewers may find the storyline’s momentum too subdued. Ultimately, the story delivers measured engagement with limited dramatic peaks.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    The film’s sensory experience is defined by its distinctive visual style and understated soundscape. Bold color choices and dynamic graphic elements create a memorable aesthetic, while minimalistic audio design underscores emotional beats without overwhelming. However, sporadic jarring palettes and restrained soundtrack moments may lessen immersive impact for some audiences. Overall, the sensory approach balances creativity with subtlety to engaging effect.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    The film’s measured pacing and understated humor yield a moderate rewatch appeal that will resonate primarily with viewers who appreciate subtlety. Nuanced performances and visual motifs reward attentive observation, yet the slight narrative scope and deliberate tempo may limit repeated viewings. While the idiosyncratic tone and clever wordplay offer occasional new insights, the overall restraint suggests only selective replay value.

Videos

Sometimes Always Never Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 4 trailers and 2 featurettes.

All 6 videos
Sometimes Always Never - Official Trailer
  • Trailer Trailer Cutdown
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer Short Trailer
  • Featurette Sometimes Always Never - the title explained
Cars

Cars in Sometimes Always Never

8 cars on screen, including the 1999 SAAB 9-3 Cabrio and the 1967 Triumph Herald 13/60 Convertible.

All 8 cars
  • 1999 SAAB 9-3 Cabrio in Sometimes Always Never 1999 SAAB 9-3 Cabrio Important role
  • 1967 Triumph Herald 13/60 Convertible in Sometimes Always Never 1967 Triumph Herald 13/60 Convertible Important role
  • Bedford CF Mk1 in Sometimes Always Never Bedford CF Mk1 Minor role
  • 1982 Leyland-National Mk 2 in Sometimes Always Never 1982 Leyland-National Mk 2 Minor role
Details

Sometimes Always Never Also Known As

38 alternative titles, including “Niemals Selten Manchmal Immer” and “Ніколи, рідко, іноді, завжди”.

Also known as
  • Niemals Selten Manchmal Immer
  • Ніколи, рідко, іноді, завжди
  • 전혀 아니다
  • 별로 아니다
  • 가끔 그렇다
  • 항상 그렇다
  • Nunca Raramente As vezes Sempre
  • ไม่เคย นานหน บางครั้ง เป็นประจำ
  • Nunca, casi nunca, a veces, siempre
  • Nunca, rara vez, a veces, siempre
  • Əsla
  • Nadirən
+26 more
  • Bəzən
  • Həmişə
  • Никогда, редко, иногда, всегда
  • 从不,很少,有时,总是
  • 從不,很少,有時,總是
  • Asla
  • Nadiren
  • Bazen
  • Her Zaman
  • Ποτέ Σπάνια Μερικές Φορές Πάντα
  • Nunca Raramente Às vezes Sempre
  • Nigdy, rzadko, czasami, zawsze
  • Mai raramente a volte sempre
  • Ніколи, зрідка, іноді, завжди
  • Soha, néha, mindig
  • אף פעם
  • לעיתים רחוקות
  • לפעמים
  • תמיד
  • Nekad, reti, dažreiz, vienmēr
  • Niekada retai kartais visada
  • 17歳の瞳に映る世界
  • Niciodată, rareori, uneori, întotdeauna
  • Lạc Bước Tuổi 17
  • Nikdy výjimečně někdy vždycky
  • Mitte kunagi / Harva / Mõnikord / Alati

Seen Sometimes Always Never?

FAQ

Sometimes Always Never FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Sometimes Always Never, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Sometimes Always Never?

Sometimes Always Never runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Sometimes Always Never released?

Sometimes Always Never was released on June 12, 2020.

Who directed Sometimes Always Never?

Sometimes Always Never was directed by Carl Hunter.

More films by Carl Hunter

Who is in the cast of Sometimes Always Never?

Sometimes Always Never stars Bill Nighy as Alan, Tim McInnerny as Arthur and Jenny Agutter as Margaret, among 10 credited actors.

How is Sometimes Always Never rated?

Sometimes Always Never has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does Sometimes Always Never have a post-credit scene?

No. Sometimes Always Never has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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