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To the Ends of the Earth (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

To the Ends of the Earth (2020) movie poster

To the Ends of the Earth is a 2020 drama directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, starring Atsuko Maeda as Yoko, Ryo Kase and Tokio Emoto. It runs 2 hours and earned $286,356 worldwide on a $300,000 budget. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 85 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.

IMDb rating
6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$286.4K
Echo Score
78
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To the Ends of the Earth (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h (120 min)
Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Genre
Drama
Original language
Japanese
Budget
$300K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is To the Ends of the Earth About?

The premise of To the Ends of the Earth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

While filming a travel show in Uzbekistan, the energetic host Yoko finds her outward optimism challenged as she journeys through Tashkent. Faced with the struggles of the production and her own inner turmoil, she decides to embark on a solitary exploration of the city's complex streets. This personal quest forces her to confront buried emotions and ultimately seek a deeper understanding of herself.

To the Ends of the Earth Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • environmental
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Cast & crew

To the Ends of the Earth Cast & Characters

Atsuko Maeda leads the cast as Yoko, with Ryo Kase as Iwao and Tokio Emoto as Sasaki. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in To the Ends of the Earth

· 3 more
From the director

More from Kiyoshi Kurosawa

More films directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, best-rated first: Tokyo Sonata, The Samurai and the Prisoner, Cloud and Creepy.

Full filmography
Ratings

To the Ends of the Earth Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave To the Ends of the Earth 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 85 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (60).

78 /100

To the Ends of the Earth Echo Score Breakdown

In To the Ends of the Earth, the film excels in cultivating a reflective mood through its deliberate pacing and atmospheric direction, though its narrative coherence occasionally falters. Critics valued the restrained yet evocative performance at its center, and the immersive production design that underscores themes of isolation. However, some viewers found shifts in tone and plot progression uneven, and others criticized its sanitized depiction of geopolitical contexts. Overall, the film offers a poignant but variable experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents striking visual composition and meticulous production design while embracing a subtle color palette. The measured cinematography emphasizes spatial dislocation, and atmospheric framing reinforces thematic isolation. Editing choices are deliberate but occasionally elongate contemplative moments to the point of languor. Ultimately, the film’s refined aesthetic remains its most consistent creative achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Atsuko Maeda delivers a nuanced central performance that anchors the narrative with quiet intensity. Supporting figures remain largely peripheral, and the protagonist’s internal motivations are sometimes underexplored. Emotional moments are thoughtfully rendered but sporadically diffuse. Overall, the film offers a resonant yet occasionally inaccessible emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, the film embraces a reflective pace that underscores cultural displacement but evokes moments of narrative inertia. Plot progression alternates between contemplative sequences and abrupt tonal shifts, leading to uneven engagement. Some viewers found the storyline diffuse and underdeveloped, particularly in its geopolitical framing. Overall, the narrative offers depth interspersed with disjunction.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film excels in crafting an immersive atmosphere through its subtle sound design and restrained score. Visual style features understated color tones and deliberate framing that evoke cultural dislocation. Occasional quiet passages can lessen tension for some viewers. Ultimately, the cohesive audio-visual presentation strengthens the film’s reflective mood.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers modest incentive for additional viewings through its layered thematic content and atmospheric richness. However, the deliberate pacing and intermittent narrative disjunction may deter some viewers on repeat watches. While emotional nuances and visual detail reward attention, the film’s uneven rhythm limits its overall replay appeal.

Plot

To the Ends of the Earth Plot Summary

What happens in To the Ends of the Earth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Yoko, portrayed by the talented Atsuko Maeda, is an ambitious reporter working for a television travel show, embarking on a journey to Uzbekistan with her production team to create an exciting episode. With aspirations of becoming a singer, she presents a contrasting image of her vibrant on-screen personality and her deeper internal struggles when the cameras stop rolling.

Full summary

The whole story of To the Ends of the Earth, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

To the Ends of the Earth Box Office & Budget

To the Ends of the Earth grossed $286,356 worldwide on a $300,000 budget, 95% of what it cost.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$286.4K

95% of its budget back

US & Canada
$286.4K
Budget
$300K
Videos

To the Ends of the Earth Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Trailer | TIFF 2019
  • Featurette TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Director Q&A | TIFF 2019
Quiz

How Well Do You Know To the Ends of the Earth?

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 is Yoko's profession?

Details

To the Ends of the Earth Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Tabi no Owari” and “Sekai no Hajimari”.

Also known as
  • Tabi no Owari
  • Sekai no Hajimari
  • O Fim da Viagem
  • O Começo de Tudo
  • 在世界盡頭開始旅行
  • たびのおわりせかいのはじまり
  • 지구의 끝까지
  • O Fim da Viagem, o Começo de Tudo
  • Au bout du monde
  • 旅途的结束,世界的开始
  • Конец путешествия, начало мира
  • 旅程之終、世界之始

Seen To the Ends of the Earth?

FAQ

To the Ends of the Earth FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of To the Ends of the Earth, each answered in a sentence.

How long is To the Ends of the Earth?

To the Ends of the Earth runs 2 hours (120 minutes).

When was To the Ends of the Earth released?

To the Ends of the Earth was released on December 11, 2020.

Who directed To the Ends of the Earth?

To the Ends of the Earth was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

More films by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Who is in the cast of To the Ends of the Earth?

To the Ends of the Earth stars Atsuko Maeda as Yoko, Ryo Kase as Iwao and Tokio Emoto as Sasaki, among 7 credited actors.

How much did To the Ends of the Earth make at the box office?

To the Ends of the Earth grossed $286,356 worldwide on a budget of $300,000.

How is To the Ends of the Earth rated?

To the Ends of the Earth has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does To the Ends of the Earth have a post-credit scene?

No. To the Ends of the Earth has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is To the Ends of the Earth in?

The original language of To the Ends of the Earth is Japanese.

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