To the Ends of the Earth (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Kiyoshi Kurosawa
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
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Japanese
- Studio
- Kimstim Films
- Budget
- $300K
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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
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.
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Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
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Atsuko Maeda as Yoko -
Ryo Kase as Iwao -
Tokio Emoto as Sasaki -
Shôta Sometani as Yoshioka
Also Starring in To the Ends of the Earth
· 3 moreMore from Kiyoshi Kurosawa
More films directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, best-rated first: Tokyo Sonata, The Samurai and the Prisoner, Cloud and Creepy.
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).
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.
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IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 93% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 53%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 85 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
30 ratings
See on Letterboxd
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$286.4K
95% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $286.4K
- Budget
- $300K
To the Ends of the Earth Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Director Q&A | TIFF 2019
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Yoko's profession?
To the Ends of the Earth Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Tabi no Owari” and “Sekai no Hajimari”.
- Also known as
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- 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?
Movies Like To the Ends of the Earth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including To the Ends of the Earth, Journey to the End of the World and FAR. The Story of a Journey around the World.
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To the Ends of the Earth 2019 -
Journey to the End of the World 1968 -
FAR. The Story of a Journey around the World 2017 -
Encounters at the End of the World 2008 -
Ulzhan 2007 -
Somewhere on Earth 2001 -
Beyond the Ocean 2002 -
Beyond the Known World 2017 -
Journey to the Sun 2001 -
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change 2016 -
Further and Further Away 2022 -
The Journey 1987
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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