Culture
Animated drama
Waking Life (2001): Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Waking Life is a 2001 animated drama directed by Richard Linklater. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $3.2 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Director at the Spirit Awards 2002. Critics gave it 85 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Richard Linklater
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Waking Life About?
The premise of Waking Life without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Wiley Wiggins finds himself drifting through a series of interconnected dreams, encountering a diverse cast of characters who challenge his perception of reality. The film explores themes of consciousness, free will, and the nature of existence as he grapples with the blurring lines between his waking life and the dream world. Through philosophical conversations and surreal situations, he questions the very nature of being and the choices that shape our lives.
Waking Life Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- philosophy
- dream
- lucid dreaming
- alternate reality
- cult film
- ukulele
- watching tv
- psychedelic therapy
- adult animation
- mature animation
- reference to philip k. dick
- linklater and hawke
+38 more Show fewer
- satire comedy
- band the musical group
- sense of time
- dreaming
- death
- microphone
- physics
- inmate
- reincarnation
- memory
- self sacrifice
- blackboard
- gasoline can
- cellist
- student
- aquarium
- teacher
- pianist
- classroom
- accordion
- double bass
- destiny
- train
- little boy
- sheet music
- violinist
- little girl
- reference to yeats
- reference to billy wilder
- reference to garcia lorca
- reference to soren kierkegaard
- reference to thomas mann
- reference to d. h. lawrence
- reference to louis malle
- reference to francois truffaut
- reference to andre bazin
- reference to albert schweitzer
- watching a movie
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Crew
The Director of Waking Life
Directed by Richard Linklater.
-
Director Richard Linklater
From the director
More from Richard Linklater
More films directed by Richard Linklater, best-rated first: Nouvelle Vague, Dazed and Confused, School of Rock and Blue Moon.
Ratings
Waking Life Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Waking Life 85 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.
-
IMDb 7.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 85 Metascore
User score 7.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
Waking Life Plot Summary
What happens in Waking Life from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Waking Life, the story unfolds around an unnamed young man who navigates a dream-like reality devoid of clear transitions. His journey leads him through a series of philosophical dialogues with a diverse group of characters, ranging from eccentric intellectuals and artists to ordinary diners and friends. The discussions cover profound topics such as metaphysics, free will, social philosophy, and the meaning of life.
The film also shifts perspectives, allowing viewers to witness discussions among random individuals and couples engaged in deep conversations. These moments explore themes like existentialism, situationist politics, and even the intricate film theories of André Bazin, along with insightful nods to renowned intellectual and literary figures.
Full summary
The whole story of Waking Life, scene by scene
Box office
Waking Life Box Office
Waking Life grossed $3.2 million worldwide. $2.9 million came from the US and Canada and $275,433 (9%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.2M
- US & Canada
- $2.9M
- International
- $275.4K
US & Canada 91%
Rest of the world 9%
Awards
Waking Life Awards & Nominations
Waking Life earned 4 award nominations, including Best Director at the Spirit Awards 2002. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Spirit Awards 2002.
4 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 2002 3 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Richard Linklater
- Nominated Best Feature
- Nominated Best Screenplay
-
Critics' Choice 2002 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature
Videos
Waking Life Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette 'Waking Life' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Waking Life?
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 the primary theme discussed by the characters in 'Waking Life'?
Details
Waking Life Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “Despertando a la vida” and “Valve-unessa”.
- Also known as
-
- Despertando a la vida
- Valve-unessa
- Vie Eveillée
- Пробуждение жизни
- Acordar Para a Vida
- Prisonnier du rêve
- Hayata Uyanmak
- 半梦半醒的人生
- Az élet nyomában
- Sním či bdím?
- חיים בהקיץ
- 웨이킹 라이프
+7 more Show fewer
- Życie świadome
- Bdelý život
- Đánh Thức Cuộc Đời
- ウェイキング・ライフ
- Pabusti gyvenimui
- ปลุกชีวิตเนรมิตฝัน
- Valveunessa
Seen Waking Life?
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Movies Like Waking Life
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wake Me, Dreams and The Living Wake.
From the blog
Articles About Waking Life
Our article about Waking Life: “Exploring the World of Cult Animation Films”.
FAQ
Waking Life FAQ: Box Office, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Waking Life, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Waking Life?
Waking Life runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Waking Life released?
Waking Life was released on October 19, 2001.
Who directed Waking Life?
Waking Life was directed by Richard Linklater.
More films by Richard Linklater How much did Waking Life make at the box office?
Waking Life grossed $3.2 million worldwide ($2.9 million domestic, $275,433 international).
How is Waking Life rated?
Waking Life has 7.7/10 on IMDb, 85 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Was Waking Life nominated for any awards?
Waking Life received 4 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Waking Life have a post-credit scene?
No. Waking Life has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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