Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe is a visually lavish, music-driven romance set against the upheaval of the 1960s. The film follows Jude, a poor Liverpudlian artist who sails to America, and Lucy, an upper-class girl from New Jersey; their unlikely love affair weaves through college campuses, anti-war demonstrations, the Detroit riots, the streets of Manhattan, and the battlefields of Vietnam. Director Julie Taymor reimagines more than 30 Beatles songs as vibrant, sometimes surreal musical numbers, blending live action and animation to create a dreamlike tapestry of protest, idealism, longing and loss. Watching Across the Universe you’ll experience theatrical, highly stylized sequences—bold choreography, inventive set pieces and psychedelic animation—juxtaposed with intimate moments of romance and heartbreak. The Beatles’ catalogue is reinterpreted with contemporary arrangements and emotional staging, frequently turning familiar tunes into narrative turning points that underscore the era’s political tensions and personal stakes. The film moves from playful, whimsical interludes to darker, more tragic episodes tied to the Vietnam War and social unrest, giving the story both a celebratory and a sobering edge. If you see this movie, expect an immersive sensory ride: sweeping musical performances, striking visuals and a bittersweet love story threaded through historic turmoil. It’s part jukebox musical, part political fable—stylized and occasionally uneven, but rewarding for viewers who enjoy inventive cinematic musical storytelling and a nostalgic, kaleidoscopic take on the 1960s.

Actors: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson

Director: Julie Taymor

Runtime: 133 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, History

6.9 /10 56 /100 7.3 /10 6.6 /10