What Dreams May Come (1998)

What Dreams May Come is a sweeping, emotionally intense drama–fantasy–romance about love that literally survives death. Dr. Chris Nielsen and Annie fall deeply in love, build a family and then endure unbearable loss when their children die in an accident. Years later Chris himself is killed; he awakens in a luminous, painterly version of the afterlife where he’s reunited with beloved family members — only to learn that Annie, devastated by grief, has taken her own life and gone to a very different, darker realm. The film follows Chris’s quest across the boundaries of Heaven and Hell to find and rescue Annie, guided by a compassionate mentor (and later a mysterious Tracker). The story blends mythic, metaphysical ideas with intimate memories of family life, forcing Chris to confront grief, memory, identity and the limits of devotion. Along the way he faces tests of faith and painful choices that raise questions about responsibility, forgiveness and what it means to let go. On screen the movie is visually rich and highly stylized — the afterlife is rendered in vivid, often painterly imagery and special-effects sequences that emphasize wonder and otherworldliness. Expect a meditative pace, big emotional swings (tender reunions, gutting sorrow and desperate urgency), and a tone that mixes bittersweet romance with spiritual exploration. Viewer takeaways often include catharsis, reflection on grief and love, and appreciation for the film’s imaginative visuals — but be prepared for heavy themes, including death and suicide, which are handled centrally to the plot.

Actors: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra

Director: Vincent Ward

Runtime: 113 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

6.4 /10 44 /100 7.0 /10 5.9 /10