Colin Farrell
David
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
“Relive your past. Change your future.”
2025
1h 49m
Director: Kogonada
Overview
Sarah and David are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present... and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Doors We Leave Unopened
I kept waiting for the moment when A Big Bold Beautiful Journey would click into place—the way a key turns in a lock, or a door swings open on its own. It never quite happened. Not that the film lacks for doors.
They’re everywhere: freestanding frames in empty fields, the arched entrance to a lighthouse, the proscenium of a high-school auditorium, even the glowing rectangle of a car’s GPS screen. Kogonada, ever the architect of quiet spaces, turns every threshold into a metaphor. The problem is that the metaphor keeps changing its mind about what it wants to say.
The premise is seductive: two strangers, Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell), meet at a wedding, rent a car from a surreal agency run by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Kline, and find themselves guided by a GPS voiced by Jodie Turner-Smith through literal doorways into their own pasts. It’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Howl’s Moving Castle, with a dash of The Truman Show’s manufactured reality.
The film wants to be a meditation on regret, a romantic comedy, and a fantasy adventure all at once. That’s a lot of keys for one lock.
Kogonada’s visual language is as precise as ever. The lighthouse sequence, where David relives a childhood memory of his father, is bathed in the kind of golden-hour light that makes you ache for something you can’t name. The camera lingers on the way Farrell’s hands tremble as he reaches for a doorknob, or the way Robbie’s Sarah hugs her knees in the passenger seat, her body language screaming I don’t deserve this before she even opens her mouth.
These are the moments when the film feels alive, when the craft serves the emotion rather than the other way around.
But then the GPS interrupts with another directive, and the film lurches into a new tonal register. One minute, we’re in a Renoir painting, Sarah and David standing before Two Young Girls at the Piano, the colors of the canvas bleeding into the frame. The next, we’re at a Burger King, the fluorescent lighting clashing with the film’s otherwise warm palette.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.6/10
"A visually poetic but uneven blend of drama, fantasy, and romance that struggles to balance its ambitions with emotional depth."
The film’s striking visuals and Kogonada’s signature aesthetic are frequently praised, offering a dreamlike quality that elevates its romantic and fantastical elements. However, many find the narrative disjointed, with underdeveloped characters and a plot that meanders without clear direction. The performances, particularly from Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, are highlighted as standouts, latestnetflix.com argues, but the supporting cast often feels overshadowed or underutilized.
What viewers praise
- Visually stunning Kogonada’s direction is lauded for its poetic cinematography and immersive aesthetic, creating a distinct and memorable atmosphere.
- Strong lead performances Farrell and Robbie are praised for their chemistry and emotional range, anchoring the film’s more compelling moments.
- Unique genre blend The mix of drama, fantasy, and romance is appreciated for its ambition and originality, even if execution falters.
Common complaints
- Disjointed storytelling The plot is criticized for lacking cohesion, with pacing issues and a narrative that feels fragmented or aimless at times.
- Underdeveloped characters Supporting roles, including those played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Kline, are seen as thinly written or underutilized.
- Mixed emotional impact Despite its beauty, the film struggles to resonate emotionally, leaving some viewers feeling detached from its themes.
Recommended for
Fans of Kogonada’s style Lovers of visual storytelling Those who enjoy genre-blending films Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie admirers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsMargot Robbie and Colin Farrell’s "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" Sparks Magic—and Mixed Buzz
Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) arrived with sky-high expectations, pairing Oscar nominees Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell in a romantic fantasy that promised sweeping visuals and emotional depth. latestnetflix.com's view is that Early reactions paint a picture of a film that dazzled on set but left critics divided—while quietly finding an audience on streaming.
A "Magical" Shoot with Robbie and Farrell
Robbie called the experience "one of the most magical" of her career, a sentiment echoed by the film’s director. Kogonada, known for his soulful indie dramas like Columbus and After Yang, praised his leads’ collaborative energy in a behind-the-scenes clip 
. The ease between Robbie and Farrell—both acclaimed for their charisma—was reportedly central to shaping their characters, two strangers who meet at a wedding and embark on a fantastical journey through their pasts 
.
Vanity Fair’s first-look coverage framed the film as a "sweeping romantic fantasy," teasing a visually lush narrative where fate and nostalgia collide . The trailer, released ahead of its September 2025 premiere, leaned into this tone, billing the story as "funny, fantastical, and sweeping" .
Critical Reception: A "Flop" or a Sleeper Hit?
Despite the star power and hype, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey faced a rocky critical reception. Some outlets labeled it a "flop," though the term may be premature—Collider later reported the film was "quietly taking over streaming worldwide" on HBO Max by April 2026 . The mixed response mirrors Kogonada’s own career trajectory; after the emotional resonance of Columbus and After Yang, his pivot to a big-budget fantasy romance left some fans of his earlier work underwhelmed .
The divide highlights a tension in Kogonada’s filmography: Can his signature introspective style translate to a mainstream, effects-driven romance? The evidence suggests the film’s ambition may have outpaced its execution for some critics, while others found its whimsy and performances charming enough to sustain word-of-mouth success .
Behind the Scenes: A Star-Studded Ensemble
Beyond Robbie and Farrell, the film boasts a stacked supporting cast. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge—both known for their sharp comedic timing—join the adventure, alongside The Morning Show’s Lily Rabe and Only Murders in the Building’s Hamish Linklater . Jodie Turner-Smith and Billy Magnussen round out the ensemble, adding to the film’s eclectic, high-wattage energy .
Little is known about the characters beyond the central duo, Sarah and David, whose chance encounter at a wedding sets off a surreal, time-bending journey . The script, penned by Seth Reiss (Palm Springs), hints at a blend of humor and pathos, though specifics remain scarce .
What’s Next for Kogonada?
The film’s lukewarm reception hasn’t slowed Kogonada’s momentum. Following A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, he shifted gears with Zi, an experimental project that marks a return to his indie roots . The pivot suggests the director may be recalibrating after the pressures of a big-budget romance—though whether Zi can recapture the acclaim of his earlier work remains to be seen.
For now, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey stands as a curious entry in both Robbie’s and Farrell’s filmographies: a visually ambitious, star-driven fantasy that struggled to win over critics but found a second life on streaming. Its legacy may hinge on whether audiences embrace its blend of whimsy and introspection—or if it’s remembered as a misfire in an otherwise stellar career.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.