Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 American independent film directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The film combines various film genres and mediums, including comedy-drama, science fiction, fantasy, martial arts films, and animation. Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Quan Wang, an immigrant who discovers that she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself in order to save the multiverse. The film is inspired by the work of Wong Kar-wai, the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, and the video game Everything. The soundtrack includes compositions by Son Lux, with collaborations by various artists. Explore philosophical concepts and themes such as Asian-American identity. The film premiered at South by Southwest to critical acclaim and became A24’s highest-grossing film, winning numerous awards.
Everything Everywhere All at Once Introduction :
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a groundbreaking 2022 American independent film directed and written by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Co-produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, along with Jonathan Wang, the film seamlessly blends various genres and styles of filmmaking, including absurd fiction, dramatic comedy, science fiction, fantasy, martial arts films, immigrant narrative and animation.
Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who, during an IRS audit, discovers that she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a powerful being from destroying the multiverse. The film also stars Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., and James Hong in supporting roles.
The project began in 2010, production was announced in 2018, and principal photography took place from January to March 2020. Originally intended for Jackie Chan, the title role was revised to feature a female lead as part of a duet. of wife and husband. Inspiration for scenes in the film came from the works of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, the children’s book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and the video game Everything.
The captivating soundtrack includes compositions by Son Lux, with contributions from Mitski, David Byrne, André 3000, John Hampson and Randy Newman.
The film delves into philosophical concepts like existentialism, nihilism, and the absurd while exploring themes like neurodivergence, depression, generational trauma, and Asian-American identity.
Everything Everywhere All at Once opened at South by Southwest on March 11, 2022, followed by a limited theatrical release in the United States on March 25, 2022. It was tremendously successful, grossing over $141 million worldwide. the world, making it the highest in A24. blockbuster movie Critically acclaimed, the film garnered seven awards from eleven nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Quan, Best Supporting Actress for Curtis, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Kwan and Scheinert. and Best Film Editing.
It also received two Golden Globes, five Critics’ Choice Awards (including Best Picture), a BAFTA Award, four SAG Awards (including Best Cast) and seven Independent Spirit Awards (including Best Picture), sweeping all four major trade awards (DGA , PGA, SAG and WGA).
Everything Everywhere All at Once Trailer :
Everything Everywhere All at Once Plot :
Middle-aged Chinese-American immigrant Evelyn Quan Wang and her husband, Waymond, face challenges in their marriage while running a laundromat. The IRS audits her business, which creates tension. Waymond tries to serve Evelyn the divorce papers to get her attention and talk about her relationship. Evelyn’s strict father, Gong Gong, visits her during her Chinese New Year party. Evelyn’s strained relationship with her daughter, Joy, worsens due to her reluctance to accept Joy’s lesbian identity.
During an IRS meeting, Waymond is possessed by Alpha-Waymond of the Alphaverse. Alpha-Waymond reveals the existence of parallel universes and verse-hopping technology. The Alphaverse is in danger from Jobu, who can manipulate matter and has created a destructive black hole called the “all bagel”.
Evelyn is given verse-hopping abilities to fight Jobu’s minions and discovers alternate versions of herself. She learns of Waymond’s true intentions and becomes determined to defeat Jobu. Alpha-Gong Gong tells Evelyn to kill Joy, fearing Jobu’s entry into her universe, but Evelyn refuses.
As Evelyn fights Jobu’s forces, Jobu kills Alpha-Waymond. Evelyn’s mind splinters during the confrontation. Evelyn and Jobu jump in verse uncontrollably through various universes. Jobu plans to go into the bagel of everything to achieve true death. Evelyn initially falls under Jobu’s influence, but has an epiphany and chooses compassion and empathy.
Evelyn repairs the damage caused by her alternate selves, neutralizes the Alpha-Gong fighters Gong and Jobu, and reconciles with Waymond. She accepts Joy’s relationship with Becky and, with new wisdom, resolves the conflicts. They redo their taxes with Deirdre’s help, saving Jobu from the bagel of everything. Evelyn and Joy reaffirm their love.
In the end, the family’s relations improve and they return to the IRS building to file their taxes again. Evelyn briefly acknowledges her alternate selves before focusing on her home universe.
Everything Everywhere All at Once Production :
In development, co-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known as the Daniels, began investigating the concept of the multiverse in 2010 after being exposed to modal realism in a documentary. They were inspired by the idea of exploring multiple realities. The release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 2018, which was also about the multiverse, caused them to worry that their concept might not be perceived as original. Early drafts of the script had the main character as a teacher with undiagnosed ADHD, reflecting the director’s personal discovery of his own ADHD while he was working on the project.
Influences for various scenes came from movies such as Wong Kar-wai’s work, which inspired martial arts training for a character. The “everything bagel” concept started out as a joke, but became an important symbol in the film.
Originally written for Jackie Chan, the main character was reconceived as a woman to create a more relatable husband-wife dynamic. The character’s name was initially Michelle Wang, after Michelle Yeoh, who later objected to the name change to “Michelle” and preferred “Evelyn” to allow her character her own history.
The film’s cast included Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina (later replaced by Stephanie Hsu), James Hong, Ke Huy Quan (who returned to acting after a hiatus), and Jamie Lee Curtis. Principal photography began in January 2020, and filming spanned 38 days primarily in Simi Valley, California. Filming was completed in early March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Visual effects were done in-house, with a small team led by Zak Stoltz using Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. The filmmakers went for realism, with Jamie Lee Curtis using his real belly for his character.
The first cut of the film was around 170 minutes long, but there was no mention of the final running time.
Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscars Awards :
The film garnered critical acclaim and achieved great success during awards season. It earned seven of its 11 Academy Award nominations, including awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Performance for Michelle Yeoh and the late Jonathan Quan. It also triumphed in categories such as Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The film received significant recognition from other prestigious award ceremonies, with 10 BAFTA nominations and wins at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and Golden Globe Awards. It was honored as one of the Top 10 Films of 2022 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. Furthermore, the film made history by sweeping all four major awards from major guilds and joined the ranks of acclaimed films like American Beauty, No Country for Old Men, Slumdog Millionaire, and Argo.
Everything Everywhere All at Once cast :
Name and Character Name
- Michelle Yeoh – Evelyn Quan Wang
- Jamie Lee Curtis – Deirdre Beaubeirdre
- Ke Huy Quan – Waymond Wang
- Stephanie Hsu -Joy Wang, Jobu Tupaki
- James Hong – Gong Gong
- Jenny Slate – Debbie the Dog Mom
- Harry Shum Jr. – Chad
- Tallie Medel – Becky Sregor
- Sunita Mani – TV Musical Queen
- Michiko Nishiwaki
- Randy Newman – Raccacoonie
- Andy Le – Alpha Jumper
- Biff Wiff – Rick
- Waymond Lee
- Jane Lui – Opera Evelyn
- Dylan Henry Lau – Young Boy Waymond
- Anthony Molinari – Police (Confetti)
- Audrey Wasilewski – Alpha RV Officer
- Elle Alexander
- Randall Archer – Alpha Jumper (Edgelord)
- Aaron Lazar – TV Musical (Soldier)
- Chelsey Goldsmith – Security Guard
- D.Y. Sao – Chinese Choir
- Timothy Eulich – Laundromat Police
- Efka Kvaraciejus – Alpha Jumper (SWAT)
- Craig Henningsen – Security Guard
- Panuvat Anthony Nanakornpanom – Police (Luchador)
- Peter Banifaz – Alpha RV Officer
- Jason Hamerm – Raccacoonie Puppeteer
- Narayana Cabral – Security Guard #1
- Boon Pin Koh – Maternity Doctor
- Li Jing – Kung Fu Master
- Amanda – Dominatrix
- Brian Le – Alpha Jumper
Everything everywhere all at once collection :
Everything Everywhere All at Once generated $141.1 million worldwide, with $77.2 million coming from the United States and Canada, and $63.9 million from other territories. The film had a successful opening weekend in the US and Canada, earning $509,600 from ten venues, with a theatrical average of $50,965, the second best for a platform release during the COVID-19 pandemic. It expanded to 1,250 theaters in its third weekend and grossed $6.1 million, finishing sixth at the box office. By May 21, it surpassed “Uncut Gems” as A24’s highest-grossing domestic film, with more than $51 million. By June 9, it became A24’s highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing “Hereditary” with more than $80 million. The film surpassed the $100 million mark worldwide on July 31, a remarkable achievement for an independent film released during the pandemic. Notable top-revenue territories outside of the US include the UK, Canada, Australia, Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Hong Kong, Germany, and the Netherlands.
