Movie Review: ‘Eternity’

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Review by James Lindorf

For a writer, the best thing that can happen to a screenplay is that it is produced; next in line is being purchased and shelved; and the third-best outcome is landing on the famed Black List. The annual listing of the most-liked unproduced screenplays is precisely where the script for “Eternity” by first-time writer Patrick Cunnane found itself in 2022. It was eventually picked up by A24, who brought on David Freyne, the Writer-Director of 2020’s “Dating Amber,” about a pair of teens stuck between societal expectations and their hearts’ desires. This genre-defying Romantic Comedy blends the beauty of love with the nightmare of a bureaucratic afterlife on November 26th.

In “Eternity,” all of the recently deceased make their way to the Junction, a way station between life on earth and their final destination. After checking in, they are given one week to choose the most appealing place to spend the rest of eternity. If they are unwilling or unable to make a decision, they are tasked with getting a job at the Junction. Larry Cutler (Miles Teller), one of the newest arrivals, learns all of this from his afterlife coordinator Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph). Disillusioned after untold years shuttling people through the process, Anna feels a renewed connection due to Larry’s lifelong devotion to Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and his wish to spend eternity with her. The two work out a plan for Larry to go ahead and prepare a place for them in one of the eternities, with Anna sending Joan along when she arrives. The wait turns out not to be very long, with Joan coming through the Junction just days after Larry. Larry’s elation sours quickly when Ryan (John Early), Joan’s afterlife coordinator, introduces Luke (Callum Turner), Joan’s first husband, who died 67 years ago and has been waiting for her. Joan is then presented with the impossible choice. She has one week to pick one eternity and one husband.

The premise and afterlife structure of “Eternity” is fantastic. However, the idea of having one place to live, one set of activities to do for all time, with the only alternative being shoved into an empty black void, is horrifying. There are bright spots, like reverting to the age when you were the happiest. Giving older people the chance to rediscover the joy of squatting after having decades worth of wear and tear on their joints repaired. There are hundreds of eternities to choose from, with the most popular being endless life at the beach, or hiking and skiing, and the “Men Free World.” Or you could choose something more specialized, like Studio 54 World, Nudist World, Paris in the 1960s, where everyone speaks English with a delightful accent, or maybe 1930s Germany (now with 100 percent less Nazis!) sounds good to you. If an eternity is not popular enough, they can be discontinued, as happened to Normal World and Clown World. Spotting all of the various options and their sales pitches is something that begs for the movie to be watched over and over.

David Freyne not only directed, but he also gave Cunnane’s script his own rewrite. The film is very unified, as if written by a single person, making it hard to tell who was responsible for what aspects. Maybe Freyne tried to pump up the humor or the drama, or perhaps he expanded on the story for the Afterlife Coordinators. “Eternity” is an interesting case of a movie doing everything well, and the audience getting everything they want and expect from the story. Yet, it never reaches the heights that make something truly extraordinary. Because it tries to give us everything, the film runs a little long at 1 hour and 52 minutes, but it doesn’t feel like it overstays its welcome.

“Eternity” is delightful thanks to the intriguing premise and the great performances of everyone involved. Olsen has the most demanding job, being put in the middle of the two men, needing to have chemistry with each of them that shares similarities but also notable differences, and she primarily lives up to the challenge. Turner is good, but of the three, Miles Teller leads the way, balancing the complicated personality of a devoted, lovestruck husband who is a bit selfish and a bit of a curmudgeon. “Eternity” is a witty and emotional exploration of love and the afterlife that guarantees a good time but may stop just short of making you fall in love with it; for that reason, it gets a 4 out of 5 from me.

Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Some Strong Language)
Release Date: November 26th, 2025
Runtime: 1h 52m
Director: David Freyne
Producer: Trevor White, Tim White
Screenwriter: David Freyne, Patrick Cunnane
Distributor: A24
Production Co: A24, Star Thrower Entertainment