February 12, 2012
A fuck for all senses.
Wiley Wiggins,
Lorelei Linklater,
Trevor Jack Brooks,
Glover Gill,
Laura Hicks
... see more 
Richard Linklater returned to the semi-improvised approach and philosophical themes of his debut feature Slacker while embracing a new and groundbreaking visual technology in his sixth feature film, W... read more
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002
Stats: 5,162 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (5,162)
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October 27, 2011fb1664868775Basically an animated sequel to Linklater's debut (Slacker). Very impressive.
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January 11, 2011Boy, now this is a polarizing film. I wouldn't blame or argue with someone if they were to dismiss this film as boring, pretentious, intellectual bullshit. In many ways, that is true. I realize this is not a film for everyone, but I think everyone should still see it anyway. It i... read more
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December 6, 2010Richard Linklater has always been an interesting director. He has ranged from his debut independant hit "Slacker" to romantic drama "Before Sunrise", through anti-corporate polemic "Fast Food Nation" and cult sci-fi "A Scanner Darkly". He is effortless in his range and always inv... read more
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June 21, 2010fb619846742An insanely dull exercise in philosophical mumbo-jumbo that doesn't go anywhere in it's 100 minute life span. While the animation itself is ambitious and definitely something new - it's basically just there to attempt to distract the viewer from the fact that this movie is a comp... read more
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January 13, 2010A young man has a series of dreams, animated in various styles, from which he cannot awake; he gradually comes to realize that he is dreaming and asks the characters he meets how he can awaken. An interesting experiment featuring great animation, but there are problems in that t... read more
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January 7, 2010Watched it for a philosophy class, of all things. Still found its lessons interesting. Love Linklater.
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August 20, 2009Very academic, like 97 minutes of animated college philosophy (but without all the homework).
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July 19, 2009"The worst mistake that you can make is to think you're alive, when really you're asleep in life's waiting room." 
Every once in a while, you
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April 5, 2009If I were on drugs, I would think this was amazing. It attempts to answer everything and comes up short with nothing. But if you're high nothing really matters anyway. You're already half-baked.
Critic Reviews
October 31, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
For a movie heralded as the cutting edge of visual innovation, Waking Life is disappointingly dull in every other respect. Full Review
January 22, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
If there was ever a film that made ontological exploration fun, this is it. Full Review
December 5, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Exhilarating, transporting, funny and haunting -- and at times maddeningly heady or narcotically logy -- Waking Life doesn't compare to any other movie experience I've ever had. Full Review
November 2, 2001
Steven Rosen, Denver Post
To paraphrase the enduring title of a new-wave album, it is pure pop for dream people. Full Review
October 28, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Adds up to little more than a series of disconnected impressions, but it holds interest despite an almost nonexistent narrative, and that's something. Full Review
October 28, 2001
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Often surreal, Waking Life transcends boundaries of technology, imagination.
October 25, 2001
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It's thoughtful, provocative, liberating and fun.
October 25, 2001
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Minute 69 evolves several geological epochs later into Minute 70 -- and then there are 27 minutes left to go!
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Waking Life
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