Waking Life (2001)

Overview · Where to watch · Cast & crew · Reviews

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself?

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life.

• Released: 2001-10-19
• Genres: Animation, Drama, Fantasy
• Runtime: 1h 41m
• Status: Released
• TMDB rating: 7.5/10 from 985 votes

Directed by Richard Linklater.

Top cast

• Ethan Hawke as Jesse
• Julie Delpy as Celine
• Wiley Wiggins as Main Character
• Bill Wise as Boat Car Guy
• Alex E. Jones as Man in Car with P.A.
• Steven Soderbergh as Interviewed on Television
• Ken Webster as Bartender
• Charles Gunning as Angry Man in Jail
• Lorelei Linklater as Young Girl Playing Paper Game
• Trevor Jack Brooks as Young Boy Playing Paper Game

Full cast & crew

Where to watch Waking Life

• United States: stream on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads; rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home; buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
• United Kingdom: rent on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
• Canada: stream on Disney Plus; rent on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video; buy on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video
• Australia: stream on Disney Plus; buy on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

Movies like Waking Life

If you enjoyed Waking Life, these movies have a similar feel:

• The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (2025)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match (2023)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (2022)
• Nine Days (2021)
• The Zero Theorem (2013)
• Interstate 60 (2002)
• Freedom Fighters: The Ray (2018)
• Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (2021)
• Pink Narcissus (1971)
• $9.99 (2009)
• Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience (2015)
• Tuesday (2024)

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