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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

  • 2012
  • R
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
122K
YOUR RATING
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.
Play trailer2:33
20 Videos
78 Photos
Dark RomanceRoad TripAdventureComedyDramaRomanceSci-Fi

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neigh... Read allAs an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.

  • Director
    • Lorene Scafaria
  • Writer
    • Lorene Scafaria
  • Stars
    • Steve Carell
    • Keira Knightley
    • Melanie Lynskey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    122K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lorene Scafaria
    • Writer
      • Lorene Scafaria
    • Stars
      • Steve Carell
      • Keira Knightley
      • Melanie Lynskey
    • 339User reviews
    • 277Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos20

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:33
    No. 1
    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
    Clip 0:30
    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
    Clip 0:30
    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Last Supper
    Clip 0:47
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Last Supper
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Rest Of Your Life
    Clip 0:30
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Rest Of Your Life
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Mudslides
    Clip 0:36
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Mudslides
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: What Was The Question?
    Clip 0:52
    Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: What Was The Question?

    Photos78

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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Steve Carell
    Steve Carell
    • Dodge
    Keira Knightley
    Keira Knightley
    • Penny
    Melanie Lynskey
    Melanie Lynskey
    • Karen
    Patton Oswalt
    Patton Oswalt
    • Roache
    Adam Brody
    Adam Brody
    • Owen
    Connie Britton
    Connie Britton
    • Diane
    Roger Aaron Brown
    Roger Aaron Brown
    • Alfred
    Rob Huebel
    Rob Huebel
    • Jeremy
    Trisha Gorman
    • Crying Woman
    Nancy Carell
    Nancy Carell
    • Linda
    Mark Moses
    Mark Moses
    • Anchorman
    Tonita Castro
    Tonita Castro
    • Elsa
    Leslie Murphy
    Leslie Murphy
    • Amy
    Rob Corddry
    Rob Corddry
    • Warren
    Kasey Campbell
    Kasey Campbell
    • Danny
    Vince Grant
    Vince Grant
    • Man #1…
    Amy Schumer
    Amy Schumer
    • Woman #1…
    Marshall Manesh
    Marshall Manesh
    • Indian Man
    • Director
      • Lorene Scafaria
    • Writer
      • Lorene Scafaria
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews339

    6.7122.1K
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    Featured reviews

    DUKEJBM

    The movie has heart and elicited real emotion from me.

    There really isn't one aspect of the actual events of this story that isn't some kind of spoiler, the less known the better. It's better to watch this thing completely fresh. That's how I saw it and it made the experience far better it would seem. Without getting in to detail, the story itself starts off bizarre and it seems like they simply picked the wrong subject to try and make a dramedy about. Yet, getting to know and sympathize with Carell's character is what flat out makes the film. Keira Knightley is wonderful and this is probably the best thing I've ever seen her do.

    The overall tone fights itself a LOT as it jumps from the morose to the absurd to events that just aren't logical. Still, since no one has faced the end of the world, what exactly is logical? They did respectfully touch on the aspect of faith but it struck me more that they went out of their way to avoid the subject for the most part. To me, that's playing it way too safe. They did that a lot with many subjects that you would expect to come up in an end of days film. Overall, the movie has heart and elicited real emotion from me.
    7AfricanBro

    A peaceful way of looking at the apocalypse

    Ever since I started taking movies more seriously, I've never chosen a favorite one. And this, indubitably, isn't the best movie in the world or anything, but it is my favorite. I haven't seen anything like it, and it's been 9 years since it was made.

    It's a completely new outlook to how movies tackle the end of the world. Instead of focusing on the chaos and hysteria that comes with the fear of inevitable death, it shows us two strangers and their search for love, albeit not in each other, so it leaves you wondering throughout the movie whether or not they're going to fall for each other or go their separate ways in the end.

    The diversity in the supporting cast also deserves mention, with the exception of terror stricken characters, it shows you how different people would approach or react to the world ending, even though that's not exactly what the movie's about. Like any Armageddon film, there's people rioting, there's people shagging, there's people in bunkers but in this movie it's about those who're finding true love and connection. No volcanoes, earthquakes, meteor strikes or the like.

    I find that it isn't one of those movies that everyone loves, but those who do love it dearly. Guess I can understand why someone wouldn't like it, but I don't think it's one you can hate. I think the movie isn't talked about as much because the year it was released was full of blockbuster movies. Every time i think of 2012 movies I think of The Dark Knight, the movie "2012", magic mike, 21st jump street or pitch perfect and the like... so this just swiftly went under the radar.
    9stephrenee-385-451528

    Seeking a Film for the End of the Week?

    We've seen dramatic and extreme post-apocalyptic thrillers almost as many times as we've survived the Rapture, and it is hard to imagine that anyone can interpret the theme in a way that would make a movie more enjoyable. However, none of the previous films starred Steve Carrell or stayed completely in the pre-apocalyptic world. As it turns out, these two facts make a huge difference.

    Dodge (Carrell) learns that nothing can be done to prevent the imminent destruction of the world while in the car with his wife, Linda (Nancy Carrell, formerly Nancy Walls and hilarious without saying a word). Linda then literally runs away, and so begins the story of Dodge's terrible misfortune. He is a modern-day adult version of Charlie Brown – likable, but not extraordinary in any sense except for his ability to attract sadness. Seeking then shows how everyone else is coping with the news, and Dodge doesn't seem very interested in surfing, sex, or suicide, so he just meanders through the madness sipping his cough syrup. He probably would have done that for the entire three weeks left of his life were it not for a his neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley), a flighty girl trying to get a flight back to her family in England. The two escape a riot (and Penny's loser boyfriend, perfectly played by Adam Brody) and set out on an adventure so that Dodge can say goodbye to his high school sweetheart and Penny can get to England by way of Dodge's friend who owns a plane.

    The commercials portray this film as more of a comedy, and it is delightfully funny in some spots, but this film is far more emotionally and intellectually stimulating than it is amusing. I remember thinking at the end of 2005's War of the Worlds, "I wish they had spent more time focusing on humanity." The human experience of facing the end of life is so complex and so unique to every individual, and Director Loren Scafaria succeeds in showing the despair, decadence, and delusions that people would definitely be wrapped up in were this to occur in real life.

    Carrell is brilliant as usual with his effortless self-effacing humor. He seems to have worked on his deadpan skills as his funniest moments include reacting to crazy events with a blank stare or monotone comment. Knightley manages to be an effervescent and bubbly realist without being annoying, which makes Penny a completely plausible running buddy for Dodge, who can't take much more agitation. These two stars have a chemistry that allows Dodge to come out of his shell and live the last days of his life the way he wished he had lived all along. A few people live in less inspiring ways to awesome comedic effect. Elsa, Dodge's housekeeper, still diligently comes to clean his house and even instructs him to get more "Windows" while shaking a nearly empty bottle of glass cleaner. Warren (fellow Daily Show alum Rob Corddry) celebrates the end of responsibility by boozing it up and sharing his drinks freely, even with little kids. These scenes, however, are merely distractions from how Dodge and Penny learn more than they ever imagined about life and the world simply because it is all coming to an end. Despite the hokey-ness, I must admit that I got teary-eyed as the characters realized what matters most.

    Focus Features does a great job of producing equally thought-provoking and heartstring-pulling films and Seeking is no exception. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and with any luck, you'll leave the theater thankful that you most likely have more than three weeks to make the most of your life.
    8dbinks-569-934159

    A quirky and enjoyable picture

    Watching an American picture about the end of the world and finding that there is no concentration on things blowing up and exploding came as a welcome relief if not a surprise.

    This film is a little gem of a black comedy with some drama and romanticism thrown in.

    I only recognised two or three faces - but everyone of the players is good and the two leads are superb. The male lead is of a character not usually associated with the romantic and this brings out more of the warmth.

    Quirky, offbeat, lovable, zany and intelligent are some of the words I would use to describe this entertainment - and entertain it certainly does.

    If this picture comes this way - grab it, you will love it.
    9SteveMierzejewski

    Watch this before it's too late

    It's rare that I rate a movie this highly. No doubt many will disagree with this rating and I admit to having some doubts myself. I had to ignore the fact that Keira Knightly was miscast in the role of Dodge's (Steve Carell) friend, Penny. As I've mentioned in other reviews, she always seems to be overacting. This may be a personal thing as I'm sure others are enthralled by her work. Martin Sheen is not convincing as Dodge's father. The plot has some problematic moments.

    These negatives aside, this is a movie driven by a compelling idea: What would you do if you had only three weeks to live? Well, some resort to taking drugs, others to sex, and others to suicide. Some persevere with dignity to the end. The absurdity of life and the value of death is highlighted, as strange as this may sound. Death puts life into its proper perspective. On the surface, this film has many elements of a romantic comedy and some may dismiss it as such. But look past the surface of this film and you will begin to appreciate it much more.

    Of course, we are all facing the end of our own worlds, maybe not in three weeks or en masse, as is portrayed here, but through our individual mortality. Would you continue to work out, visit your dentist, or mow the lawn if you knew it was all soon coming to an end? Basically, the film looks at what in life is truly important. What is worth living for? Who would you want to spend those last moments with and why aren't you spending time with them now? Because this movie brings such existential topics into focus, I think it deserves an above average rating. Don't think of this as a grim, realistic look at life. There is a good deal of humor here. You'll have a few laughs, which, I believe, help to highlight the film's more serious elements.

    My opinion of Steve Carrell has been on the rise ever since he starred in Dan in Real Life. In Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, he plays the role of a down and out loser to perfection.

    In short, if you are seeking a movie to watch with a friend, this should be your choice. You'll have much to discuss afterwards. It may even make you re-evaluate what you have accepted as being important. Time is, after all, running out.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Dark Romance
    Sasha Lane in American Honey (2016)
    Road Trip
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steve Carell and Nancy Carell, who play husband and wife briefly in this film, are husband and wife in real life.
    • Goofs
      Dodge pulls out the vinyl album "Scott", Scott Walker's first solo album. He takes record out of sleeve puts it on turntable but "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" plays. This was by The Walker Brothers and was not on the album in question. Additionally, the following song that plays "Stay With Me Baby" does not appear on the album "Scott." Nor does it appear on the album "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore." The two tracks only appear together on later released compilation albums. Coincidentally though, the first track on the album "Scott" (the one shown but not played) is "Mathilde" - an alternate spelling of Matilda - which is the name of the asteroid in the movie.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Penny: I don't want to fall asleep. Okay? Don't let me fall asleep. Promise.

      Dodge: I promise. What about your parents?

      Penny: They're romantics. They understand. Besides, they've got each other. I just want to be with you.

      Dodge: And I want to be with you.

      Penny: I couldn't live without you. No matter how long. What do we do now?

      Dodge: I just want to lay here with you. Just want to talk to you.

      Penny: Okay. What are we gonna talk about?

      Dodge: Where'd you grow up?

      Penny: Well, I was born in Surrey. My whole family are from there. My mum was a journalist before she married my dad. They never fought. Or at least we never heard them fight. Charlie's the oldest, then Benny, then me. We had a sister but she died when she was born. I still think about her.

      [*explosion*]

      Penny: Oh God.

      Dodge: What was her name? What was your sister's name?

      Penny: Patricia. Patricia Hope Lockhart.

      Dodge: That's beautiful. That's a beautiful name.

      Penny: I wish I'd met you a long time ago. When we were kids.

      Dodge: It couldn't have happened any other way. It had to happen now.

      Penny: But it isn't enough time.

      Dodge: It never would have been.

      Penny: I'm scared.

      Dodge: I... am madly in love with you, Penny. You're my favorite, favorite thing.

      Penny: I thought that somehow we'd save each other.

      Dodge: We did. Penny. I'm really glad I got to know you.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.161 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Wouldn't It Be Nice
      Written by Tony Asher, Mike Love and Brian Wilson

      Performed by The Beach Boys

      Courtesy of Capitol Records under license from EMI Film & Television Music

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tri Kỷ Ngày Tận Thế
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • Mandate Pictures
      • Indian Paintbrush
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,078,738
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,822,803
      • Jun 24, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,681,781
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 41m(101 min)
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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