Waves

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Waves

R

2019

2h 15m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

258 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250+ Verified Ratings

The epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the wake of a tragic loss.

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Critics Consensus

An up-close look at one family's emotional ups and downs, Waves captures complicated dynamics with tenderness and grace.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Jul 16, 2020

All the performances are excellent and perfectly pitched between reality and melodrama. And visually the film follows the same pattern: very creatively photographed by Drew Daniels, it also succeeds in being both "real" and heightened...

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Jul 13, 2020

3.5/5

Shults is saying nothing new here. Nor does he exploit or trivialise the African-American experience. It's a powerful and plausible tale but it's told with such a bombardment of sound and image that he leaves you no opportunity to think for yourself.

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Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

Mar 25, 2020

The emotional through line of Waves and its exploration of forgiveness give shape to a movie that often feels like a mixtape.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 10, 2026

Waves beautifully depicts the ups and downs of life. It features an awe-inspiring story, dazzling cinematography, a thrilling score, a phenomenal soundtrack, and powerful performances. It's a triumph for everyone involved.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12, 2025

Waves is by far a showcase for Shults’ impressive talents as a writer-director, but it’s a film that lives and dies by its stellar ensemble cast.

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

Jul 14, 2024

4/5

Shults has crafted a gorgeously visual, and uniquely helmed movie that celebrates the best of romantic connection, and is unafraid to condemn the entitlement and disrespect that plagues so many relationships, whether platonic or romantic.

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Matt

Jan 19, 2020

Spectacular movie. Fascinating coming of age movie. Great acting. Great story

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Jan O

Jan 14, 2020

Very entertaining. I liked it more than I thought I would.

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SD

Jan 6, 2020

Glorious filmmaking.

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MSR

Jan 5, 2020

Nothing short of the emotional journey promised. As audibly amazing as it is visually stunning. The rhythm of the film moves and moves you through the story so well. Once the films ends, you feel like you've been involved in the Williams's lives so intimately. The most personal movie for me out of 2019. A must-see for the decade.

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Jayna

Dec 25, 2019

Felt like two separate movies.

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Jessica B

Dec 21, 2019

Great movie - perfect amount of suspense/action/love- but come on with the ending - bummed

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Trey Edward Shults

Director

Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Tyler

Taylor Russell

Emily

Sterling K. Brown

Ronald

Lucas Hedges

Luke

Alexa Demie

Alexis

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Synopsis

The epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the wake of a tragic loss.

Director: Trey Edward Shults
Producer: Jim Wilson, Kevin Turen, Trey Edward Shults
Screenwriter: Trey Edward Shults
Distributor: A24
Production Co: BRON Studios, JW Films
Rating: R (Drug and Alcohol Use|Brief Violence|Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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