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Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #545 on its own—not above the ranking.
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DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
ActorAll actors

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Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Before Sunrise film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

An American traveler and a French student meet on a train and spend one night walking through Vienna.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

American traveler Jesse meets French student Céline on a train from Budapest and persuades her to leave with him in Vienna. With his flight departing the next morning, they walk through the city talking about family, love, death, belief, and possible futures.

Why it belongs

Through walking, real duration, Vienna spaces, and Hawke and Delpy's alert discovery of each other, Before Sunrise makes conversation cinematic.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Trams, a record booth, cemetery, Ferris wheel, café tables, riverbanks, and long moving takes let ideas arise from place and time—Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy make listening as active as speaking.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Berlin1 win1995 · official festival record ↗
Silver Bear for Best Director1995 · Richard Linklaterofficial festival record ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 250199AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness8.1
Engagement8.4
Ease8.3

English · R
Narrative Feature
Mood: Romantic & Reflective