A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is nothing like you’d expect it to be, taking you through a string of unpredictable moments that make for a great watch. Come for the fun and heartfelt beats, stay for the blushing chemistry between Margot Robbie and Collin Farrell. It’s a unique take and a refreshing idea in a movie landscape currently dominated by book adaptations and existing IP.
| A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review | Rating: 4/5 | |
|---|---|
| Director | Kogonada |
| Writer | Seth Reiss |
| Cast | Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kevin Kline, Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hamish Linklater |
| Runtime | 1h 49m |
| Rating | R |
| Genre | Fantasy Romance |
| Release Date | September 19, 2025 |
| Where to Watch | Streaming on Netflix; rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Directed by Kogonada, the film has moments that recall Danny Boyle’s 1997 film A Life Less Ordinary. It’s whimsical, with hints of song and dance that give off major La La Land vibes. The cinematography, paired with the soundtrack and a bright, bold color palette, makes this a real treat for the eyes.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review | Rating: 4/5
Screenshot by Reel Movie Junkie
It’s worth pulling on that thread, because the whimsical feel isn’t incidental. The score comes from Joe Hisaishi — the composer behind Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke — making his first American film score after decades scoring for Studio Ghibli. That pedigree shows.
Hisaishi’s piano-led, minimalist cues give the time-hopping door sequences a sense of wonder that a more conventional Hollywood score probably wouldn’t have reached for, and it’s a big part of why a premise that could feel gimmicky on paper (literally walking through a door into your own childhood) lands with real emotional weight instead. Laufey also contributes several original songs to the soundtrack, leaning further into the film’s old-soul romantic atmosphere.
On that note, Farrell and Robbie are two of the most attractive actors working today, and watching them play off each other’s flirty chemistry will have your cheeks hurting from smiling so much at the screen.
A Fantasy Romance With Margot Robbie & Colin Farrell
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a fantasy romance that follows two single strangers who meet at a friend’s wedding. Their paths lead them on an adventure through time as they’re propelled back to key moments in each of their lives — moments that helped shape who they are in the present.
Through a series of highs and lows, Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) find themselves inadvertently learning about one another, and potentially falling in love in the process. Despite their 14-year age difference off-screen (Robbie is 35, Farrell is 49), it doesn’t disturb the dynamic we see unfolding on screen.
Farrell is as charming as ever, and this performance will make viewers miss seeing him on screen more often. He’s an actor we don’t get cast in romance films nearly enough — the only other one that comes to mind is Winter’s Tale — but he’s damn good at playing a smooth leading man. He exudes confidence effortlessly in every scene, scripted or not.
The more I learned about Sarah, the more I found myself questioning Robbie’s casting. Her backstory is described as anything but that of a hopeless romantic, yet Robbie plays her with a “swept off her feet” energy that doesn’t quite match. Still, their dynamic works, and you’ll find yourself rooting for the two of them right up until the end.
An Emotional Film That Will Have You Reminiscing About Your Past
Screenshot by Reel Movie Junkie
Carrying an undertone of regret, it’s also an emotional film that will have you thinking about moments in your own past you wish you could redo. In that moment, you might even tune out what’s happening on screen. It cuts deep and makes it easy to empathize with Sarah — and for that, writer Seth Reiss deserves his flowers.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey hit theaters on September 19, 2025, and is now streaming on Netflix (also available to rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home).
What did you think of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey — did the time-hopping doors work for you, or did the pacing lose you? Drop your take in the comments. Looking for more like this? Check out our Movies Hub, or browse all our movie reviews and exclusive celebrity interviews here on RMJ.