What Dreams May Come (1998)

Chris Nielsen dies in car crash one night, and then goes to Heaven. Later, his widow Annie commits suicide, unable to overcome her loss. Chris descends into Hell to save her.

Director:

Vincent Ward

Writers:

Richard Matheson (novel), Ronald Bass (screenplay) (as Ron Bass)

Stars:

Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Chris Nielsen
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Albert Lewis
Annabella Sciorra	...	Annie Collins-Nielsen
Max von Sydow	...	The Tracker
Jessica Brooks Grant	...	Marie Nielsen
Josh Paddock	...	Ian Nielsen
Rosalind Chao	...	Leona
Lucinda Jenney	...	Mrs. Jacobs
Maggie McCarthy	...	Stacey Jacobs
Wilma Bonet	...	Angie
Matt Salinger	...	Reverend Hanley
Carin Sprague	...	Best Friend Cindy
June Carryl	...	Woman in Car Accident (as June Lomena)
Paul P. Card IV	...	Paramedic
Werner Herzog	...	Face

Storyline

During a holidays in Switzerland, a young Chris Nielsen meets by chance Annie Collins in a lake when their boats slightly collide. Sharing a snack when they meet a few hours later, Chris and Annie fall in love each other. Marrying quickly, Chris works as pediatrician and Annie as artist painter and art dealer, and they turn in parents of two children, older Ian and elder Marie. But their happy family life torn apart when being Ian and Marie teenagers, a car accident kills both and the nanny who was driving the van where they were. Four years later, Chris and Annie try to restore their life despite the tragedy and celebrate their anniversary when while he returns to home in his car after to end his daily work, Chris witnesses a car accident in a tunnel during a rainy night. Exiting of the car in an attempt to help people, another car crashes against him, hurting severally. Dying in the hospital, Chris turns in a ghost around his house and his recently widowed Annie, trying tell her ...

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Plot Keywords:

heaven | soul mate | afterlife | reference to william shakespeare | reference to shakespeare's hamlet | 

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Taglines:

After life there is more. The end is just the beginning.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language

Details

Country:

USA New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Más allá de los sueños

Filming Locations:

Ross, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,833,592, 4 October 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$55,485,043

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$71,485,043

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Interscope Communications, Metafilmics

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robin Williams and Max von Sydow previously appeared in Awakenings (1990). In both films, Williams played a doctor while Sydow played a doctors' professor.

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Goofs

When Chris is entering the tunnel to help out with the accident, the shadow of the camera on a crane can be seen on the wall.

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Quotes

Albert: You don't understand.
Chris Nielsen: It's not about understanding... it's about *not* giving up!

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Crazy Credits

Disclaimer after the end credits: "The persons and events in this production are fictitious. No similarity to actual persons, living, dead or reincarnated is intended or should be inferred."

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Alternate Versions

The version released in Thailand (and most likely in some other countries) both theatrically and on DVD has a song 'Beside You' that plays over the first portion of the end credits. It is sung by "Simply Red' and credited to Mark Snow and Michael Kaman. The credits go on to say that Chris and Annie's theme, which plays on the credits of the American release and throughout the body of both versions, is based on variations of 'Beside You' by Mark Snow and Michael Kaman. However, the American credits say that Chris and Annie's Theme is based upon variations of 'Beside You' written by Martin Fulterman and Michael Kaman.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Thought-Provoking Life After Death Movies (2016)

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Soundtracks

Hymn II, from Three Sacred Hymns
Composed by Alfred Shnitke
Performed by The Slavyanka Chorus and The San Francisco Girls Chorus
Conducted by Dr. Sharon J. Paul

User Reviews

20 years on this is still a powerful visual storytelling feat

I'd never watched this film when it was released. It's taken me 20 years to finally watch it, and though film-making has advanced technologically in terms of CGI in that time - it still looks stunning ! It's a slow burning story and there's not much joy and laughs - but the sense of love and family and resoluteness still lingered way after the film ended. It's concept of Heaven and Hell is way beyond conventional film directors. It's a labour of love which at the end is faith affirming and yet shows up all our human flaws and vulnerability in all their glory. Great direction - good acting and an incredible journey that will stay in your mind .