Waking Life(2001)
Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself?
Waking Life Synopsis
Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life.
Waking Life (2001) is a animation, drama and fantasy film directed by Richard Linklater, released on October 19, 2001 with a runtime of 1h 41m. It stars Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Wiley Wiggins and Bill Wise. Viewers rate it 7.5 out of 10 across 980 ratings.
- Director:
- Richard Linklater
- Writers:
- Richard Linklater
- Producers:
- Anne Walker-McBay, Tommy Pallotta, Palmer West
- Cinematographer:
- Richard Linklater
- Composer:
- Glover Gill
- Production:
- IFC Productions, Thousand Words, Detour Filmproduction, Flat Black Films
- Budget:
- $2,000,000
- Revenue:
- $3,176,880
- Status:
- Released
Waking Life (2001) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Waking Life before you stream it.
Waking Life Videos & Clips
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Waking Life.
Waking Life (2001) Original Trailer [FHD]
Trailer
'Waking Life' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times
Featurette
Waking Life Cast & Crew
Main cast
Ethan Hawke
as Jesse
Julie Delpy
as Celine
Wiley Wiggins
as Main Character
Bill Wise
as Boat Car Guy
Alex E. Jones
as Man in Car with P.A.
Steven Soderbergh
as Interviewed on Television
Ken Webster
as Bartender
Charles Gunning
as Angry Man in Jail
Lorelei Linklater
as Young Girl Playing Paper Game
- Trevor Jack Brooks
Trevor Jack Brooks
as Young Boy Playing Paper Game
- Glover Gill
Glover Gill
as Accordion Player
- Lara Hicks
Lara Hicks
as Violin Player
Key crew
Directed by Richard Linklater, written by Richard Linklater, produced by Anne Walker-McBay, Tommy Pallotta and Palmer West.
Explore more Animation titles
Waking Life Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 7.5/10 from 980 ratings.
You may also like
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
2025
Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match
2023
Nine Days
2021
The Zero Theorem
2013
Interstate 60
2002
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
2021
Tuesday
2024
Afro Samurai: Resurrection
2009
Pink Narcissus
1971
Heavy Metal
1981
Heavy Metal 2000
2000
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
2021
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
2020
The Congress
2013
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
2018
Injustice
2021
$9.99
2009
Vesper
2022
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
2020
The Death and Return of Superman
2019
Movies similar to Waking Life
Dream
2008
Starling
2021
Beautiful Dark
2022
Waltz with Bashir
2008
Dream Scenario
2023
Vals & Rumba
2021
The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!
2022
Dog Days
2001
Steamboy
2004
The Tree of Life
2011
Belle de Jour
1967
La silla
2006
Hairspray
2007
A Scanner Darkly
2006
The Broken
2008
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
1996
Yella
2007
Ana and Bruno
2017
Welcome to the Club
2022
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
1987
Waking Life – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Waking Life online?
+
Waking Life (2001) is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Waking Life?
+
The main cast of Waking Life (2001) includes Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Wiley Wiggins, Bill Wise and Alex E. Jones. The film was directed by Richard Linklater. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Waking Life released?
+
Waking Life was released on October 19, 2001 and runs for 1h 41m.
Is Waking Life worth watching?
+
Waking Life (2001) holds an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from 980 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy animation, drama and fantasy films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Waking Life?
+
Yes. The official Waking Life trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.