Eternity ★★★★

Released: 5 December 2025

Director: David Freyne

Starring: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph

There have been numerous explorations of the afterlife in film and tv, from the comedic angle of The Good Place to Pixar’s Soul and perhaps the best of all, A Matter of Life and Death. It is a subject matter that can be approached from several different angles, the latest comes in the shape of David Freyne’s Eternity.

We follow Miles Teller’s Larry Cutler (Miles Teller), recently deceased after sixty-five years of marriage, now waiting for his wife Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), for the pair to decide on their dream eternity. A beach paradise, an alpine retreat, all are options. Unbeknownst to Larry, Joan’s first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), has been waiting for her for 67 years. Who does she choose, her lost first love or the man she devoted her life to and raised a family with?

It’s a novel approach to love, loss and death, taking philosophical questions and themes and channelling them through a romantic comedy. The premise itself is slight, stretched to almost two hours. To its credit, keeping the focus overwhelmingly on the central trio is its biggest asset, allowing the chemistry between them to shine and for us to invest in Joan’s eventual decision. Teller once again proves he has been underutilised in previous roles, perfectly balancing the comedic and dramatic moments, and as with his cast mates, is believable as an old man suddenly in his younger body.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, fresh off her Oscar win for The Holdovers, is a delight as Anna, Larry’s afterlife co-ordinator, helping him acclimatise to his new surroundings and assisting him in his efforts to win an eternity with Joan. The performances really keep us invested in Eternity even through a third-act wobble that drags on a tad too long. Ultimately it’s a crowd-pleasing, emotive look at grief.

There are shades of Apple’s earlier love-triangle Fingernails, but this commits to its premise more, and the characters and premise are far more fleshed out. Even if it doesn’t reach the heights of say A Matter of Life and Death, this is a film well worth a watch for its pitch-perfect performances and novel concept. It is equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking, melancholic and contemplative.