Other meanings of Everything Everywhere All at Once
Film
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 American absurdist comedy-drama film directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively known as Daniels). The film stars Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who discovers she must connect with parallel-universe versions of herself to prevent a powerful entity from destroying the multiverse. It premiered at the South by Southwest festival in March 2022 and became a critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant, runs a laundromat with her husband Waymond, who is filing for divorce. Her elderly father Gong Gong is visiting, and she faces an IRS audit. During the audit, Waymond is possessed by an alternate-universe version of himself, who reveals that a multiverse exists and that Evelyn is the key to stopping a villain called Jobu Tupaki, an alternate version of her daughter Joy. Jobu has created a chaotic 'everything bagel' that threatens to destroy all universes.
Evelyn learns to 'verse-jump' by performing improbable actions, accessing the skills and memories of her other selves. She encounters many versions of her family and herself, including a universe where humans have hot dog fingers and one where she is a martial arts movie star. The film culminates in a philosophical confrontation where Evelyn chooses empathy and love over nihilism, reconciling with Joy and Waymond.
The film was produced by A24 and shot in 2020, with a budget of $25 million. The Daniels wrote the script over several years, drawing on their experiences with immigrant parents and existential dread. They used practical effects and innovative editing to depict the multiverse, avoiding heavy CGI. The film's themes include generational trauma, immigrant experience, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
Michelle Yeoh performed many of her own stunts, and the cast includes Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The soundtrack features original music by Son Lux, including a cover of 'Clair de Lune' by the band. The film's title is a reference to the feeling of being overwhelmed by life's possibilities.
Everything Everywhere All at Once received universal acclaim from critics, who praised its originality, performances, and emotional depth. It grossed over $143 million worldwide, becoming A24's highest-grossing film. At the 95th Academy Awards, it won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Quan, Best Supporting Actress for Curtis, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
It also won top honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Directors Guild of America Awards, and the Producers Guild of America Awards. The film's success was seen as a landmark for Asian-American representation in Hollywood, with Yeoh becoming the first Asian woman to win Best Actress.
The film's original script was much longer and included a subplot involving a universe where humans have evolved from sloths. The 'everything bagel' was inspired by a real bagel that Kwan saw, and the visual effects team spent months creating its intricate details. The film's editing was done by Paul Rogers, who used a technique called 'rhythmic editing' to match the chaotic tone.
Ke Huy Quan had retired from acting for over a decade before this film; he returned after seeing Crazy Rich Asians. The film's production was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some scenes were shot with minimal crew. The hot dog finger universe was a last-minute addition, and the actors wore prosthetic fingers. The film's title was almost changed to 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' after a test screening, but the original title was kept.
The film has been analyzed by scholars for its portrayal of the multiverse as a metaphor for the immigrant experience and the pressures of modern life. It has been compared to works like The Matrix and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but critics note its unique blend of absurdist humor and heartfelt drama. The film's success has influenced other filmmakers to take risks with unconventional narratives.
It has also sparked discussions about the representation of Asian-American families in cinema, with many praising the film's nuanced depiction of mother-daughter relationships. The film's use of googly eyes as a symbol of kindness has become a cultural touchstone. In 2023, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, recognizing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
This article is about the 2022 film. For other uses, see Everything Everywhere All at Once (disambiguation).
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