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— CH. 1 · MULTIVERSE MECHANICS AND PLOT —

Everything Everywhere All at Once

~10 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
7 sections
  • Evelyn Quan Wang stands in a laundromat in Simi Valley, California, staring at an IRS audit notice that threatens to destroy her family's life. Two decades earlier, she and her husband Waymond eloped to the United States, but now their marriage is crumbling under financial pressure and generational conflict. Her daughter Joy battles depression while dating Becky, a non-Chinese girlfriend Evelyn refuses to accept. During a tense meeting with Revenue Agent Deirdre Beaubeirdre, Alpha-Waymond from another universe takes over Waymond's body to explain the multiverse concept. Every life choice creates a new alternative universe where parallel selves exist with different skills and memories. Verse-jumping technology allows people to access these other bodies by performing bizarre actions like wearing a fanny pack or eating a bagel. Jobu Tupaki, the omnicidal daughter of Alpha-Evelyn, has splintered mind experiences all universes simultaneously. She created an Everything Bagel that forms a toroid singularity capable of destroying reality itself. Evelyn must learn to jump between universes to stop Jobu from using the bagel to end existence. The film shows Evelyn becoming a kung fu master and film star in alternate realities before returning to her mundane life. When Jobu confronts Evelyn inside the bagel, she reveals she wants to die because experiencing everything makes nothing matter. Evelyn pauses to listen to Waymond's pleas for kindness even when life is senseless. This existentialist epiphany leads her to repair damage across universes and neutralize Jobu's fighters. In the home universe, Evelyn reconciles with Waymond and accepts Joy's relationship while convincing the IRS agent to let them redo their taxes. Jobu enters the bagel alone as Joy pleads with Evelyn to let her go. Evelyn tells Joy she will always want to be with her despite the chaos. They embrace and save Jobu from destruction. Sometime later, the family returns to refile their taxes while Evelyn briefly notices alternative selves before grounding herself back in reality.

  • Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert began researching the multiverse concept as early as 2010 after watching Ross McElwee's documentary Sherman's March. Kwan described feeling upset when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse released in 2018 since it dealt with similar ideas. He stated that watching Rick and Morty became painful because those creators had already explored their original concepts. The directors stopped consuming that show while writing their screenplay. Early drafts featured a professor character with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder until Kwan discovered he had ADHD himself through research. Scenes showing martial arts training drew visual inspiration from Wong Kar-wai films according to Chris Lee of Vulture. These sequences conjure a mood of exquisite romantic yearning recognizable as touchstones of Wong's work. The universe where characters become rocks came from Sylvester and the Magic Pebble published in 1969 and the video game Everything released in 2017. Kwan said the everything bagel started as just a throwaway joke playing on American bagels with many toppings. Scheinert spent time developing religion for bagel followers but encountered complications about dogma and practices. They decided the bagel stuck because it became such a useful simple symbol filmmakers could point to without explanation. Jobu Tupaki is a nihilist so there was no need for books or specific religious practices beyond the joke itself. The script originally targeted Jackie Chan before reconceiving the protagonist as a woman to make the husband-wife dynamic more relatable. Michelle Yeoh opposed naming the character Michelle Wang since she felt Evelyn deserved her own story separate from herself. She explained that this ordinary mother tries her best to be good to her daughter father and wife.

  • Michelle Yeoh starred as Evelyn Quan Wang while Stephanie Hsu played Joy Wang and Jobu Tupaki. Ke Huy Quan returned to film acting after retiring following Second Time Around in 2002 due to lack of casting opportunities. James Hong portrayed Gong Gong and Alpha-Gong Gong while Jamie Lee Curtis appeared as IRS agent Deirdre Beaubeirdre. Awkwafina left the project in January 2020 over scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Stephanie Hsu. Kwan and Scheinert were inspired to cast Quan after seeing a meme showing Andrew Yang as grown-up Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984. They learned Quan had returned to acting soon before being approached for the role. This created a domino effect where director Jon M. Chu made Crazy Rich Asians because of #StarringJohnCho movement about Asian representation. Jeff Cohen served as Quan's attorney negotiating his contract. The casting process involved hard conversations with studios who questioned whether they should try white actors or find other types bringing money. Kwan said they put their foot down stating no since the script was written for a Chinese family. Scheinert noted it took longer but resulted in an ideal cast. Michelle Yeoh opposed naming the character Michelle Wang because she felt Evelyn deserved her own journey separate from herself. She explained that this ordinary mother tries her best to be good to her daughter father and wife.

  • Principal photography began in January 2020 and wrapped in early March during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. A24 announced financing and distribution while Scott Rudin left due to allegations involving his behavior. Shooting lasted only 38 days mostly in Simi Valley California. Much footage was shot overcranked at very high frame rates to accommodate extensive time remapping in post production. The Daniels said kung-fu fight scenes were shot unusually quickly with the fanny-pack sequence completed in just one day and a half. Visual effects post-production happened in-house after negative experiences with dedicated studios on Swiss Army Man in 2016. Eight artists headed by Zak Stoltz produced visual effects using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro. They used Resilio Sync to share large amounts of data once the pandemic hit. For Deirdre's appearance Kwan found a picture of real IRS agent online which Curtis liked wanting to emulate. Curtis wanted the character as real as possible using her actual belly instead of prosthetics. Runway AI automated rotoscoping shots filmed on green screen creating mattes allowing rocks to combine with other imagery. Son Lux composed the score taking two to three years to create more than hundred musical cues across forty-nine tracks running over two hours. The soundtrack features Mitski David Byrne André 3000 playing flute Randy Newman Moses Sumney Hajnal Pivnick and yMusic. Two songs This Is a Life featuring Mitski and Byrne and Fence featuring Sumney released as singles March 4 and 14 2022.

  • A. O. Scott of The New York Times described the film as swirl of genre anarchy explaining hectic action sequences aren't really the point. It is bittersweet domestic drama marital comedy story of immigrant striving and hurt-filled ballad of mother-daughter love. Laura Zornosa from The New York Times elaborates addressing intergenerational trauma through healing relationships. Emily St. James wrote on Vox that film is part rising subgenre millennial parental apology fantasy imagining worlds parents children reconcile. Charles Bramesco of The Guardian said bagel of doom tightening grip on Evelyn's daughter lends itself to declaration nothing worse submitting to nihilism so trendy next generation. Our lone hope recourse embrace all love beauty surrounding us if only present enough see it. Anne Anlin Cheng wrote in Washington Post multiverse acts metaphor for immigrant Asian experience convenient parable dislocations personality splits suffered hyphenated citizens including LGBT culture. It becomes heady vehicle confronting negotiating Asian-pessimism term she uses reference Afro-pessimism. Clint Worthington noted Daniels weaves chaotic possibilities multiverse into cohesive story travails road not traveled need carve own meaning meaningless universe. Jobu Tupaki modus operandi living contradiction everything bagel: put everything bagel what more left? Experienced everything multiverse offer point any of it? Kwan said everything bagel concept allowed talking about nihilism without being too eye roll-y creates MacGuffin doomsday device. If first half people think bagel here destroy world second half realize depressed person trying destroy themselves takes everything action movies turns something more personal. George Gillett argues movie coming-of-age film internet generation multiverse resembling virtual environments viewers increasingly exist within. Philosophical themes particularly Waymond worldview viewed expression central ideas humanism belief people should be kind especially when don't know going on. Other authors linked themes Mahayana Buddhism Daoism recurring images bagel googly eyes surprisingly apt humorous take yin yang contraposing smorgasbord meaningless nothingness value where want create meaning where choose see it.

  • World premiere occurred at South by Southwest film festival the 11th of March 2022 before limited theatrical release United States March 25 nationwide April 8 by A24. Select IMAX theaters released film one night only the 30th of March 2022 returning week starting April 29 due popularity. Film not released most parts Middle East including Saudi Arabia Kuwait due censorship LGBT issues. United Kingdom release the 13th of May 2022 re-released U.S. theaters the 29th of July 2023 unchanged adding introduction Daniels eight minutes outtakes after credits. Chinese audiences approved Taiwanese title 妈的多重宇宙 translating alternatively Mother's Multiverse Fucking Multiverse tagline Even More Marvel than Marvel. Mainland China used 瞬息全宇宙 In an Instant Entire Universe while Hong Kong employed 奇異女俠玩救宇宙 Weird Woman Warrior Fucks Around and Saves Universe. Taiwanese audiences disapproved subtitles during release for over-translating movie. Digital streaming platforms released the 7th of June 2022 Blu-ray DVD Ultra HD Blu-ray the 5th of July 2022 Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Grossed $77.2 million United States Canada $66.2 million other territories worldwide total $143.4 million. Deadline Hollywood calculated net profit $32 million factoring together expenses revenues. Opening weekend earned $509,600 ten venues theater average $50,965 second-best since beginning COVID-19 pandemic platform release behind Licorice Pizza then-best opening theater average 2022. Second weekend grossed $1.1 million thirty-eight theaters finishing ninth box office. Wide expansion third weekend going from 38 to 1,250 theaters made $6.1 million finishing sixth. Playing 2,220 theaters following weekend earned $6.2 million finishing fourth. Sixth weekend added $5.5 million part attributed wider IMAX release successful box office run until then. Added $3.5 million seventh weekend another $3.3 million eighth. By May 21 made over $51 million surpassing Uncut Gems $50 million A24 highest-grossing film domestically. By June 9 made over $80 million surpassing Hereditary $79 million A24 highest-grossing film all time. Remained box office top ten until sixteenth weekend ended July 10. Crossed $100 million mark worldwide July 31 first independent film released during pandemic A24 history achieve distinction.

  • Won seven of eleven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture Best Director Best Actress Yeoh Best Supporting Actor Quan Best Supporting Actress Curtis Best Original Screenplay Best Editing record-tying six above-the-line wins picture director screenplay acting three acting wins. Received ten BAFTA nominations winning one thirteen Critics Choice Movie Awards nominations winning five eight Independent Spirit Awards nominations winning record-breaking seven six Golden Globe Awards nominations winning two. Named one top 10 films 2022 National Board Review American Film Institute. Won top prizes Directors Guild America Awards Producers Guild America Awards Writers Guild America Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards last won record-breaking four awards. Became fifth film sweep all four top prizes major guilds DGA PGA WGA SAG after American Beauty No Country for Old Men Slumdog Millionaire Argo all five films ended winning Best Picture respective Academy Awards. Made Academy Awards history several categories. Yeoh first Asian Best Actress second woman color Halle Berry 2002 first Malaysian win any Academy Award. Stephanie Hsu nomination Best Supporting Actress alongside Hong Chau nomination Whale marked first time two actresses Asian ethnicity nominated category same year. Quan first Vietnam-born actor win Academy Award. Jamie Lee Curtis also won first Oscar career Best Supporting Actress helping film win three out four acting categories. First science-fiction film win Best Picture multiple sources first science-fiction film win five of top six Academy Awards. While no film ever won four acting categories third win three out four after A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Network 1976 first also win Best Picture. First film since 2013 Gravity win seven Academy Awards most awarded Best Picture winner since 2008 Slumdog Millionaire. Reaction to Best Picture win not without criticism including Justin Chang lamenting Los Angeles Times academy chose wrong best picture compared win CODA previous ceremony.

Common questions

What is the plot of Everything Everywhere All at Once?

Evelyn Quan Wang must learn to jump between universes to stop her daughter Jobu Tupaki from using an everything bagel to destroy reality. The film follows Evelyn as she becomes a kung fu master and film star in alternate realities before returning to her mundane life to save existence.

Who directed Everything Everywhere All at Once and when did they start researching it?

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert began researching the multiverse concept as early as 2010 after watching Ross McElwee's documentary Sherman's March. They stopped consuming shows like Rick and Morty while writing their screenplay due to similar ideas already being explored by other creators.

When was the world premiere of Everything Everywhere All at Once held?

World premiere occurred at South by Southwest film festival the 11th of March 2022 before limited theatrical release United States March 25 nationwide April 8 by A24. Select IMAX theaters released film one night only the 30th of March 2022 returning week starting April 29 due popularity.

What awards did Michelle Yeoh win for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once?

Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress at the Academy Awards making her the first Asian woman to win any Academy Award. She also received nominations from BAFTA Critics Choice Movie Awards Golden Globe Awards and Independent Spirit Awards for her performance as Evelyn Quan Wang.

How much money did Everything Everywhere All at Once gross worldwide?

Film grossed $77.2 million United States Canada $66.2 million other territories worldwide total $143.4 million. Deadline Hollywood calculated net profit $32 million factoring together expenses revenues after crossing $100 million mark worldwide July 31 first independent film released during pandemic A24 history achieve distinction.

All sources

133 references cited across the entry

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  2. 4box office mojoEverything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
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  6. 12newsEverything Everywhere All at Once (2022) ReviewClement Goh — April 14, 2022
  7. 31newsUnder the Skin of Jamie Lee CurtisKyle Buchanan — October 12, 2022
  8. 40webHollywood's hot new trend: Parents who say they're sorryEmily St. James — April 25, 2022
  9. 46webThe philosophy of Everything, Everywhere, All at OnceKiki Tianqi Yu — March 15, 2023
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  11. 50newsHow Michelle Yeoh Took Jackie Chan's RoleKara Swisher — April 12, 2022
  12. 51webIt's Right There in the TitleAdam Nayman — March 28, 2022
  13. 71webThe expansive Everything Everywhere All at Once is coming back to IMAXWilliam Hughes — G/O Media — April 29, 2022
  14. 76tweetBack in 800 U.S. theaters next weekend! It's pretty fun in a theater. Just be clear: it's the same movie. Same edit. But if you stay through the credits y'all get some good old fashioned bloopers and outtakes like a classic Hong Kong flick.Daniels — July 20, 2022
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  18. 93webDomestic 2022 Weekend 18May 8, 2022
  19. 94webDomestic 2022 Weekend 19May 15, 2022
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  22. 111webThe best movie scenes of 2022Pete Volk — December 27, 2022
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