Before I Fall (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | March 3, 2017 |
| Founder | Ry Russo-Young (director), Maria Maggenti, Gina Prince-Bythewood (screenwriters) |
| Products | Film |
Before I Fall is a 2017 American teen drama directed by Ry Russo-Young and penned by Maria Maggenti alongside Gina Prince-Bythewood, adapted from the 2010 novel authored by Lauren Oliver. The movie features performances by Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, among others.
The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017, before its theatrical release on March 3, 2017, through Open Road Films. With a production budget of $5 million, it earned $18.9 million worldwide and garnered a range of critical responses.
Plot
On February 12, known as Cupid’s Day, Samantha "Sam" Kingston awakens with plans to lose her virginity to her boyfriend Rob. At school, she receives roses from both Rob and Kent McFuller, a former friend harboring feelings for her. Meanwhile, Sam’s group of friends targets Juliet Sykes, an outsider, with bullying.
During a party, Lindsay confronts Juliet physically while other attendees pour beer over Juliet. On the way back home, Sam's car crashes, seemingly resulting in their deaths. Following this, Sam finds herself trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day repeatedly.
Initially disoriented, Sam attempts to avoid the party and the fatal accident but uncovers that Juliet takes her own life that day. She learns that Lindsay’s bullying stemmed from jealousy and personal family stress.
As the cycles persist, Sam endeavors to make things right—mending her relationship with bullied student Anna Cartullo and developing a closer bond with Kent. She comes to understand the connection between Juliet’s suicide and the car accident.
During the final iteration of the day, Sam chooses compassion—sending roses to both Juliet and Kent, ending her relationship with Rob, sharing heartfelt moments with friends, and kissing Kent at the party. When Juliet tries to run into traffic, Sam intervenes and is struck by a truck, dying in the process. Her spirit realizes that saving Juliet also meant saving herself.
Cast
- Zoey Deutch as Samantha Kingston
- Halston Sage as Lindsay Edgecombe
- Logan Miller as Kent McFuller
- Kian Lawley as Rob Cokran
- Elena Kampouris as Juliet Sykes
- Diego Boneta as Mr. Daimler
- Jennifer Beals as Mrs. Kingston, mother of Samantha and Izzy
- Cynthy Wu as Ally Harris
- Medalion Rahimi as Elody
- Liv Hewson as Anna Cartullo
- Nicholas Lea as Dan Kingston, father of Samantha and Izzy
- Erica Tremblay as Izzy Kingston, Samantha's sister
- Claire Corlett as Devil Cupid
- Roan Curtis as Marian Sykes
Production
On July 15, 2010, Fox 2000 Pictures secured the rights to adapt Lauren Oliver’s debut young adult novel Before I Fall for film. Maria Maggenti was brought on board to write the screenplay while Jonathan Shestack produced and Ginny Pennekamp co-produced. The narrative centers on a high school girl who repeatedly experiences the same day until she amends her decisions. The screenplay was featured on the 2011 Black List highlighting top unproduced scripts. In 2012, Gina Prince-Bythewood was initially attached to direct; however, development stalled until Ry Russo-Young assumed directing responsibilities.
Zoey Deutch was cast in the lead role of Samantha Kingston on September 15, 2015. Producers Brian Robbins and Matthew Kaplan from Awesomeness Films joined Shestack for production that commenced in late October 2015. On October 27, additional casting announcements included Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Diego Boneta, and Elena Kampouris. Good Universe handled international sales at the American Film Market. Jennifer Beals was added in November to portray Samantha’s mother, followed by Liv Hewson joining later that month as Anna Cartullo. The film's musical score was composed by Adam Taylor.
Filming
The main filming phase commenced on November 16, 2015, in Squamish, British Columbia, with scenes captured at Quest University. Additional production took place in various locations throughout Vancouver. The shooting schedule wrapped up on December 19, 2015.
Release
In May 2016, Open Road Films secured the distribution rights for the United States. The film Before I Fall had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017. Initially planned for an April 7, 2017 release, the date was advanced to March 3. Furthermore, the movie was featured at Italy’s Giffoni Film Festival on July 18, 2017.
Home media
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment released the film on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S. market on May 30, 2017.
Box office
Before I Fall earned $12.2 million domestically across the U.S. and Canada, with an additional $6.7 million from international markets, culminating in a global total of $18.9 million.
Competing with titles like The Shack and Logan during its opening weekend, it was forecasted to generate approximately $4 million but surpassed estimates by bringing in $4.69 million. In its second weekend, the film garnered $3.1 million, experiencing a 34% decline while holding onto sixth place at the box office.
Critical response
The film holds a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 124 reviews, with an average score of 5.9 out of 10. The site's consensus notes its refreshing take on young adult themes alongside Zoey Deutch’s strong lead performance. On Metacritic, it received a score of 58 out of 100 from 31 critics, reflecting mixed or average opinions. Audience feedback via CinemaScore assigned it a "B" grade, while PostTrak recorded a 72% positive rating.
Abbey Bender from Uproxx commended Ry Russo-Young’s direction despite reservations about the conclusion, highlighting authentic portrayals of teenage girlhood. AllMovie awarded the film 2.5 stars out of 5, and Susan Wloszczyna of RogerEbert.com rated it three stars out of four.
Awards and nominations
At the 2017 Teen Choice Awards, the film earned a nomination for Choice Movie: Drama. Cast members Zoey Deutch and Kian Lawley were nominated for Choice Movie: Drama Actress and Actor categories respectively, with Lawley ultimately winning his award.