Before & After: The Best Sequels to Love Stories

When Cinema Follows Characters Across Decades

The Before trilogy and films like it prove that watching the same two people age on screen is one of cinema's most intimate experiences. These are the films you return to.

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Created: July 28, 2025

The Collection

Before Sunrise

Before Sunrise

1995
1
Before Sunrise
1995
1
Before Sunrise
IMDb 8.1 / 10
Director Richard Linklater
Cast Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert
Box Office $5,535,405
Why An essential entry — Before Sunrise embodies exactly what this collection is about.
Before Sunset

Before Sunset

2004
2
Before Sunset
2004
2
Before Sunset
IMDb 8.1 / 10
Director Richard Linklater
Cast Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff
Box Office $5,820,649
Why An essential entry — Before Sunset embodies exactly what this collection is about.
Before Midnight

Before Midnight

2013
3
Before Midnight
2013
3
Before Midnight
IMDb 7.9 / 10
Director Richard Linklater
Cast Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick
Box Office $8,114,627
Why An essential entry — Before Midnight embodies exactly what this collection is about.
My Dinner with Andre

My Dinner with Andre

1981
4
My Dinner with Andre
1981
4
My Dinner with Andre
IMDb 7.7 / 10
Director Louis Malle
Cast Andre Gregory, Wallace Shawn, Jean Lenauer
Box Office $5,073
Why An essential entry — My Dinner with Andre embodies exactly what this collection is about.
2 Days in Paris

2 Days in Paris

2007
5
2 Days in Paris
2007
5
2 Days in Paris
IMDb 6.7 / 10
Director Julie Delpy
Cast Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Brühl
Box Office $4,433,994
Why An essential entry — Two Days in Paris embodies exactly what this collection is about.
2 Days in New York

2 Days in New York

2012
6
2 Days in New York
2012
6
2 Days in New York
IMDb 6.0 / 10
Director Julie Delpy
Cast Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy
Box Office $633,210
Why An essential entry — Two Days in New York embodies exactly what this collection is about.
Boyhood

Boyhood

2014
7
Boyhood
2014
7
Boyhood
IMDb 7.9 / 10
Director Richard Linklater
Cast Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke
Box Office $25,352,281
Why An essential entry — Boyhood embodies exactly what this collection is about.
25 Years of Innocence

25 Years of Innocence

2020
8
25 Years of Innocence
2020
8
25 Years of Innocence
IMDb 7.5 / 10
Director Jan Holoubek
Cast Piotr Trojan, Agata Kulesza, Dariusz Chojnacki
Why An essential entry — 25 Years of Innocence embodies exactly what this collection is about.
The Notebook

The Notebook

2004
9
The Notebook
2004
9
The Notebook
IMDb 7.8 / 10
Director Nick Cassavetes
Cast Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams
Box Office $81,417,274
Why An essential entry — The Notebook embodies exactly what this collection is about.
Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine

2010
10
Blue Valentine
2010
10
Blue Valentine
IMDb 7.3 / 10
Director Derek Cianfrance
Cast Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, John Doman
Box Office $9,706,328
Why An essential entry — Blue Valentine embodies exactly what this collection is about.
Marriage Story

Marriage Story

2019
11
Marriage Story
2019
11
Marriage Story
IMDb 7.9 / 10
Director Noah Baumbach
Cast Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Greer
Box Office $333,686
Why An essential entry — Marriage Story embodies exactly what this collection is about.

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