Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater and co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan, and is the first installment in the Before trilogy. In the film, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) meet on a train and disembark in Vienna to spend the night together.

Inspired by personal experiences, Linklater collaborated with Krizan, who previously appeared in his films Slacker (1991) and Dazed and Confused (1993), to develop the film's screenplay. Casting was extensive; it took nine months for Hawke and Delpy to be cast. Principal photography took place in Vienna. The plot is considered minimalistic, consisting mostly of monologues and extended dialogue between the characters. The film explores themes and perspectives on life, love, time, death, self-discovery, and postmodern romance.

Before Sunrise premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 1995, and was theatrically released in the United States by Columbia Pictures eight days later. It grossed $22.5 million and received critical acclaim for its screenplay, Linklater's direction, and acting performances. Before Sunrise appeared on many critics' lists of the greatest films of the year and has since gone onto receive a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel Before Sunset was released in 2004, and Before Midnight, the third film, was released in 2013. In 2025, Before Sunrise was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".