Ever sit in a bar and wonder about the strangers sitting next to you? Maybe you’ve even made up a whole life story for them. That’s exactly how the past lives full movie begins—with an off-screen voice trying to piece together the relationship between three people sitting at a dimly lit bar in New York.
It’s been a few years since Celine Song’s debut hit theaters, but honestly, it hasn't aged a day. If anything, it feels more relevant now. We live in a world of "what-ifs." Social media lets us peek into the alternate realities of people we used to know, making it almost impossible to truly "leave" a life behind.
Where to Stream the Past Lives Full Movie Right Now
Look, I get it. You want to watch it, and you want to know if it's on your subscription. As of early 2026, the streaming landscape for this A24 gem is actually pretty stable, though it depends on where you’re logging in from.
In the U.S., you can find the past lives full movie on Max (formerly HBO Max). It’s been a staple there for a while, often bundled with Hulu or Disney+ plans. If you aren't a Max subscriber, you're looking at the standard rental or purchase route. Platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (which used to be Vudu) have it for digital rent or buy. Usually, it’s around $3.99 for a rental, which is basically the price of a mediocre latte. Worth it? Absolutely.
For international viewers, things get a bit more "it depends." Netflix carries it in a handful of regions, like South Korea and a few Caribbean countries. In the UK, it’s often tucked away on channels like Sky Go. If you’re a physical media nerd—and honestly, with streaming services deleting content these days, who can blame you—the Blu-ray from A24 is actually a beautiful piece of design.
The Story That Broke Everyone's Heart
If you haven't seen it yet, the plot is deceptively simple.
👉 See also: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
Two kids in Seoul, Na Young and Hae Sung, are best friends. Maybe more. Then Na Young’s family moves to Canada. She becomes Nora. Twelve years pass. They find each other on Facebook. They Skype. They talk about meeting. Then Nora cuts it off because she wants to focus on her life in New York.
Another twelve years pass.
Nora is now a playwright, married to a guy named Arthur. Hae Sung finally comes to visit. That’s the movie. It’s a 24-year arc compressed into an hour and forty-six minutes.
What makes it work isn't some big, dramatic explosion. There’s no cheating. There’s no "evil" husband. In fact, John Magaro’s portrayal of Arthur is one of the best things about the film. He’s vulnerable. He knows he’s the "white American husband" standing in the way of a cosmic destiny, and he’s terrified by it. He tells Nora, "You dream in a language I can’t understand." That line? Brutal.
Understanding In-Yun: Is It Actually Fate?
You can't talk about the past lives full movie without talking about In-Yun. It’s a Korean concept that Nora explains early on. Basically, it’s the idea of providence or fate.
✨ Don't miss: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
If two strangers' clothes brush against each other on the street, it means there were 8,000 layers of In-Yun between them in their previous lives. It’s a beautiful way to think about connection. But the movie does something smart—it asks if In-Yun is enough.
Hae Sung is a ghost of Nora's past. He represents the girl she was in Korea—a girl who doesn't exist anymore. When they finally stand together at the Statue of Liberty or at that iconic carousel in DUMBO, they aren't just looking at each other. They’re looking at the lives they didn’t live.
Director Celine Song, who based much of this on her own life, uses long pauses and incredible cinematography to let the silence do the talking. The final scene—a 6.5-minute tracking shot of Nora and Hae Sung walking to an Uber—is a masterclass in tension. You’re waiting for them to say something, to do something. When the car finally pulls away, the emotional payoff is a literal gut punch.
Why the Ending Still Sparks Debates
People are still arguing about that ending. Did she choose the "right" life?
The truth is, the movie isn't about choosing between two men. It's about mourning the versions of yourself you had to kill to become who you are today. Nora is an immigrant. To become an American writer, she had to leave Na Young behind in Seoul.
🔗 Read more: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
Hae Sung asks, "If this is a past life, too... then I'll see you in the next one." It’s a hopeful thought, but the reality of the film is grounded in the present. The way Nora walks back to her house and collapses in Arthur's arms tells you everything. She isn't crying because she wants to be with Hae Sung; she's crying because she finally said goodbye to the 12-year-old girl she used to be.
Quick Facts and Technical Details
- Director: Celine Song (her directorial debut!)
- Cast: Greta Lee (Nora), Teo Yoo (Hae Sung), John Magaro (Arthur)
- Box Office: It grossed about $42.7 million worldwide—huge for an indie drama.
- Awards: Nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 2024 Oscars.
- Runtime: 106 minutes.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re planning to watch the past lives full movie again, or for the first time, here are a few things to keep in mind for the best experience.
- Watch the body language. Greta Lee is incredible at showing Nora's discomfort and nostalgia through just the way she stands.
- Listen to the score. Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen (from the band Grizzly Bear) created a soundtrack that feels like a memory.
- Pay attention to the language. The movie shifts between Korean and English. The moments where Nora doesn't translate for Arthur are some of the most intimate and exclusionary moments in the film.
Next time you’re scrolling through Max or looking for something on Prime, give this one your full attention. Put the phone away. This isn't a "background noise" movie. It’s a movie that demands you look at your own life and wonder which version of In-Yun you’re currently living.
If you’re feeling inspired after watching, you might want to look into other A24 dramas like Minari or The Farewell, which tackle similar themes of identity and the immigrant experience. Or, better yet, just go for a walk and see whose clothes you brush up against. You never know who you were to them 8,000 lifetimes ago.