I didn’t see “Everything Everywhere All at Once” the first weekend it was playing in theaters because it was completely sold out. The next weekend when I did go to see it with three of my friends we got the last four seats available in the entire theater. A week later, I went back to the theater to see another film. There was a sign in front of the box office that read “Everything Everywhere All At Once Sold Out Friday Night”.

Now and then, a movie comes around that is entirely unlike anything that has come before it, pushing both the art and industry of film forward. Across our world, it’s begun to feel like these films come around less and less. The only movies that receive attention at a large scale are sequels to spinoffs of already existing franchises. As well as “EEAaO” is doing, it was still soundly beaten at the box office by the likes of “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2”. However, it’s worth analyzing the circumstances surrounding each’s success. Both “Sonic” and “Fantastic Beasts” coasted off the success of previous films, and had extensive marketing campaigns ahead of their releases. On the other hand, “EEAaO” has spread through word of mouth, both face to face and over social media. 

That distinction is very important to understanding this film. Everyone loves this film. People tell their friends to go see it, who tell their other friends to go see it, etc. The directors, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert managed to fill “EEAaO” with so many genres that it almost defies being classified. The movie is simultaneously one of the funniest comedies, most emotional dramas, most mind-bending sci-fi, and most entertaining action films ever made. There is such a universal appeal in its content that it’s unsurprising how popular it’s become. 

Arguably an even greater factor in the film’s success is the themes and messaging. Thanks to the sheer chaos of what’s onscreen, the film relies heavily on deeper ideas and messages to tie everything together. Since the film is able to center itself around family, meaning and life it gives it something to keep coming back to and for the audience to absorb.

The reason everyone loves this film is because it speaks to them. The title of this film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, is accurate. This film feels like it encompasses everything. Every emotion, every joy, every pain, every dream and every battle people experience. Any and all of it can be seen and experienced through this film. 

Everyone, everywhere needs to see this film. Though preferably not all at once, it already has enough sold-out showings.