Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) is a dramatic, action sci-fi film that follows Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a middle-aged Chinese immigrant woman running a laundromat with her overly optimistic husband, Waymond Wang (Ke Huy Quan). At the beginning of the film, Evelyn is overwhelmed with everything happening in her life—managing her struggling business, trying to get her taxes in order before an audit, and taking care of her visiting father from China. On top of this, Waymond is working up the courage to serve her divorce papers, and her relationship with her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), is strained due to Evelyn’s lack of acceptance of Joy’s girlfriend.
The sci-fi elements come up when the family visits the IRS office for their audit. Suddenly, Waymond’s demeanor changes as an alternate version of himself from another universe takes over. He explains to Evelyn that a vast “multiverse” exists, where every choice a person makes creates a new reality, and that she is the only person capable of stopping Jobu Tupaki—an evil person threatening to destroy the multiverse—who is later revealed to be an alternate version of Joy.
Evelyn learns how to jump between universes, gaining access to the skills, memories, and experiences of her alternate selves. As she navigates these different realities, she discovers that Jobu Tupaki is a version of Joy who has experienced every possible outcome of her existence all at once, leading her to conclude that nothing truly matters in her life. Jobu created a black hole-like object called the “Everything Bagel,” which she claims contains everything in existence and can bring an end to all things.
As Evelyn begins to resonate with Jobu’s nihilistic (the belief that life is meaningless) perspective, she starts acting recklessly, treating her own life and universe as insignificant. However, she remembers Waymond’s reminding her to beleive in kindness and optimism despite life’s chaos. He reminds her that even when things feel meaningless, there is value in choosing love and compassion. Inspired by this, Evelyn works to heal her relationships with those closest to her, expressing emotions she has long suppressed.
Evelyn convinces Joy not to surrender to the “Everything Bagel,” showing her that their relationship matters and that she will always stand by her side, even if she doesn’t fully understand her. Joy ultimately chooses to stay in her current reality with Evelyn, learning to live life in the present moment.
By the end of the film, the family returns to their original universe with their relationships repaired—Evelyn and Waymond reconcile, and Evelyn finally accepts Joy for who she is. They revisit the IRS for their audit, but this time, Evelyn is at peace and content with where she is in life.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) is a story about self-identity, family, and finding meaning in an unpredictable world. Evelyn’s journey of self-discovery reflects how people often struggle with feelings of failure and regret. Despite experiencing infinite life possibilities, she ultimately realizes that life’s most important moments come from everyday moments. The film contrasts Jobu’s nihilism, which argues that nothing in life matters, with Waymond’s optimism, which demonstrates the power of kindness. In the end, the story suggests that while life is chaotic and complex, it is best lived when we find acceptance in the life we have, rather than longing for the infinite imagined lives we don’t.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) Awards:
Academy Awards (95th Oscars) – 11 Nominations, 7 Wins
- Won: Best Picture
- Won: Best Director – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
- Won: Best Actress – Michelle Yeoh (first Asian woman to win Best Actress)
- Won: Best Supporting Actor – Ke Huy Quan
- Won: Best Supporting Actress – Jamie Lee Curtis
- Won: Best Original Screenplay – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
- Won: Best Film Editing – Paul Rodgers
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress – Stephanie Hsu
- Nominated: Best Original Score – Son Lux
- Nominated: Best Original Song – Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski for “This is a Life”
- Nominated: Best Costume Design – Shirley Kurata
Golden Globe Awards (80th Golden Globes) – 6 Nominations, 2 Wins
- Won: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy – Michelle Yeoh
- Won: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Ke Huy Quan
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, and Mike Larocca
- Nominated: Best Director – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture – Jamie Lee Curtis
- Nominated: Best Screenplay – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
British Academy Film Awards (76th BAFTAs) – 10 Nominations, 1 Win
- Won: Best Editing – Paul Rodgers
- Nominated: Best Film
- Nominated: Best Director – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
- Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Michelle Yeoh
- Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Ke Huy Quan
- Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Jamie Lee Curtis
- Nominated: Best Original Screenplay – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
- Nominated: Best Casting – Sarah Halley Finn
- Nominated: Best Original Score – Son Lux
- Nominated: Best Special Visual Effects – Benjamin Brewer, Ethan Feldbau, Jonathan Kombrinck, Zak Stoltz
