Monday Morning Maybe

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Poster for I Wish

I Wish

Seen it?

2011 | 127 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 7 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Twelve-year-old Koichi, who has been separated from his brother Ryunosuke due to his parents' divorce, hears a rumor that the new bullet trains will precipitate a wish-granting miracle when they pass each other at top speed.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 80 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 12K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

  • Koki MaedaKoichi Osako
  • Oshirō MaedaRyoonosuke Kinami
  • Nene OtsukaNozomi Osako
  • Joe OdagiriKenji Kinami
  • Ryôga HayashiTasuku
  • Hoshinosuke YoshinagaShin Ota
  • Kyara UchidaMegumi Ariyoshi
  • Kanna HashimotoKanna
  • Rento IsobeRento
  • Masami NagasawaMimura