Movie · 2020 · Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction · 1h 30m · R · English
Curator score: 7.6/10 (1M ratings)
Live like there's no tomorrow
Overview
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
Ratings
Curator score: 7.6/10
IMDb: 7.4/10
Letterboxd: 3.76/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Metacritic: 83
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
Max Barbakow
Production
Limelight, The Lonely Island, Sun Entertainment Culture Los Angeles
Cast
Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, Chris Pang, Jacqueline Obradors, June Squibb, Tongayi Chirisa, Dale Dickey, Conner O'Malley, Jena Friedman, Brian Duffy, Martin Kildare, Lilli Birdsell, Ryan Sturtz, Clifford V. Johnson, Calki Garcia
Where to watch
Hulu
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, rewatchable time-loop rom-com with real chemistry, a melancholy streak, and enough invention to keep the familiar premise feeling fresh. It works both as a breezy hangout comedy and as a surprisingly tender story about stagnation, commitment, and choosing to move forward.
Best for
fans of smart high-concept romantic comedies
viewers who like Groundhog Day-style loops with emotional depth
people who enjoy fast, dry ensemble comedy
audiences looking for an easy-to-rewatch crowd-pleaser
Skip if
you want hard sci-fi mechanics over character comedy
you dislike time-loop narratives
you prefer romance that stays purely earnest and never gets cynical
Overview
Palm Springs takes a premise that could have been a gimmick and turns it into a genuinely funny, emotionally observant relationship comedy. The loop structure gives the film room for escalating absurdity, but it also lets the characters reveal themselves in ways a standard wedding rom-com never could.
Worth noting
Andy Samberg leans into laid-back fatalism, while Cristin Milioti gives the movie its restless energy and emotional spine. Their chemistry is the engine, and the supporting turns add a welcome burst of chaos without overwhelming the central relationship.
Bottom line
What makes it stick is the way it treats repetition as both joke and metaphor. Beneath the desert sunshine and prankish sci-fi setup, it’s really about depression, avoidance, and the terrifying work of deciding to change. That balance of wit and feeling is what lifts it above most of its imitators.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Frandi Peralta · 13477 likes
Ted Mosby: Kids, I'm going to tell you an incredible story. The story of how your mother met Jake Peralta.
Samster3000🌦 (4.5★) · 13169 likes
-I honestly and truly cannot think of a single better scenario than being stuck in an infinite time loop with Andy Samberg and zero responsibilities‼️
Roberto_ (4★) · 11115 likes
what if we held hands while hallucinating dinosaurs in the desert on a starry night....... and we're also stuck in a time loop together....... ahaha, just kidding....... unless......??
Jay (4★) · 8249 likes
everyday i wake up
james💫 (3.5★) · 7171 likes
i felt so bad for Roy until that end credit scene THANK GOD FOR THAT END CREDIT SCENE