Before We Go

While busking in Grand Central Terminal, Nick Vaughan witnesses Brooke Dalton drop her phone while running to catch a train. After she misses it, she returns to the station, where Nick returns her broken phone. Outside the terminal, Brooke reveals she has been robbed and is stranded in New York City. Nick offers to pay for a cab to Boston, but his credit cards are declined and his phone dies while attempting to call a friend. He suggests getting her a hotel room, but Brooke insists she must return to Boston by morning.

Determined to help, Nick takes her to a location where stolen purses are allegedly sold. While he searches the building, Brooke contacts her husband from a nearby payphone. She later alerts nearby police officers, prompting the shop owners to flee with the bag. Nick is assaulted during the incident. With few options left, the pair head toward a wedding reception of one of Nick’s friends, hoping to borrow money.

During their time together, Nick and Brooke begin to open up. Brooke had planned to surprise her husband after selling a painting while Nick was in the city for a long-anticipated audition. En route to the reception, they are mistaken for musicians at an event and perform “My Funny Valentine” before being discovered and fleeing.

After failing to secure bus fare, Brooke contacts a friend and pleads with her to retrieve a letter she had written to her husband. Relieved after making the call, she offers to accompany Nick to the reception, posing as his girlfriend to ease a potentially awkward encounter with his ex, Hannah. Upon seeing Hannah with her new partner, Nick leaves abruptly. Outside, he reveals that Hannah had ended their relationship six years earlier after rejecting his marriage proposal.

Encouraged by Brooke, Nick returns to speak with Hannah and learns she is expecting a child, offering him long-awaited closure. Later, Nick and Brooke visit a psychic, who allows Brooke to use his phone. She finds out her friend was unable to intercept the letter.

Brooke confesses that she had discovered her husband was having an affair. Though he ended the relationship, she learned he had seen the woman again, prompting her to write a letter ending their marriage. However, after her husband called during her trip to say he was returning early, she interpreted it as a sign that he had ended the affair for good.

At a restaurant, Nick reassures her that her husband may understand her actions. Brooke, fearful of the consequences, slips away and attempts to leave for Indiana. Nick confronts her, upset by her sudden departure, and they argue. They later retreat to a hotel room booked by Nick’s friend, where they relax and reflect on the night. They kiss, write personal notes on the backs of paintings in the room, and share a quiet moment together.

In the morning, they return to Grand Central Terminal. Before parting, Nick uses a payphone to make a symbolic call to his past self, encouraging him to embrace the night ahead. The two share a final kiss. On her journey home, Brooke discovers a guest comment card from the hotel. On the reverse, a handwritten message prompts her to smile.

• Chris Evans as Nick Vaughan
• Alice Eve as Brooke Dalton
• Emma Fitzpatrick as Hannah Dempsey^[5]
• Mark Kassen as Danny
• Daniel Spink as Tyler^[5]
• Elijah Moreland as Cole^[5]
• John Cullum as Harry
• Scott Evans as Concierge

The film was initially announced in August 2013 under the working title 1:30 Train. At that time, Chris Evans revealed he would both star in the film and make his directorial debut, marking a significant career milestone as he moved behind the camera for the first time.^[6] The project was described as a character-driven romantic drama in the vein of Before Sunrise (1995), focusing on two strangers who meet and form an unexpected connection over the course of a single night in New York City.

In October 2013, British actress Alice Eve joined the cast as the female lead opposite Evans.^[7] The film was produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision and McG's production company, with production support from Voltage Pictures, which also handled international sales.

Principal photography began in early December 2013 and took place entirely on location in Manhattan, primarily in the Lower East Side and around Grand Central Terminal. Filming lasted for 19 days and was completed on a tight schedule and modest budget, estimated at $3 million.^[8][9] Evans later commented on the challenges of directing and acting simultaneously, particularly in fast-paced urban environments with limited control over real-world variables such as crowds and weather.^[9]

The film’s original score was composed by Chris Westlake, who had previously collaborated with Evans on short films. Westlake’s score was designed to complement the quiet, intimate atmosphere of the film, relying on minimalistic arrangements to underscore the emotional journey of the two central characters.^[10] In addition to Westlake’s compositions, the film features several diegetic musical moments, including a key scene in which Evans’ character performs “My Funny Valentine.”

In July 2014, it was announced that the film had been retitled Before We Go and was selected to premiere in the Special Presentations section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[11][12]

Before We Go had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2014.^[13] Prior to the screening, it was announced that RADiUS-TWC had acquired all distribution rights to the film.^[14] The film later screened at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 22, 2015.^[15]

It was released through video on demand on July 21, 2015, followed by a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 4, 2015.^[16][17]

Before We Go received predominantly negative reviews from critics.

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 28% based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 2.7/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Chris Evans' directorial debut is modest to a fault, with a threadbare story and minimal style leaving his and Alice Eve's likable performances adrift in New York City with nowhere to go."^[18] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 31 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."^[19]

Several critics criticized the film’s pacing, lack of originality, and narrative shallowness. Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com called it "a tedious and shallow exercise" that "plays less like a film and more like an audition reel," awarding it 1.5 out of 4 stars.^[20] Scott Foundas of Variety described the film as a “wan attempt” at a Before Sunrise-style romance, noting that while Evans and Eve share a “pleasant rapport,” the script lacks urgency and narrative depth.^[21] The Hollywood Reporter similarly stated that the film "meanders without much emotional impact," though it praised the visual aesthetic and New York City backdrop.^[22]

Critics from Slant Magazine and The Playlist offered some of the harshest commentary. Slant rated the film 1.5 stars out of 4, criticizing its “reluctance to fully commit to emotional stakes,” while The Playlist compared the experience to “dating someone who only talks about their ex.”^[23][24]

Some reviews offered a more balanced or mixed perspective. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times described the film as "slight but sweet," praising the chemistry between Evans and Eve, though acknowledging that the narrative “treads familiar ground.”^[25] Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, citing its emotional restraint and its appropriateness for older teens and adults.^[26]

A few reviewers offered moderate praise. Los Angeles Times commented that while the film “doesn’t always rise above the familiar,” it benefits from “a grounded tone and unflashy charm.”^[27] The Times Herald praised the film's authenticity, stating it “feels real,” especially in its portrayal of emotional baggage and missed connections.^[28]

Before We Go was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 3, 2015, and became available for streaming on Netflix Instant on March 1, 2016.^[29]