Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- wistful
- intimate
- musical theatre night
- date night
What critics said
Critics found the adaptation unevenly cinematic but valued its sincere charm, literate songs, and well-matched leads, especially Anna Kendrick's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Cathy's songs move backward from the marriage's end while Jamie's songs move forward from their first meeting, converging at his proposal.
The film is adapted from Jason Robert Brown's stage musical and tells nearly the entire story through songs.
The central love affair is presented through the progression toward marriage and the reverse movement toward its dissolution.
Jamie and Cathy narrate their shared five-year relationship through separate, chronologically opposed song cycles.
Films like The Last Five Years, and why
Once
romantic musical drama built around songs, emotional vulnerability, and a relationship under strain
Begin Again
intimate contemporary musical with literate songwriting and bittersweet romantic themes
Rent
stage-to-screen musical emphasizing troubled love, theatrical performance, and emotional directness
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard LaGravenese
- Release Date
- 2014-11-03
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (350)
Cast
- Anna Kendrick
- Jeremy Jordan
- Natalie Knepp
- Bettina Bresnan
- Marceline Hugot
- Rafael Sardina
- Allison Macri
- Alan Simpson
- Nic Novicki
- Tamara Mintz
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Last Five Years about?
- A sharply sung, time-splintered portrait of two artists whose love story moves toward and away from marriage at once.
- What is The Last Five Years like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Last Five Years as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Last Five Years violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Last Five Years.
- What did critics think of The Last Five Years?
- Critics found the adaptation unevenly cinematic but valued its sincere charm, literate songs, and well-matched leads, especially Anna Kendrick's performance.
- Which films are like The Last Five Years?
- Films with a similar feel include Once, Begin Again, and Rent.
- How long is The Last Five Years?
- The Last Five Years runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Last Five Years?
- In United States, The Last Five Years streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
