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Celluloid
ComedyDrama Sundance 2019 Editor's Pick

The Farewell Review (2019) — 85% Celluloid Score

Directed by Lulu Wang · 2019 ·

Short answer

Is The Farewell worth watching?

Yes. The Farewell (2019) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (97%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (86%). See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

97% Editorial Rating
86% Audience snapshot · excluded
89 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.9
7.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 40m
Age rating
PG (US) · PG (UK) · PG (Australia) · ALL (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
Awkwafina , Zhao Shuzhen , Hong Lu , Hong Lin , Tzi Ma , Diana Lin Xiaojie , Yang Xuejian , Becca Khalil , Jiang Yongbo , Chen Han
Country
China
Language
English

Also known as L'Adieu (The Farewell) A Despedida フェアウェル 페어웰 别告诉她 別告訴她 Elveda The Farewell - Una bugia buona

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Farewell by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
South Korea TVING
Turkey TV+, HBO Max
United Kingdom Prime Video

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (97/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (86%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (89/100).
  • Celluloid Score 85% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Farewell worth watching?

    Yes — The Farewell earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded comedy, drama pick.

    Celluloid verdict

    The Farewell — Sundance 2019 selection. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (97%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (86%).

    What is The Farewell about?

    A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.

    Watch the Trailer

    The Farewell stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Farewell production still 1
    The Farewell production still 2
    The Farewell production still 3
    The Farewell production still 4
    The Farewell production still 5
    The Farewell production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Farewell: frequently asked questions

    Is The Farewell worth watching?

    Yes. The Farewell (2019) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Farewell?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; TVING in South Korea; TV+, HBO Max in Turkey; Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Farewell?

    The Farewell runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

    What is The Farewell rated?

    The Farewell is rated PG in the United States, PG in the UK, PG in Australia, ALL in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Farewell?

    The Farewell is directed by Lulu Wang and stars Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Hong Lu, Hong Lin, Tzi Ma.

    What is the Metascore for The Farewell?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Farewell is 89 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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