Is By the Sea Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, By the Sea is likely a skip if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 122 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
By the Sea Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2015, By the Sea emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Romance domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Set in France during the mid-1970s, Vanessa, a former dancer, and her husband Roland, an American writer, travel the country together. Unlike standard genre fare, By the Sea attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and By the Sea features a noteworthy lineup led by Angelina Jolie . Supported by the likes of Brad Pitt and Mélanie Laurent , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of By the Sea (2015) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.5/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
By the Sea Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: By the Sea is a Drama, Romance film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Set in France during the mid-1970s, Vanessa, a former dancer, and her husband Roland, an American writer, travel the country together. They seem to be growing apart, but when they linger in one quiet, seaside town they begin to draw close to some of its more vibrant inhabitants, such as a local bar/café-keeper and a hotel owner. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's themes.
By the Sea Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: By the Sea attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of By the Sea reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch By the Sea?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
By the Sea Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $10.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $3.7M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
By the Sea Budget
The estimated production budget for By the Sea is $10.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of By the Sea
- Angelina Jolie – Vanessa
- Brad Pitt – Roland
- Mélanie Laurent – Lea
- Melvil Poupaud – François
- Niels Arestrup – Michel
Top Highlights
Angelina JolieVanessa
Brad PittRoland
Mélanie LaurentLea
Melvil PoupaudFrançois
Niels ArestrupMichel
Richard BohringerPatrice
Sarah NaudiClarisse
Marika GreenDress Shop Saleswoman
Aldo BuontempoFisherman
George CamilleriGeorges the Waiter
Where to Watch By the Sea Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
By the Sea is rated R. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.5/10, and global collection metrics, By the Sea stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2015 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is By the Sea movie hit or flop?
By the Sea has received mixed reviews with a 5.5/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is By the Sea worth watching?
By the Sea is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Romance movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch By the Sea online?
By the Sea may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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Critic Reviews for By the Sea
**A vacation, an inspiration for the writing and a complete makeover.** The fourth directional venture for Angelina Jolie, she also wrote it and her real life husband, Brad Pitt starred the screenspace with her in the lead character. This is a tale of a struggling writer who goes to a French seaside resort for an inspiration to write a new material. He takes his wife along and in the peaceful environment, seems they're doing well, until a newly married couple arrive for their honeymoon in their next door. All the complication surface and the old secrets are revealed, so that's how the film sets up and ends. I don't know what's with Jolie lately, she's not doing many films as she was before. Maybe her parenting commitment took over her acting career. Good to see her back, but seeing this film and its story, I feel she's really suffering that I don't know what it is. Some day in the near future if someone makes a film about her, that will reveal this time of her life. Anyway, they both looked great on the screen, but very sad they are parting away. This is not some awesome story with twist and turns, just a straightforward drama, mostly the midlife crises in a married life. So here the performances were top notch, other than that is the beautiful locations. It's a two hour long film, not everybody feel comfortable with that, because the pace was very slow and the story is not that interesting. Particularly this film is not for the youngsters, but that does not mean all the grown-up would enjoy it either. Only some people find it better and for me this is an okay film. _6/10_
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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