Great Expectations

Year: 1998

Runtime: 111 min

Language: English

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

DramaRomance

A young man's life is dramatically shaped by encounters with three key figures, leading him on a journey of love, loss, and profound self-discovery. He experiences unexpected generosity and faces difficult choices that test his character and values. Through these transformative relationships, he confronts the complexities of social class, ambition, and the true meaning of happiness, ultimately learning valuable lessons about himself and the world around him.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Great Expectations (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Great Expectations (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:05

Main Characters – Great Expectations (1998)

Meet the key characters of Great Expectations (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:05

Major Themes – Great Expectations (1998)

Explore the central themes of Great Expectations (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:05

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Artist's Journey Movies Like Great Expectations

Following a creative soul's life-long journey shaped by transformative love and loss.If you liked Great Expectations, discover other films that follow a similar artist's journey. These movies feature protagonists whose lives are defined by unrequited love and artistic passion, unfolding over years with a steady, melancholic pace and bittersweet conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

These stories often unfold in a linear fashion, moving from childhood or youth into maturity, tracing how a single defining relationship or unattainable love object influences the protagonist's path. The plot is driven by emotional transformations rather than high-stakes action, focusing on character development, missed connections, and the sacrifices made for art and love.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared focus on a character's lifelong emotional arc, centered on artistic passion and a complex, often painful, romantic connection. The tone is consistently melancholic and introspective, with a steady pacing that allows for deep immersion in the character's evolving perspective.

Bittersweet First Love Stories Like Great Expectations

Stories where a formative first love leaves a permanent, bittersweet mark on a life.Find movies similar to Great Expectations that capture the bittersweet feeling of a life shaped by a first love. These dramas focus on the pain and beauty of formative romantic relationships, often involving class divides and emotional growth, resulting in poignant and reflective endings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a central, powerful romantic connection established early in the protagonist's life. This love is tested by external pressures like social class or internal conflicts like differing ambitions. The story leads to a separation and personal growth, often culminating in a reunion that is more about closure and understanding than a traditional happy ending.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific emotional mix: the intense romance of first love combined with the melancholy of its complications and loss. The pacing is character-driven, focusing on emotional consequences, and the endings are consistently bittersweet, acknowledging both the pain of the past and the wisdom gained.

Unlock the Full Story of Great Expectations

Don't stop at just watching — explore Great Expectations in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Great Expectations is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Great Expectations Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Great Expectations, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Great Expectations Timeline

Track the full timeline of Great Expectations with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Great Expectations Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Great Expectations that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Great Expectations

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Great Expectations: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Great Expectations

Discover movies like Great Expectations that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.