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Once Upon a Time (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Once Upon a Time (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 109 min · English
Echo score 78
Directed by
Anthony LaMolinara, Xiaoding Zhao
Starring
Yifei Liu, Chun Li, Yang Yang, Alex Zhang, Luo Jin, Yikuan Yan
Budget
$90M

Three hundred years prior, a tragic parting on Zhu Xian Terrace marked the heartbreaking end of a couple's relationship, an event witnessed by a bronze mirror. Fate intervenes centuries later when they unexpectedly reunite within the mystical East Sea Dragon Palace. Their destinies are once again entwined, forcing them to confront the sorrow of their past and the challenges of a renewed connection.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Characters explained (5)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 The book behind the movie
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Once Upon a Time
  8. 8 Every angle

5 main characters · contains spoilers

Once Upon a Time Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Once Upon a Time (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Rick Dalton (Yifei Liu)

    Rick Dalton is a once-celebrated actor grappling with feelings of inadequacy as he slides into obscurity. His journey illustrates the trials of maintaining relevance in a volatile industry and the emotional toll it takes on aspiring actors.

    • 🎬 Actor
    • 💔 Struggler
    • 🌟 Fame
  • Cliff Booth (Yang Yang)

    Cliff Booth is Rick's loyal friend and former stunt double, whose life is steeped in mystery and adventure. His carefree demeanor contrasts with Rick’s anxieties, providing a steady anchor amidst their tumultuous lives.

    • 🛡️ Stuntman
    • 🤝 Friend
    • 💪 Veteran
  • Sharon Tate (Chun Li)

    Sharon Tate is a promising actress who embodies the bright future of Hollywood. Her character represents both the dreams of stardom and the tragic vulnerability that comes with fame during a notoriously perilous time in Hollywood.

    • 🌟 Star
    • 🎥 Actress
    • 🌸 Innocent
  • Charles Manson (Luo Jin)

    Charles Manson serves as the looming threat in the film, representing chaos and danger. His disturbing influence casts a shadow over the story, reflecting the darker aspects of the era.

    • 👿 Cult Leader
    • 😈 Manipulator
    • ⚠️ Menace
  • Bruce Lee (Yikuan Yan)

    Bruce Lee makes a memorable appearance, showcasing his martial arts prowess in a nostalgic homage to the golden age of action cinema. His character serves as a reminder of the cultural icons emerging during this vibrant era.

    • 🥋 Martial Artist
    • 🌍 Icon
    • 🎥 Legend

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:08

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Setting

Where and When Does Once Upon a Time Take Place?

The setting of Once Upon a Time (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

February 1969

Set in February 1969, this period was marked by significant cultural shifts in America, characterized by the counterculture movement and a burgeoning film industry. The late 60s saw changing societal norms and increasing tensions, reflecting a world on the brink of transformation.

Location

Los Angeles, Spahn Ranch, Playboy Mansion

The movie predominantly takes place in Los Angeles, the heart of the film industry, known for its glamorous lifestyle and iconic landmarks. Key locations include the infamous Spahn Ranch, a former film set turned squatter community, and the lavish Playboy Mansion, which represents the opulence of Hollywood parties in the late 1960s.

  • 🌟 Hollywood
  • 🏞️ Ranch
  • 🍸 Mansion

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:08

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3 major themes

Once Upon a Time Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Once Upon a Time (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Identity

    The theme of identity is central to the film, exploring the struggles of actors like Rick Dalton as they grapple with their past fame and present obscurity. This theme is manifested in Dalton's desperate attempts to revitalize his career while navigating the complexities of Hollywood's ever-changing landscape.

  • Violence

    Violence looms as an unsettling backdrop in the film, primarily highlighted by the threat posed by Charles Manson and his followers. The tension escalates as characters confront their inner demons and external dangers, culminating in a shocking confrontation that blends the glamorous with the horrific.

  • Friendship

    At the core of the narrative is the theme of friendship, particularly between Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. Their bond is tested through challenges, highlighting loyalty and the bittersweet nature of companionship in both times of success and stark adversity.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:08

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Character & theme questions

Once Upon a Time Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Once Upon a Time (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film is set primarily in Los Angeles, featuring iconic locations like the infamous Spahn Ranch (a former film set turned squatter community) and the lavish Playboy Mansion. These settings capture both the gritty and glamorous sides of Hollywood in the late 1960s.

  • los angeles
  • spahn ranch
  • playboy mansion
  • hollywood setting
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The story is set in February 1969, during a pivotal moment in American history marked by the counterculture movement, changing societal norms, and rising tensions. This era sits just months before the real-life Manson Family murders that horrified the nation.

  • 1969
  • february 1969
  • late 1960s
  • counterculture
  • historical setting
Q3

Who is Rick Dalton and what is his story about?

Rick Dalton is a once-celebrated actor struggling with feelings of inadequacy as his fame fades. His journey explores the painful reality of trying to maintain relevance in Hollywood's ever-changing landscape, highlighting the emotional toll the entertainment industry takes on aspiring performers.

  • rick dalton
  • actor
  • fame
  • career decline
  • hollywood struggles
Q4

Who is Cliff Booth in the movie?

Cliff Booth is Rick Dalton's loyal friend and former stunt double. His carefree demeanor contrasts with Rick's anxieties, providing a steady anchor through their tumultuous lives. Cliff's mysterious past adds depth to their friendship.

  • cliff booth
  • stunt double
  • friend
  • loyalty
  • supporting character
Q5

Who does Sharon Tate represent in the story?

Sharon Tate represents the bright future of Hollywood and the dreams of stardom. As a promising actress, she embodies the vulnerable side of fame during one of the most perilous times in Hollywood history, adding emotional weight to the narrative.

  • sharon tate
  • actress
  • hollywood dreams
  • fame
  • victim
Q6

Why is violence a central theme in the film?

Violence serves as an unsettling backdrop throughout the film, primarily through the threat posed by Charles Manson and his followers. The tension builds as characters confront both inner demons and external dangers, culminating in a shocking confrontation that blends Hollywood's glamour with horrific real-world violence.

  • violence
  • manson family
  • threat
  • danger
  • horror
Q7

What does the theme of identity explore?

The theme of identity focuses on the struggles of actors like Rick Dalton as they grapple with their past fame and present obscurity. The film explores how performers navigate their sense of self when their public persona and personal reality diverge dramatically.

  • identity
  • self-discovery
  • fame
  • actor struggles
  • hollywood
Q8

What is Charles Manson's role in the story?

Charles Manson serves as the looming threat in the film, representing chaos and danger that lurks beneath Hollywood's glamorous surface. His disturbing influence casts a dark shadow over the narrative, reflecting the darker aspects of the era and the real-world horror that defined that time.

  • charles manson
  • villain
  • threat
  • chaos
  • manson family
Q9

How does friendship play into the narrative?

Friendship, particularly between Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth, sits at the core of the narrative. Their bond is tested through various challenges, highlighting loyalty and the bittersweet nature of companionship during both times of success and profound adversity.

  • friendship
  • rick dalton
  • cliff booth
  • loyalty
  • bond
Q10

Why does Bruce Lee appear in the film?

Bruce Lee appears as a memorable character, showcasing his martial arts prowess in a nostalgic homage to the golden age of action cinema. His presence serves as a reminder of the cultural icons emerging during this vibrant era and adds authentic period flavor to the film.

  • bruce lee
  • martial arts
  • cultural icon
  • action cinema
  • cameo
Q11

How does the film reflect the late 1960s cultural climate?

The film captures a world on the brink of transformation, reflecting the significant cultural shifts of 1969 America. The counterculture movement, changing societal norms, and increasing tensions all inform the film's tone, creating a portrait of Hollywood at a crossroads between old glamour and new darkness.

  • 1960s culture
  • counterculture
  • hollywood changes
  • societal shift
  • era

Movie threads

More Movies Like Once Upon a Time, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Once Upon a Time tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Dark Historical Revisionism like Once Upon a Time

Stories that reimagine famous events with a tense, violent, and melancholic twist. For viewers who enjoyed the dark, speculative retelling of history in Once Upon a Time. This collection features movies that reimagine famous events and eras, blending fact with suspenseful fiction to create tense, melancholic, and often violent narratives similar to this film.

  • suspenseful
  • melancholic
  • nostalgic
  • violent
  • anxious
  • reflective
  • Tone: dark, tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: variable, building suspense
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are built around a central 'what if' premise set against a real historical backdrop. They follow characters, both fictional and real, as they navigate a world where the known past is subtly or dramatically altered, often leading to high-tension confrontations and emotionally heavy, bittersweet resolutions.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared core concept of revising history with a dark, tense tone. They evoke a similar feeling of anxious reflection, blending nostalgic settings with a violent, melancholic undercurrent and a pacing that builds suspense towards a climactic, often costly, reinterpretation of events.

Movies with Bittersweet Retrospective Violence like Once Upon a Time

Violent confrontations set against a backdrop of fading glamour and melancholic reflection. If you liked the blend of 1960s Hollywood nostalgia and brutal home invasion violence in Once Upon a Time, explore these films. They share a similar pattern of contrasting a wistful, reflective mood with high-intensity, violent action, resulting in a bittersweet and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

  • violent
  • nostalgic
  • melancholic
  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • reflective
  • Tone: melancholic, dark, bittersweet
  • Pacing: variable, reflective to frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories often begin with a sense of loss or nostalgia for a better past. This reflective, sometimes claustrophobic mood is shattered by a sudden, high-stakes violent conflict. The narrative arc involves surviving this violence, but the resolution is bittersweet, carrying the scars of the trauma and the permanent loss of the idealized past.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their distinctive emotional mix: a heavy, melancholic reflection on a fading world, punctuated by bursts of high-intensity violence. The pacing is typically variable, moving between slower, nostalgic scenes and fast, anxious action, all leading to a conclusion that is both cathartic and deeply sad.

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Movies Like Once Upon a Time

Similar movies to Once Upon a Time: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Once Upon a Time (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Once Upon a Time in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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