---
title: "Columbus (2017) | Rotten Tomatoes"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/e94e7e01-e6e2-4743-9486-84ac63178c6f
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summary: "Columbus (2017) is a critically acclaimed drama about a man stranded in Columbus, Indiana, who forms a friendship with a young architecture enthusiast, exploring the town's modernist buildings and their own emotional conflicts. The film holds a 96% Tomatometer score and is praised for its artful composition, measured pacing, and strong lead performances by John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson."
tags: "columbus, architecture, drama, modernism, film-review, indie-film, kogonada"
key_entities: "Columbus (2017 film) (concept), Kogonada (person), John Cho (person), Haley Lu Richardson (person), Columbus, Indiana (location), Modernist Architecture (concept), Rotten Tomatoes (organization), Fandango (organization)"
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# Columbus (2017) | Rotten Tomatoes

Columbus Play trailer 2:05 Columbus 2017 1h 44m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter 96% Tomatometer 134 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin finds himself stranded in Columbus, Ind., a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. As their intimacy develops, Jin and Casey explore both the town and their own conflicted emotions. Watch on Fandango Stream Now Where to Watch Columbus Stream Rent Columbus on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango. Columbus What to Know Critics Consensus Wonderfully acted and artfully composed, Columbus balances the clean lines of architecture against the messiness of love, with tenderly moving results. Read Critics Reviews Critics Reviews View More Hannah Strong Little White Lies 10/08/2018 3/5 Imperfect, but more than enough to put Kogonada on the map. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 10/07/2018 4/5 In its precision - the framing of each shot is as eloquent as the dialogue - and measured pacing, Columbus is a balm, a deep tissue massage for the soul. Go to Full Review Ben Nicholson Sight & Sound 10/05/2018 From all the formal elegance there emerges something subtly but profoundly affecting about family and friendship. Go to Full Review Brendan Cassidy InSession Film 07/02/2024 A Modernity itself is what architecture is meant to reflect, only to been seen as the film's biggest irony with two characters who refuse to let themselves progress forward...it's a complete and wonderful arc, made by a wonderful architect. Go to Full Review Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine 01/12/2023 Columbus mostly seems like a movie that doesn’t want to disturb anyone, which is counterproductive when you’ve got characters wrestling with increasingly obvious, quite serious emotional problems related to damage done by their parents. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022 4.5/5 But the most potent ingredients are the two lead performances. Cho is a natural at subtlety – somber, reserved and authentic at every turn. But it’s Richardson who steps out as a true revelation. Go to Full Review Read all reviews Audience Reviews View More Ben W @Username618 Aug 8 Quite liked ??? Didn't finish, sadly. See more Cathy M. @LakesCathy Dec 29 Tender and gently flowing. The esthetic of the architecture and city is lovely. The characters are interesting. See more Thomas S @RT53929595 01/04/2025 That movie really reminded me of "Patterson" with its contemplative shots and slow-burn rhythm. I love the fact it changed a bit the way I approach architecture. See more Olivia D @RT18873111 12/25/2024 Sometimes I watch bad movies because I find them funny for being so terrible. This movie was soooo slow and boring that it didn't even fill that criteria. There is no deep meaning to this movie. All of the characters are unbearable. I felt like I was being dragged through broken glass while watching this. I normally would not give such a poor rating, but a 96% is truly not representative of what this movie deserves. More like negative 96. its insane they used the backdrop of such an amazing place, which i never knew of and would LOVE to visit, but the script is just AWFUL. Like, AWFUL. everything is great except for the movie. its not like the 'deeper' meaning even went over my head. just how everyone talks is ust how some movie nerd loser thinks people talk. AND THEY DONT. cuz they never leave the house. and whats with the cigarettes? like why is this guy trying to make it a french film by being boring and deep and cigaretted but to like an extreme level. it feels like a parody. is this review a social experiment? because honestly who the hell gave in 96. like even if they wrote it WELL and performed it WELL (i feel like the actors were struggling, im sure theyre very talented, despite these limiting constraints) it still isnt even a 96 percent level concept. like? yall r losers. get a life. amen. merry christmas. See more Richard B @RichardB12314 12/15/2024 Slow burn mumblecore movie about finding inspiration through the creativity of others. The vocation of choice in this one is architecture, which is filmed beautifully. The constructions are therapeutic in that they give space, light, and transparency for the characters to reflect on important choices in their lives. One character put their love into architecture to the point of neglecting an important relationship, but the remaining characters learn from that mistake and provide understanding and validation for each other so they can all move in more authentic directions. See more Nick L @RT80278921 11/05/2024 An emotionally powerful piece of art. Makes you cry all the time. Visually stunning set pieces and scenery. Smart screenplay with originality. Outstanding performances. Beautiful cinematography and editing. Flawless. A must-see for anyone in need of understanding. See more Read all reviews Columbus My Rating Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING Cast & Crew View All Kogonada Director John Cho Jin Haley Lu Richardson Casey Rory Culkin Gabriel Michelle Forbes Maria Parker Posey Eleanor More Like This View All Dayveon 71% 56% Dayveon Watchlist TRAILER for Dayveon Golden Exits 67% 34% Golden Exits Watchlist TRAILER for Golden Exits Same Kind of Different as Me 44% 84% Same Kind of Different as Me Watchlist TRAILER for Same Kind of Different as Me Puzzle 82% 74% Puzzle Watchlist TRAILER for Puzzle Gifted 73% 85% Gifted Watchlist TRAILER for Gifted Discover more movies and TV shows. View More Related Movie News View All 15 Movie Scores To Keep You Sane Through Quarantine 30 Incredible 2010s Directing Debuts That Left Us Begging For More 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners Announced: Get Out Wins Best Feature Videos View All Columbus Columbus: Trailer 1 Columbus: Trailer 1 2:05 View more videos Photos View All Columbus Columbus (2017) Columbus (2017) Columbus (2017) View more photos Movie Info Synopsis When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin finds himself stranded in Columbus, Ind., a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. As their intimacy develops, Jin and Casey explore both the town and their own conflicted emotions. Director Kogonada Producer Danielle Renfrew Behrens , Aaron Boyd , Giulia Caruso , Ki Jin Kim , Andrew Miano , Chris Weitz Screenwriter Kogonada Distributor DOF , Superlative Films Production Co Depth of Field , Superlative Films Genre Drama Original Language English Release Date (Theaters) Aug 4, 2017, Limited Release Date (Streaming) Nov 4, 2017 Box Office (Gross USA) $1.0M Runtime 1h 44m Community Watch " " is under Community Watch . Please write a review for your rating to count toward the Popcornmeter. Write a review Thanks for your submission! Your review is awaiting approval. Once accepted, your review will get its big debut in the Popcornmeter. Visit FAQ to learn more about Community Watch. Got it - -   Tap to Unmute Close video See Details See Details