See You Yesterday

Name: See You Yesterday
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Released: May 17, 2019
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Astro, Brett G. Smith, Carlos Arce Jr., Damaris Lewis, Dante Crichlow

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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4.9

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4.9	Your Score
4.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 59 Ratings

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See You Yesterday

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2019 | TV-MA

Starring: Astro, Brett G. Smith, Carlos Arce Jr., Damaris Lewis, Dante Crichlow, Eden Duncan-Smith, Frank Harts, Ian Unterman, Johnathan Nieves, Khail Bryant, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Michael J. Fox, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Patrice Bell, Rayshawn Richardson, Taliyah Whitaker, Waliek Crandall, Wavyy Jonez

Summary: High school best friends and science prodigies C.J. and Sebastian spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel. But when C.J.'s older brother Calvin dies after an encounter with police officers, the young duo decide to put their unfinished tech to use in a desperate bid to saveHigh school best friends and science prodigies C.J. and Sebastian spend every spare minute working on their latest homemade invention: backpacks that enable time travel. But when C.J.'s older brother Calvin dies after an encounter with police officers, the young duo decide to put their unfinished tech to use in a desperate bid to save Calvin. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Stefon Bristol

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 84 min

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Critic Reviews

Shannon Miller

May 15, 2019

See You Yesterday finds a striking-yet-natural balance between genre concept and a harsh reality that is achingly familiar to the people who have to navigate it every day. Read full review

The Guardian Benjamin Lee

May 4, 2019

A smart, often ingenious, new film ... What’s most exceptional about the end result is just how deftly [the director] weaves the enraging horror of a racially motivated police shooting into a zippy genre piece. Read full review

Adi Robertson

May 17, 2019

See You Yesterday is a compelling blend of nuanced drama, teenage adventure-comedy, and thought experiment. Its protagonists make a great duo, alternating between sophisticated genre-savvy observations and adolescent vulnerability. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

May 17, 2019

It’s an ambitious, striking debut that takes unexpected creative risks and heralds the arrival of an exciting new filmmaker, one who was clearly inspired by the recent Oscar winner but also has his own voice. Read full review

Alan Ng

May 17, 2019

What makes See You Yesterday work for me is its fresh take on the overtold, worn-out, time-travel trope and the pitfalls of time travel. A fun and solid story that score big points with its originality and good lead performances. All this to say, See You Yesterday is good science fiction. Read full review

Candice Frederick

May 17, 2019

Although the film doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors of police brutality, it does empower C.J. to think she has invented a loophole around it. That is the dream worth cherishing. Read full review

The Playlist Lena Wilson

May 5, 2019

Equal parts choppy and charming, “See You Yesterday” has trouble balancing quirk and melodrama. Read full review

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User Reviews

chidda

May 22, 2019

I rarely cry during movies but this one was a real tear jerker—one that effectively utilized science fiction to illuminate the horrors of being black in America.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

sirrong

Feb 28, 2020

A fascinating amalgam of genres, without losing focus on the movie's most important social theme.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

djtripmix

May 19, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Thought it was awesome. Love the "wink, wink" cameo. ...and most of all, I like it BECAUSE it doesn't end!… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

uchihasilver

May 23, 2019

I actually enjoyed this film especially the characters and i loved the believable setting of time travel just being some jank piece of equipment made in a garage and this film would have rated much higher for me had it not been for the weird trend netflix has going on of their movies havingI actually enjoyed this film especially the characters and i loved the believable setting of time travel just being some jank piece of equipment made in a garage and this film would have rated much higher for me had it not been for the weird trend netflix has going on of their movies having no conclusion much the same as how it ends another netflix film but as far as I’m concerned the cast did an excellent job… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Robhiengler

Jul 1, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. BLACK TO THE FUTURE - part of the black lives matter collection.

CJ I have to say is the best most likeable characters ever created - her constant anger, recklessness, aggressiveness, her unwillingness to listen to anyone, sassy attitude and ineptitude in explaining anything. Hilariously she gas lights her own friend. If she was a male character she’d be accused of toxic masculinity but fortunately she isn’t and thus is a strong independent young woman - no double standards here you haters /s.

If you think CJ has a character arc you’d be dead wrong, she doesn’t change or learn anything from her experience, except one thing she throws her away her morals and uses her sex appeal to manipulate a school acquaintance into getting what she wants - you go girl!

As a time travel film the only good part is the cameo appearance of Michael J Fox, but unfortunately that’s where any charm or intelligence in the script goes out the window. Here we have some genius kids building a time machine, with no context as to why or motivation, nor how they could afford the tools or components to do so, and aside from Sebastian a complete lack of appreciation for consequences of meddling with the time line AKA CJ ‘I do whatever I want, no man gonna tell me what to do’ Walker. At least Doc Brown was an old man with a lifetime of experience and knowledge and a science pariah - I could suspend my disbelief. I think what Spike Lee is really saying is the white CIA is suppressing these black geniuses from just inventing time travel, fusion, FTL travel etc.

The props and CGI are second rate, one of the most hilarious moments is when their friend opens up a case to reveal gold painted ‘quantum’ micro ATX motherboards. Then later he’s repairing/modifying it using a soldering iron. Regular MOBO’ s have machines to solder on SMT’s, even if you were doing it manually you’d need specialist equipment. The entire backstory and premise is some poor Nickelodeon-level of ass-hattery.

Now onto why RT has rated this a 95% and that’s because of it’s BLM credentials, where we see one dimensional evil villain cops stir things up with CJ’s brother and eventually shoot him for no reason. The last last attempt CJ was pretty unpersuasive, you would have thought saying: ‘come quick we need your help, so and so is getting beat up etc’ or if two of you turn up - would be better that getting your stubborn older brother to believe something unbelievable in 30 seconds. I’m sure some Aesop fable about crying wolf applies here.

I guess the message of the film is CJ and black women should never give up even if all the male characters have resigned themselves to their fate. The Ending:
Some people say the ending was crap and left open. The reality is she keeps jumping back in an infinite loop f*cking things up, quite sad and dark really - a better title for this film may have been bLooper.

In summary, sub-average film riding on its woke credentials and would appeal to kids under the age of 8 if it weren’t for its TV-MA rating.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Nyxxit

Apr 19, 2022

This was an awesome idea for a movie and the characters are great. The problem lies with the woke Black Lives Matter garbage woven throughout. The last thing I want to see when watching a movie is a racist organization peddling left wing propaganda. Black Lives Matter is a sham organizationThis was an awesome idea for a movie and the characters are great. The problem lies with the woke Black Lives Matter garbage woven throughout. The last thing I want to see when watching a movie is a racist organization peddling left wing propaganda. Black Lives Matter is a sham organization that has squandered millions from fools. The only black lives it has helped is that of the founders and executives. Anyone too dumb not to see that deserves to be duped. Time travel story to save brother - awesome. Blm propaganda- ruined the movie. Go figure with spike Lee's name on this you knew it was gonna be trash.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

speedro

Feb 12, 2023

This is again a typical american virtue signaling movie now focusing on BLM stuff about poor poor black folks in america suffering in life because of police brutality covered in some strange wannabe Back to the Future coat. But now with overly incompetent and stupid main and side charactersThis is again a typical american virtue signaling movie now focusing on BLM stuff about poor poor black folks in america suffering in life because of police brutality covered in some strange wannabe Back to the Future coat. But now with overly incompetent and stupid main and side characters who are not only not helping themselves, but also making everything worse with every step.
The stupidity and arrogant persona of the main character girl is so annoying, that i tried to watch this 2x. But had to stop every time. She is so annoying.

And this BLM propaganda is so strong, that as someone not living in the US, and not caring about US issues, don't have any patience and interest seeing this here in the middle of EU.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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