Collateral Beauty
Performance & Direction: Collateral Beauty Review
Last updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Collateral Beauty (2016) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.2/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Collateral Beauty features a noteworthy lineup led by Will Smith . Supported by the likes of Edward Norton and Kate Winslet , 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?
Story & Plot Summary: Collateral Beauty
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2016, Collateral Beauty is a Drama, Romance film directed by David Frankel. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Will Smith.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty. The screenplay takes time to develop Will Smith's journey, 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: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Will Smith's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Thematic Depth
The film delves into universal human experiences including love, loss, identity, and belonging. It holds up a mirror to society, asking difficult questions about morality, choice, and consequence.
What Works & What Doesn't
✅ Strengths
- Solid execution of genre conventions
- Engaging moments that showcase the creators' vision
- Competent performances from the cast
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Some narrative choices that feel predictable
- Occasional pacing lulls in the middle act
Ending Explained: Collateral Beauty
Ending Breakdown: Directed by David Frankel, Collateral Beauty resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Will Smith, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Collateral Beauty reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Collateral Beauty?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Will Smith or the director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Collateral Beauty
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $36.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $88.5M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Collateral Beauty Budget
The estimated production budget for Collateral Beauty is $36.0M. 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.
Top Cast: Collateral Beauty
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Collateral Beauty Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Apple TV Store
Amazon Video🏷️ Buy on
Apple TV StoreCollateral Beauty Parents Guide & Age Rating
2016 AdvisoryWondering about Collateral Beauty age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Collateral Beauty is 97 minutes (1h 37m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.2/10, and global performance metrics, Collateral Beauty is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2016 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collateral Beauty worth watching?
Collateral Beauty is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.2/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Collateral Beauty parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Collateral Beauty identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Collateral Beauty?
The total duration of Collateral Beauty is 97 minutes, which is approximately 1h 37m long.
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Critic Reviews for Collateral Beauty
**Love. Time. Death.** I think I underestimated this flick. Despite a wonder cast, I judged the film before watching it. I was surprised how beautiful film it was. Though not a film of the year. It was like 'A Christmas Carol', except the past, present and future were replaced with different topics. And for each topic, separate set of characters with one twist at the end. The overall film was short and sweet. A successful businessman man who had lost his child seems not able to come out of the sorrow. His partners are worried for him, as well as the firm's future. So they come up with an idea to bring back their partner that they hire actors to help him recover. How the remaining tale turns out and the last part of the story brings an emotional ending. There were lots of actors for just an 90 minute film. But everybody had a fair share. Nobody was greater than others. Smith had less dialogues as his role demanded that. From all, Winslet role was so ordinary, comparing her star value. Knightley was good, but her one of the dialogues about 'love' was awesome. Norton, Pena and Mirren, all were good in their respective parts. An emotional film, but I don't think it appeals enough to everybody. As I'm being a fan of that theme, I felt it should have been a bit strong in those parts. Other than that it was a good film, a family friendly drama. It was not based on any book, though, looks like one. Surely worth a watch, especially if you love tearjerker films. _7/10_
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
