Molli and Max in the Future

{{Infobox film

| name = Molli and Max in the Future

| image = Molli and Max in the Future poster.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Michael Lukk Litwak

| writer = Michael Lukk Litwak

| producer = {{plainlist|

Ben J. Murphy
Candice Kuwahara
Michael Lukk Litwak
Mallory Schwartz
Kate Geller

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Zach Stoltzfus

| editing = Joanna Naugle

| music = Alex Winkler

| production_companies = {{plainlist|

Whiskey Bear Productions
The Family
Choreografx
DVRG
Senior Post

}}

| distributor = Level 33 Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2023|3|11|SXSW|2024|2|9|United States}}

| runtime = 93 minutes{{Cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/films/2081870|access-date=April 4, 2023|title=Molli and Max in the Future|publisher=South by Southwest|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318193041/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/films/2081870 |archive-date=2023-03-18 |url-status=live}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Molli and Max in the Future is a 2023 American science fiction romantic comedy film written and directed by Michael Lukk Litwak in their debut feature film, and stars Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari. It premiered at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023, and was released in select theaters in the United States on February 9, 2024, by Level 33 Entertainment.

Synopsis

A billion years in the future, magic, sentient robots, and demigods exist. Meanwhile, Molli and Max bump into each other across the course of twelve years, four planets, three dimensions, and one space cult. One of them is able to fly, while the other is half-human/half-fish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a43492561/flight-attendant-zosia-mamet-molli-max-rotten-tomatoes|title=Flight Attendant star's new movie lands 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating|first=Brenna|last=Cooper|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023|website=Digital Spy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404075623/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a43492561/flight-attendant-zosia-mamet-molli-max-rotten-tomatoes/ |archive-date=2023-04-04 |url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|magazine=Variety|first=Murtada|last=Elfadl|date= March 31, 2023| title='Molli and Max in the Future' Review: Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari Have Great Chemistry in Lean Future-Set Rom-Com|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/molli-and-max-in-the-future-review-1235570755|access-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402203147/https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/molli-and-max-in-the-future-review-1235570755/ |archive-date=2023-04-02 |url-status=live}}

Cast

Zosia Mamet as Molli
Aristotle Athari as Max
Arturo Castro as Walter
Michael Chernus as Turboschmuk
Aparna Nancherla as Rachel
Okieriete Onaodowan as Moebias
Paloma Garcia-Lee as Cassie
Erin Darke as MAR14
Grace Kuhlenschmidt as Triangulon
Matteo Lane as Bryan
Danny Burstein as Max's dad
Connie Shi as Janus
Ben Warheit as @FartJuice69

Production

Writer and director Michael Lukk Litwak described the project as an attempt to update a movie classic, saying "When Harry Met Sally…is a masterpiece and I love it, but I watched it and it felt kind of out of date".{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/molli-and-max-in-the-future-michael-lukk-litwak-sxsw-studio|website=Deadline Hollywood|title='Molli And Max In The Future' Writer-Director Michael Lukk Litwak & Cast On A Modern Love Story Focused On "How We Define Ourselves"|first=Ryan|last=Fleming|date=March 17, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327023543/https://deadline.com/video/molli-and-max-in-the-future-michael-lukk-litwak-sxsw-studio/ |archive-date=2023-03-27 |url-status=dead}} The film is a Whiskey Bear Production in association with Senior Post, The Family, and Choreografx. Producers are Ben J. Murphy, Candice Kuwahara, Mallory Schwartz, Litwak and Kate Geller. Co-producing the film are Ted Geoghegan and Ivy Lam, with Mamet and Athari also executive producing alongside Josh Senior, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Luke Murphy, and Nicole Murphy.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/the-flight-attendant-saturday-night-live-zosia-mamet-aristotle-athari-molli-max-in-the-future-1235090814|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 4, 2023|title= The Flight Attendant's Zosia Mamet & 'SNL's Aristotle Athari Lead Sci-Fi Romcom 'Molli & Max In The Future'|first= Max|last=Goldbart|date=August 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905230047/https://deadline.com/2022/08/the-flight-attendant-saturday-night-live-zosia-mamet-aristotle-athari-molli-max-in-the-future-1235090814/ |archive-date=2022-09-05 |url-status=dead}}

=Filming=

Filming took place in New York City. Principal photography wrapped in August 2022.{{Cite web|url= https://collider.com/molli-and-max-in-the-future-image-zosia-mamet-aristotle-athari|website=Collider|date=August 12, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023|title= Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari Fall in Love in First 'Molli & Max in the Future' Image|first=Madalyn|last=Watson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328200101/https://collider.com/molli-and-max-in-the-future-image-zosia-mamet-aristotle-athari/ |archive-date=2023-03-28 |url-status=live}}

Release

The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023.{{Cite magazine|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sxsw-2023-donald-glover-taron-egerton-1235314817|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 4, 2023|title= SXSW Sets Donald Glover Show 'Swarm', Apple 'Tetris' Movie for Lineup|date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323041657/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sxsw-2023-donald-glover-taron-egerton-1235314817/ |archive-date=2023-03-23 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/tetris-bottoms-among-sxsw-second-wave/5178729.article|website=Screen Daily|access-date=April 4, 2023|title='Tetris', 'Bottoms' among SXSW second wave|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|date=February 1, 2023 |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306103509/https://www.screendaily.com/news/tetris-bottoms-among-sxsw-second-wave/5178729.article |archive-date=2023-03-06 |url-status=live}} It was released in select theaters in the United States on February 9, 2024, by Level 33 Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Billington |first=Alex |date=2024-01-17 |title=First Trailer for Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy 'Molli and Max in the Future' |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2024/first-trailer-for-sci-fi-romantic-comedy-molli-and-max-in-the-future/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=FirstShowing.net}}

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Molli and Max in the Future holds an approval rating of 98% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critic consensus reads, "More than making up in style and sheer creativity whatever it might lack in terms of budget, Molli and Max in the Future blends sci-fi and rom-com to wildly entertaining effect."{{cite web |title=Molli and Max in the Future |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/molli_and_max_in_the_future |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} Brian Tallerico, writing for RogerEbert.com, said its "creative spirit carries it through some rough narrative patches and is complemented by truly charming performances from its two leads".{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/sxsw-2023-national-anthem-molli-and-max-in-the-future-northern-comfort|website=RogerEbert.com|access-date=April 4, 2023|title=SXSW 2023: National Anthem, Molli and Max in the Future, Northern Comfort|first=Brian|last=Tallerico|date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403191539/https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/sxsw-2023-national-anthem-molli-and-max-in-the-future-northern-comfort |archive-date=2023-04-03 |url-status=live}} William Earl for Variety praised the "super-realistic dialogue" and Alex Winkler's "jazzy score", describing the film as "a clever, quirky take on the future".{{Cite magazine|first=William|last=Earl|magazine=Variety|access-date=April 4, 2023|url=https://variety.com/list_item/molli-and-max-in-the-future/|date=April 2, 2023|title=Molli and Max in the Future}}