Rewind (2023 film)

John, a diligent but emotionally distant office worker, resigns after his boss, Hermie, promotes Vivian over him. Vivian then visits John at his office and they share a kiss. The following day, John and his wife, Mary, argue about his resignation and his infidelity with Vivian, which Mary discovered via a video recorded by John's colleague, Hannah. Distracted, John crashes their car, tragically killing Mary at 3:00 PM.

Days after Mary's death, a drunken John encounters Jess, an electrician nicknamed "Lods" who strikingly resembles Jesus Christ. John discovers Mary had hired Jess for his surprise birthday party. Over drinks, Jess, or “Lods,” offers John a chance to travel back in time to save Mary and rectify his past mistakes, with the condition that someone must die that day. John agrees, offering his own life.

Transported back to Hermie's birthday party (the day he was passed over for promotion), John makes different choices. He calmly accepts being sidelined, rebuffs Vivian's advances, and prevents Hannah from recording any compromising interactions. He then reconciles with his estranged father and gives his son, Austin, his blessing to pursue a career as a pianist, encouraging him to take Mary out on a date.

The next morning, John discovers Mary's plans to enroll in culinary school in Singapore, taking Austin, who was accepted into a music academy there, with her. Mary asserts her desire to pursue her own dreams, leaving John feeling that his sacrifices have been in vain. He confronts Lods, who is setting up lights in the yard. Lods chastises John's selfishness and offers to reverse time, allowing Mary to die as initially fated, but John refuses.

Later, on their way to Austin's play, John gives Mary his heartfelt blessing to pursue her dreams with their son in Singapore. At the critical moment of the accident, John deftly avoids the collision with the tree, saving Mary's life.

While watching Austin's play, John spots Lods in the audience, a chilling reminder that it's almost 3:00 PM, the moment Mary was meant to die. Outside in the hallway, John pleads for his life, but ultimately accepts his fate after Lods assures him his death will inspire Mary to become a successful restaurateur and Austin a renowned pianist who dedicates his performances to his father's memory. Lods grants him a final wish: to see the end of his son's play.

Back in the auditorium, John watches as Austin dedicates his performance to his parents. John moves to embrace him, but Austin walks past him, rushing into the hall. Following, John finds Austin and Mary hovering over his collapsed body, and a dawning, somber realization washes over him: he is already dead. He then steps into a bright, inviting light, signaling his journey to the afterlife.

At John's wake, Mary delivers a heartfelt eulogy as Austin plays the piano, honoring his father's final wishes. Years later, both Mary and Austin thrive in their successful careers. After bidding farewell to Austin, now with a family of his own, an elderly Mary shares a poignant dance with John's spirit, a testament to enduring love and the profound impact of his sacrifice.

{{multiple image

| header = Cast

| align = right

| direction = horizontal

| total_width = 300

| image1 = Dingdong Dantes at the Eat Bulaga! Press Conference, July 2008.JPG

| caption1 = Dingdong Dantes as John Nuñez

| alt1 = An image of Dingdong Dantes.

| image2 = Marian Rivera LA Press Conference, December 2008 (01).jpg

| caption2 = Marian Rivera as Mary Nuñez

| alt2 = An image of Marian Rivera.

}}

File:Rewind MMFF cast float.jpg

• Dingdong Dantes as John Nuñez, Mary’s husband, who shifted his priorities from being a family man to a workaholic man aspiring for promotion.
• Jeremiah Cruz as Young John
• Marian Rivera as Mary Nuñez, John’s wife, who had to give up her promising career as a chef in order to become a full-time housewife.
• Enicka Xaria Orbe as Young Mary
• Jordan Lim as Austin Nuñez, Mary and John’s son who has a passion for playing the piano.
• Alonzo Muhlach as child Austin{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Metro Manila Film Festival 2023: Perfect for Holy Week tv|url=https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2023/12/27/565393/metro-manila-film-festival-2023-perfect-for-holy-week-tv/ |accessdate=June 4, 2024 |publisher=BusinessWorld |date=December 23, 2023}}
• JC Alcantara plays as the adult version of Austin Nuñez.
• Pepe Herrera as Lods, who turns out to be Jesus who poses as Jess, an electrician hired by Mary, and who gave John a chance to go back in time, albeit with a caveat.
• Coney Reyes as Leonora, Mary’s mother.
• Ariel Ureta as Hermie, John and Mary's godfather at their wedding, who is also the company president where John works.
• Lito Pimentel as Nestor, John's estranged father.
• Ina Feleo as Aurora, one of Mary's close friends.
• Joross Gamboa as Lucio, one of John's subordinates.
• Sue Ramirez as Vivian Pastrana, John's younger colleague, who is attracted to him.
• Pamu Pamorada as Hannah, John's assistant.
• Shanaia Gomez as Austin's future wife.
• Mary Joy Apostol as Ningning, John and Mary's maid.
• Via Antonio as Bridgette, one of Mary's close friends.
• Chamyto Aguedan as Dennis, one of Mary's close friends.

==Production==

On June 21, 2023, Star Cinema announced through a media press conference that the film Rewind, written by Enrico Santos and directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, will be top-billed by GMA Network's exclusive talents and celebrity couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera and to be co-produced with the former's production company Agosto Dos Media and APT Entertainment.{{cite news|title=Dingdong, Marian to headline Star Cinema film "Rewind"|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/06/21/23/dingdong-marian-to-headline-star-cinema-film-rewind|first=Sheila|last=Cruz|website=ABS-CBN News|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}}

Enrico Santos is the scriptwriter for the film. He said that the material for Rewind was conceptualized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Pagulong |first1=Charmie Joy |title=DongYan on the things they want to 'rewind' in their lives |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/12/22/2320504/dongyan-things-they-want-rewind-their-lives/ |access-date=27 December 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=22 December 2023}} Despite the script being ready by 2020, filming was delayed due to the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Salterio |first1=Leah |title=Marian Rivera to start filming Star Cinema's MMFF entry 'Rewind' |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/17/23/marian-rivera-to-start-filming-star-cinemas-mmff-entry-rewind |access-date=6 January 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=17 September 2023}}

On July 10, 2023, the committee chose the film as one of the first four official entries for the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera's "Rewind" among the first 4 entries in MMFF 2023|url=https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/dongyan-film-joins-the-exciting-line-up-of-movies-at-the-mmff-2023-20140|first=Patricia|last=Matalog|website=Star Cinema (ABS-CBN Entertainment)|date=July 11, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}} On September 21, 2023, lead actor Dingdong Dantes posted on his Instagram account some snippets of the film's wedding scene with captions implying that it was the first day of production.{{cite news|title=Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera marry again?|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/relationship/18661/dingdong-dantes-marian-rivera-marry-again/photo/252265/dongyan-wedding-a-union-of-two-families|first=Jimboy|last=Napoles|website=GMA News|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}}

Ben&Ben's "Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay" was used as the main theme song for the film.

The official 90-second teaser of the film was released on November 13, 2023.{{cite news|title=FIRST LOOK: Dingdong, Marian play struggling couple in "Rewind"|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/13/23/first-look-dingdong-marian-play-struggling-couple-in-rewind|website=ABS-CBN News|date=November 13, 2023|access-date=November 23, 2023}} On November 23, 2023, an official poster was unveiled to the public with the presence of the lead couple, and was later uploaded on the social media platform accounts of Star Cinema and other related divisions of ABS-CBN.{{cite news|first=Patricia|last=Matalog|title=LOOK: Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera dance before the hands of time in "Rewind" official poster|url=https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starcinema/articles-news/look-dingdong-dantes-marian-rivera-dance-before-the-hands-of-time-in-rewind-official-poster-21095|website=ABS-CBN Entertainment|date=November 23, 2023|access-date=December 20, 2023}} On December 4, 2023, a full official trailer was released by Star Cinema.{{cite news|title=Full trailer ng MMFF entry na "Rewind" na pinagbibidahan nina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes, inilabas na|trans-title=Full trailer of the MMFF entry "Rewind" starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, has been unveiled|website=GMA Integrated News|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/chikamuna/890446/full-trailer-ng-mmff-entry-na-rewind-na-pinagbibidahan-nina-marian-rivera-at-dingdong-dantes-inilabas/story/|date=December 5, 2023|access-date=December 20, 2023|first=Jamil|last=Santos}}

Rewind premiered in cinemas in the Philippines on December 25, 2023, as one of the official entries of the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.{{cite news |title='Firefly' among six new films included in official 10-movie list of MMFF|first=Carby|last=Basina |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/885443/firefly-among-six-new-films-included-in-official-10-movie-list-of-mmff/story/ |access-date=9 December 2023 |work=GMA News |date=17 October 2023 |language=en}}

On March 25, 2024, Rewind was released on Netflix among other 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival entries on the following scheduled dates, and also the following day, the exclusive deleted scenes of the film were released on Star Cinema's social media accounts.{{cite news |title=After setting new Philippine box-office record, 'Rewind' conquers Netflix |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/after-setting-new-philippine-box-office-record-rewind-conquers-netflix/ |website=Rappler |date=28 March 2024 |language=en |first=Isagani |last=de Castro Jr.}}{{cite news |title=Star Cinema releases deleted scenes from blockbuster movie 'Rewind' |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/28/star-cinema-releases-deleted-scenes-from-blockbuster-movie-rewind |website=Manila Bulletin |date=28 March 2024 |language=en |first=Robert |last=Requintina}}

Rewind grossed {{Philippine peso|924 million}} in its entire theatrical run.{{cite news |date=November 22, 2024 |title='Hello, Love, Again' is new all-time box-office champ |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/22104/hello-love-again-is-new-all-time-box-office-champ/photo |work=GMA News}} Owing to a policy set by the Metro Manila Film Festival, the initial gross for Rewind was not revealed for its first week. On January 7, it was reported that film had grossed over {{Philippine peso|600 million}}, more than half of the total gross revenue of the entire film festival, which was reported to pass {{Philippine peso|1 billion}}, passing Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad (2017) to become the fourth highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. ABS-CBN refused to confirm the report at the time. On January 17 however, ABS-CBN and Star Cinema both announced that the film has grossed over {{Philippine peso|815 million}} domestically and {{Philippine peso|30 million}} worldwide, for total gross revenue of {{Philippine peso|845 million}}. It passed the domestic gross of Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) to become the highest-grossing Filipino film in terms of domestic gross, and the second-highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. On January 30, it grossed {{Philippine peso|902 million}} to become the first Filipino film in Philippine history to pass {{Philippine peso|900 million|link=no}} in the worldwide box office and the highest-grossing Philippine film of all time, until it was surpassed by Hello, Love, Again in November 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/895943/rewind-becomes-the-first-filipino-film-to-surpass-p900-million-at-the-box-office/story |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=GMA Integrated News |title='Rewind' becomes the first Filipino film to surpass P900M at the box office|date=January 31, 2024 }}

Critical reception for the film was mostly positive upon release, with particular praise given to its cast's performances and script. According to review aggregator site Kritikultura, the film obtained a score of 70/100 based on 23 reviews, indicating a generally positive reception.{{cite web |title=Rewind (2023) Reviews |url=https://kritikultura.com/films/clq7cq8zm000dkse347p4pvyt |website=Kritikultura |access-date=4 July 2024}} However, the critical reception was more mixed when the film became available on Netflix, introducing it to a wider audience.

Many critics have compared its plot to the 2004 film If Only.{{cite web|first1=Angeli Ruth R. |last1=Acosta|first2=Matthew G.|last2=Gabriel|first3=Hannah Joyce V.|last3=Andaya|first4=Eduelle Jan T.|last4=Macababbad|url=https://varsitarian.net/circle/20240104/mmff-2023-in-review-batch-1-family-of-two-kampon-penduko-and-rewind|title= MMFF 2023 in review, Batch 1: 'Family of Two,' 'Kampon,' 'Penduko,' and 'Rewind'|website=The Varsitarian|date=January 4, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024}} Bum Tenorio of The Philippine Star wrote in his review, "Rewind is the full stop of the heart that finds it hard to forgive—and later on realizes, albeit late, that forgiveness is not an option but the only choice in order to move on."{{cite web|url=https://philstarlife.com/geeky/783508-rewind-moving-pause-god|title=REVIEW: 'Rewind' is a moving pause with God|last=Tenorio, Jr.|first=Bum|date=January 5, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|website=PhilStar Life}} University of Santo Tomas college newspaper, The Varsitarian, praised Pepe Herrera for his casual performance as Lods, a slang for Jesus Christ, saying that "[a] more serious characterization would have ruined the story." Fred Hawson, writing in his blog, gave the film a seven, praising its director Mae Cruz-Alviar for the film's emotional climaxes, as well as the performances of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, saying, "it was their affecting performances that gave this film its special radiance beyond its familiar plot." He expressed reservation about the character Lods.{{cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/amp/entertainment/12/26/23/mmff-2023-review-marian-dingdong-shine-in-rewind|title=MMFF 2023 review: Marian, Dingdong shine in 'Rewind'|last=Hawson|first=Fred|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|website=ABS-CBN News}}

Meanwhile, Philbert Dy of Spot.ph gave the film two and a half stars out of five, writing that the film's execution of its main plot about death and tragedy "stands on some shaky ground thematically and theologically."{{cite web|url=https://www.spot.ph/amp/entertainment/movies-music-tv/107605/rewind-mmff-2023-review-marian-rivera-dingdong-dantes-a6866-20231229|title=MOVIE REVIEW: Rewind Should Rethink Its Message on Death and Loss|last=Dy|first=Philbert|date=December 29, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|website=Spot.ph}}

Vikas Yadav of the India-based pop culture site Midgard Times wrote that Rivera was "stuck in a limited range" throughout the film and thus didn't leave a strong impression. He criticized Cruz-Alviar's "melodramatic" direction, saying, "She operates on extreme modes, so scenes are either too cheery, too romantic, or too emotional. This excessiveness wears you down as the movie nears its conclusion." However, he wrote that the film is "quite enjoyable" regardless and that Cruz-Alviar's "enthusiasm" as a filmmaker was palpable in every frame.{{cite web|url=https://moviesr.net/p-rewind-2023-netflix-movie-review-second-chances|title= Rewind (2023): Movie Review |last=Yadav|first=Vikas|date=March 25, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024|website=Midgard Times}}

Jason Tan Liwag of Rappler compared the film to classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Groundhog Day, but said that Rewind lacks their humor. He described it as "straightforward, if simplistic," and that Cruz-Alviar capitalized on the two leads' chemistry, nostalgia, and Catholic moralism.{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/rewind-review-second-chances-sell/|title= 'Rewind' review: Second chances sell |last=Tan Liwag|first=Jason|date=March 31, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024|website=Rappler}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}

Category:2020s films about time travel

Category:2020s science fiction romance films

Category:2023 films

Category:2023 romantic drama films

Category:2020s Philippine films

Category:AgostoDos Pictures films

Category:APT Entertainment films

Category:Filipino-language films

Category:Films directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar

Category:Films produced by Daisy Cayanan

Category:Films produced by Carmi Raymundo

Category:Films with screenplays by Enrico C. Santos

Category:Films scored by Cesar Francis Concio

Category:Films set in Metro Manila

Category:Films shot in Metro Manila

Category:Star Cinema films

Category:Star Cinema drama films