Everything Everywhere All at Once is an incredible film about family dynamics, philosophy and the dynamics of our choices. In this video essay, I explain some of the philosophical choices and meanings behind the movie.

Everything Everywhere All at Once stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu in an A24 film shot by Daniels and produced by The Russo Brothers.

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“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion” - Albert Camus

The Daniels, composed of Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan made an A24 film called Everything Everywhere All At Once For $25 Million, in large part thanks to executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, two brothers who directed [Captain America: Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame].

The Daniels are a bit different. Many filmmakers get their start in Hollywood by cutting their teeth with music videos. That’s how David Fincher, Michael Bay and a bunch of others did it, but rarely has a young two-man directorial team been able to secure the backing of the people behind the most profitable movie in history.

The fact that anyone would have turned down Everything, Everywhere after the success that was the Daniel’s first film, Swiss Army Man, should serve as all the proof needed that the big studios are asleep at the wheel, unable to recognize critical and commercial successes when they are looking them in the face. The Daniels were turned down by Amazon and Apple, literally the most profitable businesses in history, only to be brought in by A24, a beloved indie distributor known for its low budgets.

What the Daniels have done here is special. Everything Everywhere All At Once will be talked about in undergrad film and philosophy courses for many, many years to come and will likely serve as A24’s high water mark for at least a little while, raking in over $100 million despite being released between The Batman and Morbius.