Whether fairly or not, the Wachowskis’ body of work is often split into two groups: Matrix-related and everything else. The Matrix itself is a nearly universally praised film that revolutionized science fiction, and even its less impressive sequels have kept their cultural relevance and broad appeal. But every other project the siblings have created has split viewers and puzzled critics.
Depending on who you talk to, is either a sugary, exciting adventure or an eyesore of a mess, a sharp critique of authoritarianism or a watered-down failed adaptation, and so-bad-it’s-good or just plain bad. Yet even among the Wachowskis’ less celebrated works, Cloud Atlas often gets pushed to the background—forgotten by many, but a topic of debate for others. This packed epic definitely has its flaws, but a new release from Shout Factory is giving it another shot in the spotlight.
Directed jointly by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), and adapted from David Mitchell’s novel—once thought impossible to film—Cloud Atlas uses its three-hour runtime to hop between six loosely linked tales spanning from 1849 to 2321. Many actors appear in most of these timelines, with stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, and Hugh Grant showing up in all of them, hinting at themes of rebirth and redemption as tiny choices made centuries ago ripple through time.
What Did Audiences and Critics Think of Cloud Atlas When It First Came Out?
The response was confusion. Cloud Atlas’ initial reception can be summed up by the fact that it landed on both multiple Best Of and Worst Of lists for the year. Roger Ebert was so intrigued he went to see the “” again, while Time’s Mary Pols described it as a “padded fantasy” that brought back memories of her “college conversations fueled by bongs.” To make matters worse, she John Carter and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Cloud Atlas can definitely feel overwhelming, and Ebert’s positive review noted he stopped trying to track every detail and instead just let the visual spectacle wash over him. A problem was the trick of having actors play roles across eras—this led to Hugo Weaving using yellowface for the 2144-set Neo Seoul storyline, which (and looked absurd).
This divide sparked a small cultural debate: bloggers argued back and forth, the Wachowskis , and the film’s European distributor resorted to the age-old excuse that Americans are just . Cloud Atlas ultimately struggled at the box office, though Mitchell gushed about the “magnificent” film , and it slowly became a cult classic.
Why Should You Watch Cloud Atlas Today?
Whether you love it or hate it, Cloud Atlas is one of the most unique blockbusters you’ll ever see. It can be enjoyed by fixating on every plot point, or by following Roger Ebert’s lead and letting the stunning visuals envelop you. Plus, it’s the only movie where Ben Whishaw plays a composer grappling with his sexuality, while centuries later Hugo Weaving leads a rebellion of cloned fast-food workers and a tattooed Tom Hanks fully commits to lines like “Babbits bawlin’, wind bitin’ the bone” and “Prescients come barterin’ twice a year, their ships creep-crawlin’ on waves, just floatin’ on the Smart o’ the Old Uns.”
Even those shocked by Ebert’s enthusiastic praise had to admit Cloud Atlas was, as he put it, “one of the most ambitious films ever made.” Thirteen years later, such ambition with a $100+ million budget feels increasingly rare. As studios cut spending and streamers churn out visually dull content, Cloud Atlas reminds us that letting creators bring their dream projects to life can yield truly captivating results.
Ebert said he never bored watching Cloud Atlas, and chances are you won’t either. Its vast scope is remarkable, its visual creativity will shine in the 4K upgrade, and even though it can be cheesy at times, there are worse ways to end the year than with a reminder of our interconnectedness and desire for freedom.
What’s New in the 4K Blu-Ray Version of Cloud Atlas?
Both the UHD and Blu-Ray discs feature a new 4K cut, with the UHD version offering richer colors via Dolby Vision. A third bonus disc is headlined by “What Is An Ocean… Reconnecting The Cast And Crew Of Cloud Atlas,” a full-length retrospective with interviews from stars, directors, costume designers, makeup artists, the stunt coordinator, and other crew members. The bonus disc also includes from previous releases exploring the movie’s ideas and craft.