Serendipity (2001)

58% of critics liked it
(130 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(205,718 ratings)

After the long-delayed Town and Country, director Peter Chelsom turns in his second 2001 effort with this love-at-first-sight romantic comedy that revolves around fate, destiny, and chance. Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) are two New Yorkers already in relationships when they meet… More After the long-delayed Town and Country, director Peter Chelsom turns in his second 2001 effort with this love-at-first-sight romantic comedy that revolves around fate, destiny, and chance. Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) are two New Yorkers already in relationships when they meet one another, each reaching for the last pair of cashmere gloves at a department store. Over coffee, they strike up an intimate conversation, and Jonathan thinks they should see each other again. Unconvinced, Sara arranges an elaborate series of "fate" games; if they're meant to be together, she reasons, she and Jonathan will receive some sort of sign in the future. Flash forward several years, and the two are at opposite ends of the country -- Jonathan in New York and Sara in San Francisco, both engaged to be married. Still, neither can shake the memory of their chance encounter, and they both enlist their best friends (Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven) to help them find their true love again. Serendipity had its Gala World Premiere at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Peter Chelsom
Written By: Marc Klein
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Oct 5, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Apr 9, 2002
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
A movie I found myself liking more than perhaps I should.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
Fluffy and innocuous as Cool Whip, it is nonetheless uplifting, romantic and delightful, further enhancing the world's enduring love affair with the Big Apple.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
Serendipity may be calculated, but the good news is that all that hard work never prevents it from being genuinely charming.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
So stringently a 'romantic comedy,' you could review it with a pie chart.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Insipid, by-the-numbers romance.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An overfamiliar and exasperating game of cat-and-mousie.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Lightweight romance may appeal to teens.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The goofiest movie Nora Ephron never wrote.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...so empty, so derivative
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A química entre Cusack e Beckinsale é eficaz - pena que, durante a maior parte do tempo, os dois sejam mantidos separados pelo fraco e previsível roteiro de Marc Klein.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
I can't get over the complete reliance on fate even if it is what the movie is all about.
Josh Gilchrist, Billings Outpost (Montana)
Serendipity director Peter Chelsom gives us charm instead of plot, romance instead of logic.
Rebecca Murray, About.com
The story's been done before and it's bound to be done again, nonetheless, this incarnation is enjoyable and worth watching.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Everett J

I'm generally not a chick flick/romantic movie type of guy. However, I LOVE "Serendipity". This is my favorite romance movie. I love the premise, I love the performances, I love the music, I really love everything about it. It's the story of Johnathon(John… More
I'm generally not a chick flick/romantic movie type of guy. However, I LOVE "Serendipity". This is my favorite romance movie. I love the premise, I love the performances, I love the music, I really love everything about it. It's the story of Johnathon(John Cusack) and Sara(Kate Beckinsale). They meet one night by chance and have a great time. But Sara worries that they aren't meant to be, so she comes up with a plan. She writes her name and phone number in a book, and he writes his name and phone number on a 5 dollar bill. If they ever find the other, they will call each other and know it was meant to be. Years pass and both have moved on with their lives. Johnathon is about to get married and Sara has just gotten engaged. However both want desperately to find the other, to know for sure if they were meant to be. My favorite character in the movie is Dean(Jeremy Piven), Johnathon's best friend. Piven is one of my favorite actors, and brought a lot to the role. Every time I see this movie on tv, I stop and watch it. It's just such a fantastic movie. If you've never seen it, what is wrong with you? Go get a copy and sit back, and just fall in love. If you have seen it, well look for it again and be reminded of how great of a movie this really is.
Bethany M

A quirky and fun film! Romantic and a feel good film!
Dean !

One of the best Rom-coms I have seen in a long while! A very romantic film about fate and destiny in finding your soul mate. Possibly owes a bit to When Harry met Sally but that's a great film to. It has a good cast with some great cameos from some very funny comic actors. Check… More
One of the best Rom-coms I have seen in a long while! A very romantic film about fate and destiny in finding your soul mate. Possibly owes a bit to When Harry met Sally but that's a great film to. It has a good cast with some great cameos from some very funny comic actors. Check it out if you haven't seen it.
Lorenzo v

"Destiny ... With A Sense Of Humor." A couple reunite years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together. <center>"Destiny ... With A Sense Of Humor." A couple reunite years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together. <center>REVIEW</center> Fluffy tale of Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) who meet cute in a department store, spend the day together and then part without revealing names. She puts her name and number in a book and he puts his on the back of a 5 dollar bill. Sara says if fate wants us to meet, we'll find those. As you can see reality stops right here. Years later they're both set to marry other people...but still pine after each other. Then they set out to find each other. Guess what happens? Utterly predictable with a seriously stupid plot line that works somewhat well. It's got a nice romantic feel, good music and very good acting. Cusack and Beckinsale are both attractive and utterly believable as the couple and there is very strong support from Jermey Piven as Jon's best friend and Molly Shannon as Sara's best friend. Also Eugene Levy throws in a hilarious performance as an anal store clerk.
Conner R

A poor attempt at romantic comedy. John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale are too good of actors to be stuck in such a mess. Try as they might, there was no way to salvage this from the get-go. It is bland and unmemorable. There is no distinct direction or vision.
Anthony L

I watch soppy films from time to time and this is quite good as soppy films go!
Thomas B

an interesting, though substance lacking, delve into the world of fate
Jennifer X

I honestly, honestly, honestly don't see the romance in this slightly creepy, overly stretched out "rom-com". It's not even the complete void of reality that bothers me so much, it's the fact that Kate Beckinsale is such an annoying bitch. Why anyone would… More
I honestly, honestly, honestly don't see the romance in this slightly creepy, overly stretched out "rom-com". It's not even the complete void of reality that bothers me so much, it's the fact that Kate Beckinsale is such an annoying bitch. Why anyone would want to get together with her and buy like a thousand copies of Love in the Time of Cholera just to call her is beyond me. John Cusack is preditably adorable but his talent is completely wasted. How much to you wanna bet that the mention of Cool Hand Luke (the one classy moment in the movie) was Cusack's idea? The one good thing I can say about this movie is that at least the director was aware that John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale have absolutely zero chemistry toegether, so he put them on the same screen for a minimal amount of time.
Cassie H

The sweetest movie ever!!!!!!!!!
Candy R

Two people are involved in other relationships, but on a chance meeting, meet their soul mate and they leave it to destiny to see if they are to meet again.
Al S

An endlessly enjoyable romantic comedy. John Cusack is perfect. Kate Beckansale is astonishing. Jeremy Piven is solid gold. Hilarious and heartfelt.
Curtis L

Pretty good for a fruity flick. Neat concepts.
Red L

A very predictable movie. Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack meet briefly and cannot forget that meeting - even though it is ten years later and they are about to be married to others. Do they find each other?
Lanning :

In the history of corn, this ranks high on the list, and given its lack of critical recognition, I guess I'll just have to conclude that I must be an idiot, because I absolutely love this movie. Cusack is right on the mark, Beckinsale does her best job ever, and I am a… More
In the history of corn, this ranks high on the list, and given its lack of critical recognition, I guess I'll just have to conclude that I must be an idiot, because I absolutely love this movie. Cusack is right on the mark, Beckinsale does her best job ever, and I am a freakin' hopeless romantic. This is one of those rare movies that always makes me cry. I have to add that Piven and Cusack always seem to help each other rise to the top of their game. Why couldn't they have ended this with the reuniting in the snow? Ah, love, if only life were . . .
Sanjaya &

Well... a completely ultimate romantic comedy.... Love the story that they made... And the chemistry between John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale really worked... They're perfectly fit as a great couple... A great romantic comedy!!!!
Rachel F

Love it! It kind of moves slow, but the end is worth it.
Megan S

One of my least favorite romantic comedies.
danny d

you just want to punch beckinsale the whole time/ who wants to date someone so unreasonable/ this flick was also severely unrealistic
Jason S

I thought this wasn't too bad.
vieras e

Kate Beckinsale's character is a bit silly, but otherwise this is fairly good for a romantic movie.