About Palm Springs

"Palm Springs" is a 2020 American science fiction romantic comedy film that sets a refreshing and charmingly eccentric spin on the time-loop trope. The movie, directed by Max Barbakow and written by Andy Siara, tells the story of two wedding guests who find themselves repeating the same day in the California desert town of Palm Springs.

Making / Production

The film was announced in November 2018 with Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti set to star in a comedy film being sold at the American Film Market. The production filming began in April 2019 in Palmdale, California. The film made its debut in the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently purchased by Neon and Hulu in one of the biggest deals in Sundance history.

Actors

• Andy Samberg as Nyles: The male lead who portrays a carefree wedding guest stuck in a time loop. His charming and charismatic performance remarkably carries the film's comedic and dramatic weight.
• Cristin Milioti as Sarah: She delivers a standout performance of a confused, self-destructive woman who finds herself stuck in the same time loop as Nyles and gradually learns the necessity to face her own issues.
• J.K. Simmons as Roy: He adds depth to the narrative as a wedding guest who has a bitter relationship with Nyles on account of being involuntarily stuck in the time loop as well.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was sold to Neon and Hulu for exactly $17,500,000.69, breaking the previous record for the highest sale from the Sundance Film Festival by 69 cents.
• "Palm Springs" was shot in just 21 days.
• The movie pays a direct homage to "Groundhog Day" (1993), the iconic movie with a similar plot of time-loop.

Awards

"Palm Springs" was honored with several nominations and awards. It won Best Comedy at the 26th Critics' Choice Awards and Best Picture Comedy at the Miami Film Festival. Additionally, the script received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards.

Quotes

• "It's one of those infinite time-loop situations you might have heard about." - Nyles
• "Today, tomorrow, yesterday, it's all the same." - Sarah
• "We kind of have no choice but to live. So I think your best bet is just to learn how to suffer existence." - Nyles

Music / Soundtrack

• Music score composed by Matthew Compton to underline the movie's emotional depth.
• Featured songs like "Megatron Man" by Patrick Cowley and "Spinning My Wheels" by Vetiver contributing to the film's unique vibe.
• The soundtrack also includes modern pop songs from artists like Kate Nash and Deap Vally to set the overall tone of the movie.