After Yang

Jake, a father living with his wife Kyra and their daughter Mika, leans on Yang, Mika's cherished android companion, to smooth everyday life. When Yang suddenly fails, Jake sets out on a repair mission that stretches beyond circuitry. In his search, he uncovers a hidden layer of Mika's world and the unspoken stories that pass between generations. The journey draws Jake closer to Kyra as he reevaluates what a family actually means in a world where memories, identities, and even the most intimate moments can be recorded, swapped, or lost. The quest becomes less about fixing a machine than about understanding the life that has quietly unfolded under their roof.

Directed by Kogonada, the film grows from a concept by Alexander Weinstein. It debuted at film festivals and was released to theaters in 2022, with Neon handling its US distribution and word of mouth building ahead of a wider streaming rollout.

After Yang draws attention to intimate family life within a high tech setting, prompting conversations about memory, empathy, and what counts as a life. Critics highlighted its quiet, thoughtful tone and willingness to probe identity through small, human moments rather than big action. The result is a film that rewards patient viewing and invites discussion about data, lineage, and what survives in a world of algorithmic beings.

Reviewers praised the film for its restrained, emotional approach and its themes of memory, kinship, and the ethical footprint of technology. The story centers on dialogue and everyday detail rather than spectacle, inviting viewers to question what makes a family and a person. Its treatment of repair as moral reflection gives the science fiction genre a thoughtful, human dimension that lingers after the credits.

Box office worldwide reached about 131,465, reflecting a limited release strategy rather than broad box office impact. Its numbers do not tell the full story of its festival run and critical conversation. The film found its audience through word of mouth, critical essays, and streaming, where its contemplative feel resonated with fans of quiet, smart science fiction.