Charlie St. Cloud

Charlie St. Cloud is a gifted young sailor whose life in a quiet Pacific Northwest town looks set to expand after high school. He enjoys the love of his mother Claire, and his little brother Sam, and holds a college scholarship that would carry him far from home. A sudden tragedy interrupts those plans, forcing him to confront the costs of growing up. Years later Tess Carroll returns to town and Charlie faces a choice between honoring a promise he made to Sam four years earlier and embracing the chance to begin something new with Tess. He wrestles with memory, loyalty, and the possibility of letting go to find a future.

Directed by Burr Steers, Charlie St. Cloud arrived in 2010 with a screenplay by Craig Pearce and Lewis Colick. The mood piece pairs Zac Efron with Charlie Tahan and Amanda Crew in a coastal Pacific Northwest setting.

Box office figures show about 48.2 million dollars worldwide, coming against a production budget near 44 million. The modest return reflects a mid range release that found a steady audience among romance drama fans.

Over time the film has remained a talking point among fans of Zac Efron and romantic dramas. It captures early 2010s sensibilities about balancing love with family duties and the cost of clinging to memory.

Critics offered mixed feelings about its pacing but generally recognized strong performances, especially from Efron and Tahan. The film probes grief, responsibility, and the pull between keeping promises and seeking a fresh start.