Ariana Grande Takes Fans Inside the Making of Her Healing Sci-Fi Short Film “Brighter Days Ahead”

Ariana Grande is giving fans an intimate glimpse into the creative world behind “Brighter Days Ahead,” the emotionally rich short film that accompanies the deluxe edition of her hit album, “Eternal Sunshine.” Released on YouTube, the behind-the-scenes video delves into the meaning, production, and personal connections associated with one of Grande’s most ambitious visual projects to date. In the video, Ariana Grande explains the film’s central theme: how painful experiences from our past can become sources of gratitude and growth. “When we’re young, sometimes we want to erase certain things,” she reflects, “but when we grow older, we would do anything to relive those moments.” This idea becomes the core of Brighter Days Ahead, which follows an elderly version of her character, Peaches, as she visits a futuristic clinic to revisit key memories from her life.

A Visual Journey Through Time and Emotion

Set in a dreamlike sci-fi world, the film moves through various chapters of Peaches’ life—from childhood innocence and career highs to heartbreak and alien abduction. Ariana Grande’s transformation into an elderly woman is just one of many striking visuals. The behind-the-scenes footage also gives viewers a glimpse at the attention to detail put into the house set, which serves as a symbolic space where memories are relived and reckoned with.

A standout moment in the film is a Frankenstein-esque sequence in which Peaches is brought back to life by a mad scientist, played by Grande’s real-life father, Ed Butera. The scene becomes a metaphor for how music has been a healing force in Ariana Grande’s life. “The same thing that has made my life complicated in certain ways is also the same thing that heals me time and time again,” she says of her musical journey.

The clip also shows how the UFO abduction scene was shot, with Ariana Grande suspended in the air via a harness and wires. These sci-fi elements, while theatrical, amplify the emotional depth of the story.

Creative Collaboration and Reflection

Grande co-directed the short film with Christian Breslauer, and the two are seen reflecting on the creative process while seated on one of the sets. She calls Eternal Sunshine her “favourite album” and praises Christian Breslauer as her “favourite director.” The pair jokes about “overdoing it,” but their passion for storytelling is unmistakable.

With Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana Grande seamlessly blends fantasy and vulnerability in a visual experience that highlights music’s power to heal, transform, and connect. “It’s always been the thing that puts me back together,” she says. More than just a bonus film, Brighter Days Ahead serves as an artistic companion to Eternal Sunshine—a testament to Grande’s evolution both as an artist and a person.