Cloud Atlas is finally hitting the big screen in the US today, and following its debut at TIFF where it received largely glowing reviews – you can read our review here – it’s time to see how audiences react to the film en masse.

Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Andy Wachowski have a real labour of love here, and just how impressive their filmmaking feat is really shows throughout the epic blockbuster.

With it now arriving on the big screen in the States, Warner Bros. have released a new featurette on bringing the original novel to life, as well as three new TV spots.

““Cloud Atlas” explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.”

Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, James D’Arcy, Xun Zhou, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant head the impeccable ensemble, with each taking multiple roles across the various plots.

The Wachowski siblings and Tykwer are directing from their own script, having adapted David Mitchell’s best-selling novel.

I personally have a lot of love for Jim Sturgess’ and Doona Bae’s performances in the film, and can’t wait to see if others will agree.

Cloud Atlas is released in regular and IMAX theatres in the US today, 26th October. Here in the UK, we’ve a little longer to wait, with its release set for 22nd February, 2013, but it’s well worth the wait. For now, here’s the new featurette, followed by the three TV spots. And if you’re reading this in America, I highly recommend heading to your local theatre this weekend to see it on the big screen. Enjoy.