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The Sweet Hereafter

1997·Movie
1h 52min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Sweet Hereafter fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline2
  • Fast Pace2

Heart

Deeply moving and profoundly sad

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos10
  • Melancholy9
  • Family Dynamics8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Satire & Parody2

World

Everyday modern life, society, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Ambiguity8

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout score

  • Music Composition8
  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

There is no such thing as the simple truth.

A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer arrives to help the survivors' and victims' families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage.
Tragic LossSmall Town DramaMoral AmbiguityGrief and HealingEmotional ResonanceIntimate StorytellingPhilosophical UndertonesHaunting ScoreCommunity Dynamics

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about The Sweet Hereafter

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Sweet Hereafter legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Sweet Hereafter worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 91). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Sweet Hereafter rated?

RDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: disturbing imagery.

How long is The Sweet Hereafter?

1 h 52 min

The Sweet Hereafter runs 1 h 52 min.

Is The Sweet Hereafter based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Sweet Hereafter?

Critics95
Audiences80

Not quite. Critics rate The Sweet Hereafter higher (95) than audiences (80). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Sweet Hereafter a box office hit?

Budget$5 million
Box office$8 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $5 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 1.6 times its budget.

What language is The Sweet Hereafter in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in Canada.

In how many countries can I watch The Sweet Hereafter?

34ARBEBFBRBZCACDCHCICLCODKECES+20

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Sweet Hereafter in 34 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Sweet Hereafter use?

Small Town BoredomAdults Are UselessAnachronic OrderDeath of a ChildCreator CameoOdd FriendshipBreak the CutieEvery Car Is a PintoAmoral AttorneyHidden DepthsThe Film of the BookVery Loosely Based on a True Storyand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 storytelling tropes for The Sweet Hereafter, including Small Town Boredom, Adults Are Useless, Anachronic Order.