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Trailer

A Simple Plan

1998Movie2 h 1 minR

CrimeDrama
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Letterboxd3.9/5Metacritic817.9Rotten Tomatoes91%81%

A gripping, tense crime movie about everyday modern life and crime.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Sometimes good people do evil things.

Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.

Feels like

  • Neo-Noir Thriller
  • Moral Corruption
  • Small Town Crime
  • Brotherhood Betrayal
  • Greed and Paranoia
  • Spiral of Violence
  • Descent into Darkness
  • Wintery Atmosphere

Cast

15 of 15

Crew

Directed by
Sam Raimi
Written by
Scott B. Smith
Produced by
James Jacks, Adam Schroeder
Music by
Danny Elfman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 11, 1998 · 2 h 1 min · R

Released
December 11, 1998
Runtime
2 h 1 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Original language
English
Made in
United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany
Budget
$17 million
Box office
$16 million
Available in
28 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Plethora of Mistakes, He Knows Too Much, Black Comedy +9

  • Plethora of Mistakes
  • He Knows Too Much
  • Black Comedy
  • Double Meaning
  • Downer Ending
  • Shoot the Shaggy Dog Story
  • Plot-Triggering Death
  • Women Are Wiser
  • Not Quite Dead
  • Toxic Friend Influence
  • Think of the Children!
  • Lady Macbeth

12 of 55 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream A Simple Plan?"

Questions about A Simple Plan

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Simple Plan?

fuboTVParamount+Kanopy

In the United States, A Simple Plan streams on fuboTV and Paramount+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 9 other countries.

Is A Simple Plan worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.5, Letterboxd 3.9 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 81).

Will I feel good after watching A Simple Plan?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was A Simple Plan a box office flop?

Budget$17 million
Box office$16 million

Yes: it cost about $17 million to make and earned $16 million worldwide, 96% of its budget.

What tropes does A Simple Plan use?

Plethora of MistakesHe Knows Too MuchBlack ComedyDouble MeaningDowner EndingShoot the Shaggy Dog StoryPlot-Triggering DeathWomen Are WiserNot Quite DeadToxic Friend InfluenceThink of the Children!Lady Macbethand 43 more

TV Tropes lists 55 tropes for it, including Plethora of Mistakes, He Knows Too Much, and Black Comedy.