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It Could Happen to You

1994·Movie
1h 41min·PG
IMDb6.4Metacritic647.6Rotten Tomatoes75%55%

Where to watch

HulufuboTVStarzSony Pictures Core

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

What's your score?

Your score

It Could Happen to You fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Fast Pace6
  • Tension4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Deeply romantic and uplifting

Much of it is about family.

  • Romance9
  • Hopefulness9
  • Wholesome8

Humor

Some situational comedy

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Situational Comedy5
  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Physical Comedy3

World

Everyday modern life and family

  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7
  • World Immersion6

Craft

Standout characters

  • Character Depth8
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Music Composition7
  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

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You want dark or edgy material

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Feel Good moviesPeaceful moviesRomantic movies

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

About

A cop. A waitress. A lottery ticket.

Charlie Lang is a simple, kindhearted New York City cop. When he realizes he has no money to tip waitress Yvonne Biasi, Lang offers her half the winnings of his lottery ticket. Amazingly, the ticket happens to be a winner, in the sum of $4 million. True to his word, Lang proceeds to share the prize money with Biasi, which infuriates his greedy wife, Muriel. Not content with the arrangement, Muriel begins scheming to take all the money.
Feel-Good Romantic ComedyKindness and GenerosityLottery Dream FulfillmentInnocent CharmClassic 90sHeartwarmingNew York City SettingSimple StoryOptimistic

Crew

Directed by:
Andrew Bergman, Henry J. Bronchtein, Julie A. Bloom
Written by:
Jane Anderson
Produced by:
John S. Lyons, Christine Sheaks, Craig Baumgarten
Composed by:
Carter Burwell, Peter Afterman, Marko Costanzo

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about It Could Happen to You

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream It Could Happen to You legally?

HulufuboTVStarzSony Pictures Core

It Could Happen to You is included with a subscription to Hulu and fuboTV in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is It Could Happen to You worth watching?

67
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 68/100 (IMDb 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes 75%, and Metacritic 64). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is It Could Happen to You rated?

PG

It's rated PG in the United States.

How long is It Could Happen to You?

1 h 41 min

It Could Happen to You runs 1 h 41 min.

Is It Could Happen to You based on a true story?

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

Do critics and audiences agree on It Could Happen to You?

Critics70
Audiences65

Yes. Critics average 70 and audiences 65 out of 100, so both groups see It Could Happen to You much the same way.

Was It Could Happen to You a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$38 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $20 million to make and earned $38 million worldwide, 1.9 times its budget.

What language is It Could Happen to You in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch It Could Happen to You?

100ADAEAOARATAUBEBGBOBRBYBZCACH+86

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for It Could Happen to You in 100 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does It Could Happen to You use?

Unexpected VirginRags to RichesAsian Store-OwnerOut-of-Character AlertCon ManCharacter NarratorDead SparksVery Loosely Based on a True StoryEarn Your Happy EndingStandard Female Grab AreaOnly a Flesh WoundNice Job Fixing It, Villain!and 24 more

TV Tropes lists 36 storytelling tropes for It Could Happen to You, including Unexpected Virgin, Rags to Riches, Asian Store-Owner.