The Good Son

1993·Movie
1h 27min·R
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Metacritic916.9Rotten Tomatoes––

Where to watch

Prime

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

The Good Son fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and scary

  • Tension9
  • Scare7
  • Violence7

Heart

Emotionally reserved

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Pathos6
  • Melancholy6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

The mind, family, and everyday modern life

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Standout performances

  • Acting8
  • Intrigue8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Sound Centrality7
  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting mood

Find more like it

Suspense movies

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

About

Evil has many faces.

A young boy stays with his aunt and uncle, and befriends his cousin who's the same age. But his cousin begins showing increasing signs of psychotic behavior.
Psychological ThrillerEvil Child TropeFamily DramaSuspensefulDark & DisturbingChild AntagonistNature of EvilIntense PerformancesHome Invasion ThreatUnsettling Atmosphere

Crew

Directed by:
Jack Gill, Joseph Ruben, K.C. Colwell
Written by:
Ian McEwan
Produced by:
Thomas John Kane, Ezra Swerdlow, Margo Myers
Composed by:
Dan Wallin, Elmer Bernstein, Louis Cerborino

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Loading video…

Questions about The Good Son

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Good Son legally?

Prime

The Good Son is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. 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 The Good Son worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79/100 (IMDb 6.4 and Metacritic 91). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Good Son rated?

RViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong languageSuicide themes

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, strong language, and suicide themes.

How long is The Good Son?

1 h 27 min

The Good Son runs 1 h 27 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Good Son?

Critics91
Audiences67

Not quite. Critics rate The Good Son higher (91) than audiences (67). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Good Son a box office hit?

Budget$17 million
Box office$61 million

Yes. It cost about $17 million to make and earned $61 million worldwide, 3.6 times its budget.

What language is The Good Son in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Good Son?

51AEARATAUAZBEBOBRBZCACHCLCOCR+37

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Good Son in 51 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Good Son use?

Troubling Unchildlike BehaviorEnfant TerribleDisproportionate RetributionElemental MotifsSpiritual AntithesisScary Flashlight FaceFrom Cousin to Honorary SiblingGood Colors, Evil ColorsIncriminating IndifferenceParental SubstituteThe SociopathBig "NO!"and 84 more

TV Tropes lists 96 storytelling tropes for The Good Son, including Troubling Unchildlike Behavior, Enfant Terrible, Disproportionate Retribution.

HomeDiscoverMoviesShows