The Lucky Ones

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The Lucky Ones

R

2008

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.

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Critics Consensus

The Lucky Ones features heartfelt performances, but is undone by the plot's overwrought parade of coincidence and contrivance.

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

09/29/2008

C

The Iraq war has thus far produced no truly memorable dramatic movies, as opposed to documentaries, and the losing streak continues with The Lucky Ones.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

09/26/2008

3.5/4

There are so many little touches, so many delicate nuances that constantly amaze and inspire, that by the time it was over I almost didn't want their story to come to an end.

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Claudia Puig

USA Today

09/26/2008

2.5/4

This is not the worst of the Iraq-themed movies of the past few years, and it's possibly the best acted of any of them. But you wish the bonding of these three people wasn't diluted by the trite scenarios and artificial circumstances of their saga.

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

12/16/2017

It feels like it secretly wants to be a Iraq vet version [ of Y tu Mama Tambien] but is afraid to go there.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

06/03/2017

C+

A cautious but strained apolitical Iraqi War drama.

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Martin Tsai

Critic's Notebook

10/07/2015

Mostly everything in the film, regardless of how contrived the set up, eventually rings true.

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Sean K

@Esky3 07/24/2025

Great acting with an okay script. I liked it. Don't believe all the negative reviews.

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Gaylord R

@RT95327010 01/11/2023

I am so tired of reading reviews written by wannabee critics who seem to love finding some little flaw somewhere so they can prove that they are really "critics". I, on the other hand, am not a jaded, faded pseudo-intellectual, I am an enthusiastic fan of darn good, out-of-the-world true to life films which do no pretend to be either drama, or comedy, or any genre but rather mirror life as it unfolds in its myriad forms of hilarity, sadness, hope, disappointment, ludicrousness, and redemption. The Lucky Ones is a film that has it all, superb writing, amazing chemistry, scenery, camera work, you name it. It entertains, but it enlightens more.

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steve d

@RT35616104 06/22/2020

Some strong performances help an interesting script and compelling characters. I thought it was heartfelt and fun.

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08/28/2019

Bad story line. Acting is Ok. Ending horrible. Is there a letter for suck-so-bad? LOL! F- Infinity. HA!

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08/15/2017

Touching, a great movie about how much people can affect each other's lives.

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08/06/2017

As a civilian, I've never experienced the cohesiveness a military unit develops through facing mortal threats and surviving them. The Lucky Ones is not a perfect movie but the performances are good and i feel i got a taste of what it could be like to be these characters. The bar scene is particularly memorable for its illustration of unit interdependence.

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Neil Burger

Director

Rachel McAdams

Colee

Tim Robbins

Cheaver

Michael Peña

TK

Molly Hagan

Pat Cheaver

Mark L. Young

Scott Cheaver

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - What's Your Plan?

1:26

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Mysteries of Life

1:36

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Spiritual Healing

2:03

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Tornado

3:00

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Hummers

1:11

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - I Found Cheaver

2:13

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Good Liar

2:31

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - I'm Happy Alone

2:37

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Lucky Guy

1:44

The Lucky Ones: Official Clip - Port-O-John

1:47

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Synopsis

Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.

Director: Neil Burger
Producer: Neil Burger, Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Rick Schwartz
Screenwriter: Neil Burger, Dirk Wittenborn
Distributor: Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Sony Pictures, Lionsgate Films, QED International, Roadside Attractions
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $183.1K
Runtime: 1h 55m