Good One

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2:22

Good One

R

Released Aug 9, 2024

1h 30m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

116 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam's trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad's emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested. Selected in both Sundance and Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, Good One is an emotionally expansive work that probes the limits of familial trust, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness.

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Critics Consensus

A beautifully acted depiction of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Good One confronts difficult emotions and yields a striking feature debut for writer-director India Donaldson.

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Adam Nayman

Toronto Star

Good One isn’t quite skilful or original enough to transcend its schematic structure. But it’s still a very fine piece of work, starting with its lovely, richly textured cinematography (by Wilson Cameron) through its precisely modulated ensemble acting.

Jun 17, 2025

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

What unfolds is both intensely compelling and almost impossible to describe.

Rated: 4/5

May 15, 2025

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

But the familiar path to all-is-forgiven group hugs is the stuff of that less interesting film. This one has teeth.

Rated: 5/5

May 15, 2025

Full Review

Jessica Gonzales

Geek Vibes Nation

Wonderful and naturalistic performances of Lily Collias, James Le Gros, and Danny McCarthy all blend together to form a gripping and uneasy narrative filled with dread. The film is a standout from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and is not to be missed.

Rated: 9.5/10

Jul 17, 2025

Full Review

Alise Chaffins

Movies We Texted About

Sam goes into the woods as a young woman who understands much about how to keep the peace for the men in her life, but less about how to create space for her own peace.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 12, 2025

Full Review

Tom Dawson

Radio Times

Accompanied by Celia Hollander's acoustic guitar score, it's a deliberately quiet film that eschews melodramatic arguments and simplistic coming-of-age drama resolutions.

Rated: 4/5

May 23, 2025

Full Review

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Babsallday U

I dont know why this is a movie no real point taken! Hollywood bites these days. Im serious. This movie was a walk in the park although wonderful, absolutely not mind bending.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

Full Review

Brenda

It was very slow. And did not have an ending. I felt like I wasted time on this one.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

David

it really good in it's own sense. hard to describe

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/24

Full Review

Ronald B

Well written dialogue, authentic relationships, beautiful nature photography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Robert

Great story about the relationship between fathers and daughters. Very realistic situations, and the acting was top notch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/24

Full Review

PJ P

Slow, soft, and stunning.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

Full Review

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India Donaldson

Director

Lily Collias

Sam

James Le Gros

Chris

Danny McCarthy

Matt

Sumaya Bouhbal

Jessie

India Donaldson

Screenwriter

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Good One: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam's trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad's emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested. Selected in both Sundance and Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, Good One is an emotionally expansive work that probes the limits of familial trust, understanding, and ultimately, forgiveness.

Director: India Donaldson
Producer: Diana Irvine, Graham Mason, Wilson Cameron, India Donaldson
Screenwriter: India Donaldson
Distributor: Metrograph Pictures
Production Co: Smudge Films, International Pigeon Production, Baird Street Pictures, Tinygiant
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 30m

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