The Best of Me

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The Best of Me

PG-13

2014

1h 58m

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

12%

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82 Reviews

59%

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25,000+ Ratings

Amanda and Dawson, who were once high-school sweethearts, have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual friend. Seeing each other again after 20 years apart reignites the love they've never forgotten, but Amanda and Dawson soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today.

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Critics Consensus

At nine films and counting, the line between Nicholas Sparks film fans and detractors is clear, and The Best of Me will change few minds on either side of the divide.

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Evan Williams

The Australian

The Best of Me turns into a half-baked dramatic thriller, with violent confrontations, gunfights, plenty of nasty characters and one big scary action scene.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 31, 2014

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

There's something heavy-handed, even for Sparks, in the telling of the couple's story, particularly when it comes to Dawson's family: they are leering, brutal embodiments of evil who function as handy plot devices.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 29, 2014

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Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

The Best Of Me, like all Sparks' work, would rather kill his characters and leave a beautiful corpse than have them continue a real, scarred relationship.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 22, 2014

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Sparks' devoted following knows what it wants, and The Best of Me does not relent until it has delivered every last longing look, lovelorn lunge and lachrymose loss of luck.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 26, 2020

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Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

I actually kind of enjoyed it.

May 27, 2020

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Avaryl Halley

Movie Bitches

It's achieving exactly what it set out to accomplish... but also it's very bad.

Rated: 6.5/10

Mar 26, 2020

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I Am F

Just a meh movie. The best scene is when James Marsden get killed.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/10/25

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JiLL C.

I cried. It reminded me how much I miss him.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Alexander S

The Best of Me is a typical Nicolas Sparks story that’s an adorable, tearjerking romantic drama. While it’s not an exceptional film, it’s not a bad watch for those who enjoy these types of movies. Grading: C+

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Wendel L

Direção: Ok Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

Fatima A

It has good scope of events but badly executed

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/26/24

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Audience Member

Cheesy but hits the feels if you let it

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/13/24

Full Review

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Michael Hoffman

Director

Michelle Monaghan

Amanda

James Marsden

Dawson

Luke Bracey

Younger Dawson

Liana Liberato

Young Amanda

Gerald McRaney

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The Best of Me: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Amanda and Dawson, who were once high-school sweethearts, have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual friend. Seeing each other again after 20 years apart reignites the love they've never forgotten, but Amanda and Dawson soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today.

Director: Michael Hoffman
Producer: Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Nicholas Sparks, Russ Kavanaugh, Ryan Kavanaugh, Justin Burns, Theresa Park
Screenwriter: J. Mills Goodloe, Will Fetters, Michael Fetters
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: DiNovi Pictures, Nicholas Sparks Productions, Relativity
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|Brief Strong Language|Some Drug Content|Violence)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.8M
Runtime: 1h 58m

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