The Good Lie

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The Good Lie

PG-13

2014

1h 49m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

82%

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10,000+ Ratings

After their village is destroyed and their parents killed by Northern militia, Sudanese orphans Theo, his siblings and other survivors make a difficult journey to a refugee camp in Kenya. Thirteen years later, the group gets the chance to settle in the U.S. They are met in Kansas by Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), who has been charged with finding them jobs. However, seeing how adrift they are in 20th-century America, Carrie endeavors to help them in rebuilding their shattered lives.

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Critics Consensus

The Good Lie sacrifices real-life nuance in order to turn its true story into a Hollywood production, but the results still add up to a compelling, well-acted, and deeply moving drama.

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Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

Other than some war set pieces, fish-out-of-water montages, and an uplifting message about the human spirit, there’s not much going on.

Sep 13, 2022

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Strong performances from Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany and Emmanuel Jal ensure that the characters of Mamere, Jeremiah and Paul are never reduced to "exotic" victimhood.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 26, 2015

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

A Unesco educational resource cast in the style of an unreconstructed 1970s sitcom.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 25, 2015

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Lucía Roitbarg

EscribiendoCine

Without a doubt, the story of these young people is a moving story and has great potential to achieve a quality cinematic drama but, clearly, it would be interesting to see a different version of it. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Oct 17, 2023

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Cory Woodroof

Williamson Home Page

The Good Lie weaves a powerful tale of family and survival in the midst of trial. It's an impactful film thats well-worth your time.

Feb 11, 2022

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A well-intentioned, feel good movie, nicely performed by Witherspoon and the Sudanese cast - Duany and Oceng are stand-outs - that is more successful at raising a smiles than awareness.

Rated: 2.5/5

Feb 2, 2021

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Jill C.

Great movie! I enjoyed learning about Sudan. Watching them learn and grow in Kansas City was heartwarming. The twist at the end surprised me as well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Audience Member

For 2014: another A-grade piece of cinema from Reese Witherspoon she plays a humanitarian taking care of a family of South African refugees during the 1987 Sudan civil war it's awful seeing the violent and difficult reality of Africa along with the system diving families apart the movie still shows the Lost Boys of Sudan willing to do whatever it takes in order to stay together it takes a familiar route being a fish-out-of-water story with these refugees struggling to adapt to American soil and just maybe help the others left behind in a hurting country it's true we may be divided by our cultures but it's our humanity that connects us this family of refugees also lives by a code that lying is a sin in itself but they are living the 'good' kind considering the challenges they've faced sure this film feels like corporate Hollywood-esque but it's still a heartwarming and aware journey of a group of people wanting to start over and be free from the traumatizing terrors of a corrupt nation it's really all about these Sudanese individuals, the ones they've lost, the things they've sacrificed, and the hope that lies ahead for them

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

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Selina S

So good. So very good. Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

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Dani G

Told in a simple, not overexplained way, it's a heartbreaking and encouraging story, about some people and places we don't even have an idea of his life

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/15/24

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Emilliano Jr S

It may defict real migration struggles but too fairtales ish.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

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Rick A

Surprising small-budget film that relates the story of a family of Sudanese conflict refugees from their perspectives. Worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/17/23

Full Review

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Philippe Falardeau

Director

Reese Witherspoon

Carrie Davis

Arnold Oceng

Mamere

Ger Duany

Jeremiah

Emmanuel Jal

Paul

Corey Stoll

Jack

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36%

48%

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Synopsis

After their village is destroyed and their parents killed by Northern militia, Sudanese orphans Theo, his siblings and other survivors make a difficult journey to a refugee camp in Kenya. Thirteen years later, the group gets the chance to settle in the U.S. They are met in Kansas by Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), who has been charged with finding them jobs. However, seeing how adrift they are in 20th-century America, Carrie endeavors to help them in rebuilding their shattered lives.

Director: Philippe Falardeau
Producer: Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill
Screenwriter: Margaret Nagle
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Reliance Entertainment, Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media, Imagine Entertainment, Blue Sky Films
Rating: PG-13 (Drug Use|Brief Strong Language|Some Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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