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The Lucky One

Play trailer Poster for The Lucky One PG-13 Released Apr 20, 2012 1h 41m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 146 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
U.S. Marine Sgt. Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns home from his third tour of duty in Iraq with the one thing he believes kept him alive: a photograph of a woman he doesn't even know. He learns the woman's name is Beth (Taylor Schilling) and goes to meet her, eventually taking a job at her family-run kennel. Though Beth is full of mistrust and leads a complicated life, a romance blooms, giving Logan hope that Beth could become more than just his good-luck charm.
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The Lucky One

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Critics Consensus

While it provides the requisite amount of escapist melodrama, The Lucky One ultimately relies on too many schmaltzy clichés to appeal to anyone not already familiar with the Nicholas Sparks formula.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard After this performance no further evidence is needed of Efron's ability to do vulnerability and puppy love - we're ready now to see whether he can show any bite. Rated: 3/5 May 4, 2012 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian A tsunami of syrup and a Niagara of nonsense here in this mind-blowingly ridiculous romdram... Rated: 1/5 May 3, 2012 Full Review Robbie Collin Daily Telegraph (UK) [Efron] sells it almost single-handedly through sheer force of scrumminess. Rated: 3/5 May 3, 2012 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Efron is subdued to a fault and he is constantly shot as if posing for Tiger Beat. Schilling is the opposite. Her performance is a bit manic, constantly shifting between her spunky independence and hypnotic lusty gazing. Rated: 1.5/5 Aug 23, 2022 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) More gloopy romantic slush from the piffling pen of author Nicholas Sparks. Rated: 1.5/5 Oct 1, 2020 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com It's doubtful that it will elicit a strong response either from its defenders or its detractors. Rated: 2.5/4.0 Sep 15, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Laura F The 2 stars are for Zac Efron, he made watching this bearable! Terrible acting by Taylor Schilling, Awful, who the hell cast her as a leading lady?, needs sacking! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review Audience Member Solid movie, touches on the horror of war and the strength of the soldiers that fight them.Taylor Schillings character is a tough, confident, beautiful, pragmatic small business owner that is believable and fresh. Zac Effron does great at expressing his shy character through his body language. He is a masterful actor. It's a great date movie. Become a sparker like me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review Alexander M it was a good movie, mostly cry in some scenes but this movie is really beautiful Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review Lily F A lovely romance. I really enjoyed it. I thought Zac Efron was really good and you feel his characters energy as a soldier of war. A nice film to watch that entertains and you feel happy at the end. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Lanfranco C The pursuit of happiness following a photo Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/23/23 Full Review peter S I am a sucker for Zac Efron, what can I say. Action, good looking people, humour and romace at its best. Loved it. Don't be put off by the low ratings from critics. Their job description says no fun and light romantic movie shall rate high. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Lucky One

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Cast & Crew

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Scott Hicks

Director

Zac Efron

Logan Thibault

Taylor Schilling

Beth

Blythe Danner

Ellie

Riley Thomas Stewart

Ben

Jay R. Ferguson

Keith Clayton

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The Lucky One

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Movie Info

Synopsis U.S. Marine Sgt. Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns home from his third tour of duty in Iraq with the one thing he believes kept him alive: a photograph of a woman he doesn't even know. He learns the woman's name is Beth (Taylor Schilling) and goes to meet her, eventually taking a job at her family-run kennel. Though Beth is full of mistrust and leads a complicated life, a romance blooms, giving Logan hope that Beth could become more than just his good-luck charm.
Director
Scott Hicks
Producer
Denise Di Novi, Kevin McCormick
Screenwriter
Will Fetters, Nicholas Sparks
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
DiNovi Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Violence|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 20, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$60.4M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital
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