The Lucky One

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The Lucky One

PG-13

Released Apr 20, 2012

1h 41m

Drama

Romance

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20%

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146 Reviews

67%

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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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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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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

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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

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Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

[Efron] sells it almost single-handedly through sheer force of scrumminess.

Rated: 3/5

May 3, 2012

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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

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

More gloopy romantic slush from the piffling pen of author Nicholas Sparks.

Rated: 1.5/5

Oct 1, 2020

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Lanfranco C

The pursuit of happiness following a photo

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

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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

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Michael T

The critics were right on this one. A weak script and slow moving story drove this one into the ground. The climax was particularly preposterous. The performances were OK, but the actors didn't have much to work with.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/07/23

Full Review

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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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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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