Good Will Hunting (1997)
Some people can never believe in themselves, until someone believes in them.
Will Hunting is a headstrong, working-class genius who is failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will's last chance is a psychology professor, who might be the only man who can reach him.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 5 December 1997 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Gus Van Sant |
| Starring | Matt Damon, Robin Williams and Ben Affleck |
| Runtime | 127 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.1/10 · Metacritic 71/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 97% · TMDB users 8.2/10 |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Box office | $226 million worldwide |
Where to watch Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting is streaming on Apple TV+ ($12.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Apple TV+ is $12.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Gus Van Sant directs this 127-minute drama with a stillness that contrasts sharply with its subject. Matt Damon plays a genius who fixes everything except his own life, while Robin Williams provides the one voice loud enough to cut through the noise. The film trusts its audience to sit with silence. It does not need to explain why a janitor at MIT is brilliant, or why he is terrified. The tension comes from watching two men test each other’s patience. It is a quiet study of pride, which makes it harder to take than it looks.
What the critics said
Critics mostly loved it. Rotten Tomatoes assigns a 97% approval rating, based on 91 reviews, with an average score of 8.1 out of 10. Metacritic lands on a 71 Metascore. Roger Ebert called the moments effective, even if the story was predictable. Duane Byrge praised the acting as brilliant. Not everyone agreed. Andrew O'Hehir found it superficial. It is a film that works best when you stop analyzing why it works.
How it did with audiences
It cost $10 million and pulled in $226 million worldwide. That ratio is less of a business statistic and more of a polite suggestion to the studio that the audience knows what they are doing. On TMDB, users rate it 8.2 out of 10. The math is simple enough that it barely needs explaining.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Good Will Hunting.
Sources
- Good Will Hunting on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q193835 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Good Will Hunting” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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