IMDb 7.5 1998 HD

A Simple Plan

A Simple Plan

1998
Crime Drama Thriller
121 min R USA
7.204 / 10
7.5 IMDB

Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Sam Raimi / Newt Arnold / Susana Preston / George Fortmuller / Dave Halls / Doug Lefler / Robin R. Oliver / Linda Kuusisto
Starring
Billy Bob Thornton / Bill Paxton / Bridget Fonda / Brent Briscoe / Jack Walsh / Chelcie Ross / Becky Ann Baker / Gary Cole

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

tense greedy paranoid tragic compelling bleak unsettling character-driven desperate moral decay suspenseful consequential

Reviews

C
Clara Jenkins
May 13, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Captivating from its premise of a downed plane and a stash of cash, 'A Simple Plan' is a film that tests the bonds of brotherhood under extreme duress. The performances by the lead actors are strong, effectively conveying…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 13, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterclass in suspense and character study, 'A Simple Plan' plunges viewers into a spiral of escalating consequences. The brilliance lies in its grounded portrayal of how a sudden windfall can expose the darkest corners of the human…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 13, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a film that asks difficult questions about morality and the lengths people will go to for financial security. The performances from Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton are commendable, portraying the escalating panic and distrust with…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 13, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'A Simple Plan' is a taut, character-driven thriller that excels in its exploration of greed's corrosive power. Paxton and Thornton are superb as ordinary men undone by extraordinary temptation, their performances radiating a believable desperation. The film's tone…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 13, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton deliver powerhouse performances as brothers whose lives are irrevocably altered by a chance discovery of ill-gotten gains. The film masterfully crafts a palpable sense of dread, building tension not through overt action,…

FAQs

While critical reception has been strong, 'A Simple Plan' is perhaps more accurately described as a potent and unsettling crime thriller that explores the darker aspects of human nature. Its strength lies in its meticulous pacing, character studies, and the escalating sense of dread it cultivates. It doesn't necessarily fit the mould of a grand, sweeping crime epic, but rather a tightly wound, character-focused narrative that leaves a lasting impression due to its realistic portrayal of moral decay.