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A Simple Plan

  • 19981998
  • 1616
  • 2h 1min
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
67K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,986
179
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
CrimeDramaThriller

Three blue-collar acquaintances come across millions of dollars in lost cash and make a plan to keep their find from the authorities, but it isn't long before complications and mistrust weav... Read allThree blue-collar acquaintances come across millions of dollars in lost cash and make a plan to keep their find from the authorities, but it isn't long before complications and mistrust weave their way into the plan.Three blue-collar acquaintances come across millions of dollars in lost cash and make a plan to keep their find from the authorities, but it isn't long before complications and mistrust weave their way into the plan.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
67K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,986
179
  • Director
    • Sam Raimi
  • Writer
    • Scott B. Smith(novel)
  • Stars
    • Bill Paxton
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Bridget Fonda
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sam Raimi
  • Writer
    • Scott B. Smith(novel)
  • Stars
    • Bill Paxton
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Bridget Fonda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 458User reviews
    • 120Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 16 wins & 24 nominations total

    Videos1

    A Simple Plan
    Trailer 2:24
    A Simple Plan

    Photos90

    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brent Briscoe in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Sam Raimi in A Simple Plan (1998)
    A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
    A Simple Plan (1998)
    A Simple Plan (1998)
    Bill Paxton in A Simple Plan (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Hankas Hank
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Jacobas Jacob
    Bridget Fonda
    Bridget Fonda
    • Sarahas Sarah
    Brent Briscoe
    Brent Briscoe
    • Louas Lou
    Jack Walsh
    • Tom Butleras Tom Butler
    Chelcie Ross
    Chelcie Ross
    • Carlas Carl
    Becky Ann Baker
    Becky Ann Baker
    • Nancy Chambersas Nancy Chambers
    Gary Cole
    Gary Cole
    • Baxteras Baxter
    Bob Davis
    Bob Davis
    • FBI Agent Renkinsas FBI Agent Renkins
    Peter Syvertsen
    Peter Syvertsen
    • FBI Agent Freemontas FBI Agent Freemont
    Tom Carey
    • Dwight Stephansonas Dwight Stephanson
    John Paxton
    John Paxton
    • Mr. Schmittas Mr. Schmitt
    Marie Mathay
    • News Reporteras News Reporter
    Paul Magers
    • Anchormanas Anchorman
    Joan Steffand
    • Anchorwomanas Anchorwoman
    Jill Sayre
    Jill Sayre
    • Hospital Nurseas Hospital Nurse
    Wayne A. Evenson
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    Tim Storms
    Tim Storms
    • Drinkeras Drinker
    • (as Timothy Storms)
    • Director
      • Sam Raimi
    • Writer
      • Scott B. Smith(novel) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Three diverse characters, for the most part intellectually challenged, find a deserted plane with a bag full of millions of dollars inside. They devise a simple plan to keep the money if no-one claims it. Ofcourse, nothing turns out simple... —Filmtwob <webmaster@filmfreak.co.za>
    plane wreckscreenplay adapted by authorfound moneybag of moneyneo noir77 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Sometimes good people do evil things.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • 16
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Bill Paxton's father plays the old man who confronts Paxton's character in the feed store ("Are you mean to tell me that there were five weeks last month?")
    • Goofs
      When the money is burned in the fireplace, you can see that some of the bills say "motion picture use only".
    • Quotes

      [Hank talks to the FBI agent about their stories to the police]

      Neil Baxter: Looks like we're both gonna have an awful lot of explaining to do.

      Hank Mitchell: Just me.

      [Hank shoots the gun into Baxter's head]

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Prince of Egypt/Shattered Image/Little Voice/A Simple Plan/Central Station (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Spirit in the Sky
      Written and Performed by Norman Greenbaum

      Courtesy of Trans/Tone Productions

    User reviews458

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The Fargo of the year
    Sam Raimi may be most at home with Horror, but his body of work in the last three decades has encompassed a variety of genres, the most intellectual of which is drama. One could argue that a Simple Plan is Raimi's smartest picture but it is not a film where we see any of his distinct auteurism. Equal credit for the film's reasonable competence goes to novelist Scott Smith, adapting his own novel for the screen.

    The plot bears some close resemblance to Fargo. One could argue that A Simple Plan is a few steps ahead of the Coen Brothers. It feels far less contrived, and has a bigger heart. Fargo is cold, cynical, but definitely creative. Anyway, that is another movie

    Three buddies find a plane wreck in the woods, and inside is a sack containing four million dollars. They agree to keep it hidden until they are convinced that the police are not looking for it. Sounds simple enough, but things get ugly pretty quickly.

    I've never thought much for either Bill Paxton or Brigit Fonda, but A Simple Plan shows them at their best, although Billy Bob Thornton's is the most accomplished performance of the movie.

    The movie is one worth seeing, it is admirable and thought provoking. There is nothing necessarily unique about it, but then again uniqueness is a rare gift for a movie to have.
    helpful•11
    2
    • Samiam3
    • Dec 27, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 18, 1999 (Netherlands)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • France
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Thousand Miles
    • Filming locations
      • Delano, Minnesota, USA
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • H2L Media Group
      • Mutual Film Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,316,273
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $390,563
      • Dec 13, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,316,273
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 1min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan (1998)
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