7.0/10
11,097
119 user 66 critic

One True Thing (1998)

PG | | Drama | 18 September 1998 (USA)
One True Thing Poster
A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers:

Anna Quindlen (novel), Karen Croner (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt | See full cast & crew »
63
Reviews
Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep ... Kate Gulden
Renée Zellweger ... Ellen Gulden
William Hurt ... George Gulden
Tom Everett Scott ... Brian Gulden
Lauren Graham ... Jules
Nicky Katt ... Jordan Belzer
James Eckhouse ... District Attorney
Patrick Breen ... G.A. Tweedy
Gerrit Graham ... Oliver Most
David Byron David Byron ... Senator Sullivan
Stephen Peabody ... Harold
Lizbeth MacKay ... Dr. Cohen
Mary Catherine Wright Mary Catherine Wright ... Clarice
Sloane Shelton ... Evelyn Best
Michele Shay Michele Shay ... June
See full cast »
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Storyline

When a tough New Yorker's mother is stricken with a serious illness, she is forced to quit her job and her relationship with her boyfriend to take care of her, finding out a lot of things she didn't know about her mother and father and her life along the way. Written by L. Lim <penny1@es.co.nz>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

cancer | female protagonist | melodrama | dysfunctional family | terminal illness | See All (39) »

Taglines:

Love What You Have.

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the birthday party for George (William Hurt), when he and Ellen (Renee Zellweger) are avoiding a couple of party guests, George says, "Danger, Will Robertson, danger", and Ellen corrects him that it's Robinson, not Robertson. This a reference to Lost in Space (1998), in which William Hurt starred just before this movie. See more »

Goofs

The story takes place in 1988 but many of the hairstyles and automobiles are '90s style. See more »

Quotes

Kate Gulden: Thank you for the world so sweet.Thank you for the food we eat.Thank you for the birds that sing.Thank you, God, for everything.
See more »

Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) See more »

Soundtracks

Body and Soul
Written by Robert Sour, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman and Frank Eyton
Performed by Charles Mingus
Courtesy of GRP Records
See more »

User Reviews

Streep is magical
16 September 1998 | by Boyo-2 – See all my reviews

I enjoyed this movie as much as you can, given the subject matter. Streep is completely amazing, Renee has some great moments, and Hurt does his usual preppy jerk routine. Several scenes will make you cry, but this is not the usual fatal-disease-in-the-family fare that you might expect it to be, thanks to Carl Franklin, who keeps the story fresh when stereotypes and cliches prevail.
20 of 24 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Contre coeur See more »

Filming Locations:

Morristown, New Jersey, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,606,455, 20 September 1998

Gross USA:

$23,245,840

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,616,840
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monarch Pictures, Ufland, Universal Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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