Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

One True Thing

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Meryl Streep, and Tom Everett Scott in One True Thing (1998)
  • Drama
A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Carl Franklin
  • Writers
    • Anna Quindlen(novel)
    • Karen Croner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Renée Zellweger
    • William Hurt
Top credits
  • Director
    • Carl Franklin
  • Writers
    • Anna Quindlen(novel)
    • Karen Croner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Renée Zellweger
    • William Hurt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 121User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    One True Thing
    Trailer 0:58
    One True Thing

    Photos137

    Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and William Hurt in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    William Hurt and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger and William Hurt in One True Thing (1998)
    Meryl Streep at an event for Sophie's Choice (1982)
    Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Meryl Streep, and Tom Everett Scott in One True Thing (1998)
    Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Meryl Streep, and Tom Everett Scott in One True Thing (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Kate Guldenas Kate Gulden
    Renée Zellweger
    Renée Zellweger
    • Ellen Guldenas Ellen Gulden
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • George Guldenas George Gulden
    Tom Everett Scott
    Tom Everett Scott
    • Brian Guldenas Brian Gulden
    Lauren Graham
    Lauren Graham
    • Julesas Jules
    Nicky Katt
    Nicky Katt
    • Jordan Belzeras Jordan Belzer
    James Eckhouse
    James Eckhouse
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    Patrick Breen
    Patrick Breen
    • G.A. Tweedyas G.A. Tweedy
    Gerrit Graham
    Gerrit Graham
    • Oliver Mostas Oliver Most
    David Byron
    • Senator Sullivanas Senator Sullivan
    Stephen Peabody
    Stephen Peabody
    • Haroldas Harold
    Lizbeth Mackay
    Lizbeth Mackay
    • Dr. Cohenas Dr. Cohen
    Mary Catherine Wright
    • Clariceas Clarice
    Sloane Shelton
    Sloane Shelton
    • Evelyn Bestas Evelyn Best
    Michele Shay
    • Juneas June
    Bobo Lewis
    • Murielas Muriel
    Marylouise Burke
    Marylouise Burke
    • Louisaas Louisa
    Marcia Jean Kurtz
    Marcia Jean Kurtz
    • Marciaas Marcia
    • Director
      • Carl Franklin
    • Writers
      • Anna Quindlen(novel)
      • Karen Croner(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Music of the Heart
    6.8
    Music of the Heart
    A Cry in the Dark
    6.9
    A Cry in the Dark
    Postcards from the Edge
    6.7
    Postcards from the Edge
    Ironweed
    6.7
    Ironweed
    ...First Do No Harm
    6.7
    ...First Do No Harm
    Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy
    4.9
    Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy
    Falling in Love
    6.4
    Falling in Love
    Silkwood
    7.1
    Silkwood
    Between
    4.1
    Between
    Full Fathom Five
    3.0
    Full Fathom Five
    Heartburn
    6.1
    Heartburn
    Contaminated Man
    4.9
    Contaminated Man

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Meryl Streep called Bette Midler to use her songs in the movie and Midler said "of course".
    • Goofs
      In some birthday-party scenes, daylight is visible through some windows, and lighting on the staircase suggests daylight, although the action is supposed to be at night, and other windows show darkness outdoors.
    • Quotes

      Kate Gulden: It's so much easier to be happy, my love. It's so much easier to choose to love the things that you have, and you have so much, instead of always yearning for what you're missing, or what it is you're imagining you're missing. It's so much more peaceful.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Rounders/Kiki's Delivery Service/Simon Birch/Slums of Beverly Hills/Digging to China (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      My One True Friend
      Written by Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster

      Produced by David Foster

      Performed by Bette Midler

    User reviews121

    Review
    Top review
    Streep is magical
    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.
    helpful•23
    4
    • Boyo-2
    • Sep 16, 1998

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 18, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • Một Điều Có Thật
    • Filming locations
      • Morristown, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Monarch Pictures
      • Ufland
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,245,840
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,606,455
      • Sep 20, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,616,840
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Meryl Streep, and Tom Everett Scott in One True Thing (1998)
    Top Gap
    By what name was One True Thing (1998) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.