---
title: "A Simple Plan"
year: 1998
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan"
fi1m_id: "a-simple-plan"
imdb_id: "tt0120324"
tmdb_id: 10223
wikidata_id: "Q564958"
fi1m_score: 86
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-09-13"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:12.147306+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# A Simple Plan (1998)

Directed by Sam Raimi · 2h 01m · MPA R · Crime, Drama, Thriller

## Identity

A Simple Plan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** a-simple-plan
- **IMDb ID:** tt0120324
- **TMDB ID:** 10223
- **Wikidata ID:** Q564958
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120324/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10223, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q564958

**Fi1m score: 86** · Critics 78 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* We would leave the fortune in the crashed plane and keep the overdraft

> Sam Raimi makes a familiar crime story hurt through patience and sharply judged performances from Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton. The plotting is sometimes predictable, but the characters matter enough to make its warning about greed painful.

## Synopsis

A fortune found in a crashed plane gives a group of ordinary people a reason to reconsider what they think they deserve. Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton), his brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) and Lou Chambers (Brent Briscoe) are drawn into a crime story in which the prospect of wealth tests their judgement and their trust in one another. Bridget Fonda plays Sarah Mitchell. Set against a Midwestern winter, Sam Raimi’s adaptation of Scott B. Smith’s novel follows the discovery’s consequences as the wish for a better life becomes harder to separate from greed.

## Review

Sam Raimi’s *A Simple Plan* is a patient, frightening crime drama that we recommend despite some predictable plotting. A fortune turns up in a crashed plane, and the promise of a better life begins to wear away ordinary scruples. Raimi takes that familiar starting point seriously enough to make it troubling again. He lets us understand why the money is tempting before asking how much we would excuse in the people who find it.

Scott B. Smith adapts his own novel with a firm grasp of how a sensible explanation can make a bad decision sound manageable. The plotting stays close to the people involved, so the thriller keeps its human scale even as their judgement worsens. There is no great mystery about the danger of greed, which limits the surprise. What holds our attention is the gradual change in what these people are prepared to accept, and how readily each step can be explained away.

Bill Paxton gives Hank Mitchell the reassuring presence the story needs. We want to believe in his competence, and Paxton is careful not to make that confidence look foolish at the outset. His performance makes it possible to follow the reasoning while becoming increasingly alarmed by the conclusions. Raimi’s restraint matters here: a more demonstrative performance would let us dismiss Hank too comfortably, when the uncomfortable part is how plausible Paxton makes him.

Billy Bob Thornton’s Jacob Mitchell is the stronger reason to watch. His difficulty keeping up with the others is painful because Thornton gives him feelings that are easier to understand than the plans around him. We were more upset by Jacob’s vulnerability than we expected; Thornton makes the prospect of wealth seem a particularly dangerous thing to put within his reach. The performance gives the brothers’ predicament a sadness that the mechanics of a crime story alone could not supply.

Alar Kivilo’s cinematography makes the wintry setting feel inhospitable without turning it into a distraction. The photography suits Raimi’s unhurried approach, giving us little comfort when our attention moves from the people to their surroundings. Patrizia von Brandenstein’s production design is persuasive about the ordinary lives the money might change. The film needs us to believe that these people might be tempted, and the lack of anything showy helps.

Arthur Coburn and Eric L. Beason’s editing gives the reasoning room to develop without loosening the suspense. At 121 minutes, the film has time to make company with these people uncomfortable, though we occasionally recognise the next moral difficulty before the script has finished approaching it. Danny Elfman’s music helps sustain the unease, but can underline a threat that the acting has already made plain. These are small objections, though they matter in a film whose strongest passages trust us to notice what is going wrong.

Within the crime thriller’s familiar account of greed and distrust, Raimi’s attention to the brothers is what distinguishes the film. The quieter approach suits him: he allows the performances to carry the tension without continually drawing attention to the direction. There is pleasure in watching something so carefully made, even when spending time with its characters becomes distressing. Choose it for a quiet evening, provided nobody expects to feel better afterwards.

*Fi1m score 86, published 13 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

All fifteen reviews are favourable, and most of them make the same case: that Raimi, known for camera acrobatics, here sets the tricks aside and directs a quiet, cold crime drama about three ordinary men and a fortune found in a crashed plane. Several call it his best or most mature film. The praise settles on the cast above everything. Billy Bob Thornton’s Jacob, the slow, wistful brother, is named in nearly every review, with Bill Paxton’s everyman lead close behind and Bridget Fonda mentioned less often.

The spread is narrow, running from solid approval to outright acclaim, with nothing below. Reservations are small. Eye for Film finds the story well written but predictable and misses the macabre streak of Raimi’s horror films. The comparison to Fargo runs through many of the reviews; The Times thinks the film unfairly overshadowed by it, and The AV Club argues it has a warmer heart than the Coens allow themselves.

## Straight answers

**Is A Simple Plan worth watching?**

*A Simple Plan* is worth watching for anyone who wants a patient, frightening crime drama about ordinary people and greed, and we scored it 86. Bill Paxton is quietly plausible and Billy Bob Thornton is the stronger reason to watch, though the plotting is sometimes predictable. Choose it for a quiet evening, not a cheering one.

**How long is A Simple Plan, and what is it rated?**

*A Simple Plan* runs 2h 01m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a crime and drama film.

**Where can I watch A Simple Plan in the US?**

*A Simple Plan* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is A Simple Plan, and is it suitable for children?**

*A Simple Plan* carries a UK 15 certificate and a US R rating, and is not suitable for children. The violence grows out of a crime story in which greed steadily wears down ordinary scruples, and the film is frightening in a slow, distressing way rather than a gory one. Older teenagers who can sit with unease should manage it.

**How does A Simple Plan compare to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?**

*A Simple Plan* and [*The Treasure of the Sierra Madre*](https://film.one/film/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre) both watch gold or cash poison the trust of people who need each other, but Raimi's film is the sadder and quieter of the two. Huston's is tense and funny, with occasional lecturing; Raimi's is patient and painful, resting on the brothers rather than an adventure. Both are recommended; pick Huston for wit, Raimi for dread.

**Is A Simple Plan based on a true story or a book?**

*A Simple Plan* is based on Scott B. Smith's novel of the same name, not on a true story. Smith adapted his own book for the screen, and the film keeps the story close to its people rather than its mechanics. You do not need to have read the novel to follow or feel the film.

**What should I watch after A Simple Plan?**

After *A Simple Plan*, try [*The Treasure of the Sierra Madre*](https://film.one/film/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre) (1948, Fi1m 88): Gold and suspicion steadily poison the company of men who need each other. Then [*Fargo*](https://film.one/film/fargo) (1996, Fi1m 91): More wintry crime, with foolish schemes and a less forgiving sense of humour; and [*The Wages of Fear*](https://film.one/film/the-wages-of-fear) (1953, Fi1m 90): Desperate men take a paid risk, and suspense grows from every practical detail.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **RogerEbert.com** (4/4): The critic calls it Raimi’s best film, a subtle and restrained crime drama that stands out from his usual style. They praise the flawless cast, especially Paxton, Thornton, and Fonda, and Raimi’s effective use of tension and setting without exaggeration. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/features/a-simple-plan-isnt-your-typical-sam-raimi-movie-and-thats-why-its-his-best)
- **Sight and Sound**, Philip Kemp (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it Raimi's finest film to date for its emotional power, subtlety and complex characters whose fates matter, in contrast to his earlier work. It singles out the strongly individualised lead performances, especially Bill Paxton's and Billy Bob Thornton's, and the film's stern morality for praise. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/134)
- **Vulture** (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's uncommon restraint and emotional power as a sad crime thriller about ordinary men undone by greed, calling it possibly Raimi's best and highlighting career-best work from Paxton and Thornton. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2022/05/a-simple-plan-sam-raimi-doctor-strange.html)
- **Empire**, Andrew Collins (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a chilly, engrossing and human character piece that marks Raimi's maturation as a director. He singles out the strong performances, particularly Billy Bob Thornton's as the dim-witted Jacob. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/simple-plan-2-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Jack Mathews (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the taut adaptation of the novel and Raimi’s restrained direction, which focuses on the characters’ moral deterioration rather than visual excess. Thornton’s performance as the simple-minded brother stands out as particularly compelling. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-11-ca-52762-story.html)
- **Total Film** (80/100, inferred): The review calls it a dark, dense thriller that replaces Raimi's earlier visual pyrotechnics with mature craftsmanship and a cracking story. It singles out the gripping dramatisation of greed's destructive effects and Billy Bob Thornton's standout performance. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/a-simple-plan-review/)
- **The AV Club**, Joshua Klein (70/100, inferred): The critic notes that Raimi's restrained direction allows the strong cast to shine in this bleak thriller about greed unraveling ordinary lives, praising its human heart and complex performances unlike the colder Coen brothers style. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/a-simple-plan-1798195671)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (NYT Critic’s Pick): The critic finds the film a quietly devastating thriller about ordinary people whose discovery of a fortune leads to an inescapable moral spiral. Strong performances, especially by Paxton and Thornton, anchor the bleak winter tale. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/11/movies/film-review-a-frozen-setting-frames-a-chilling-tale.html)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (70/100, inferred): The critic calls it a cleverly convoluted Sam Raimi crime thriller, unfairly overshadowed by Fargo. They single out its focus on the corrosive power of greed and the heartbreaking, inevitable climax between the brothers. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/further-watching-a-simple-plan-s7dt23vzxnq)
- **Time Out**, GA (70/100, inferred): The critic finds that Raimi renders the familiar story of dishonour among thieves fresh through calm, cool assurance and delivers an impressively lean thriller. It singles out the sturdy characterisation and taut plotting for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/a-simple-plan)
- **Variety** (70/100, inferred): The critic notes the film’s blend of crime drama and Midwestern Gothic elements, comparing it favorably to Fargo while praising Raimi’s shift toward character-driven storytelling. Performances by Paxton and Thornton are highlighted as first-rate. [Read](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/a-simple-plan-1200455181/)
- **/Film**, Joshua Meyer (85/100, inferred): The critic calls A Simple Plan perhaps Raimi's most mature and meaningful film, a grounded neo-noir tragedy about ordinary people corrupted by greed that remains tense and mournful two decades later. It singles out the strong performances, especially Bill Paxton's everyman lead and Billy Bob Thornton's Oscar-nominated turn, along with the film's literary weight and focus on human nature over flashy direction. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/562860/a-simple-plan-revisited/)
- **Den of Geek** (70/100, inferred): The piece discusses the film as Raimi's most restrained work, an improvement on the source novel with kinetic elements and a grim exploration of greed, class, and morality in a cold setting influenced by the Coens. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/sam-raimi-a-retrospective/)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a well-written but predictable tale of ordinary people undone by greed after discovering a fortune in a crashed plane. Raimi directs responsibly with strong performances, especially from Billy Bob Thornton, though it lacks the macabre edge of his horror work. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/a-simple-plan-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jack Hawkins (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Raimi's shift to character-driven drama in this neo-noir thriller about three men who find a fortune and the ensuing moral and personal unraveling. Billy Bob Thornton's nuanced portrayal of the sad, wistful Jacob stands out as particularly compelling. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/a-simple-plan-retrospective/)

## Details

- **Director:** Sam Raimi
- **Director:** Sam Raimi
- **Screenplay:** Scott B. Smith
- **Novel:** Scott B. Smith
- **Cinematography:** Alar Kivilo
- **Editor:** Arthur Coburn, Eric L. Beason
- **Music:** Danny Elfman
- **Production design:** Patrizia von Brandenstein
- **Costume design:** Julie Weiss
- **Producer:** James Jacks, Adam Schroeder
- **Cast:** Billy Bob Thornton as Jacob Mitchell; Bill Paxton as Hank Mitchell; Bridget Fonda as Sarah Mitchell; Brent Briscoe as Lou Chambers; Jack Walsh as Tom Butler; Chelcie Ross as Carl Jenkins; Becky Ann Baker as Nancy Chambers; Gary Cole as Baxter
- **Runtime:** 2h 01m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 22 January 1999
- **Genres:** Crime, Drama, Thriller
- **Budget:** $17 million
- **Box office:** $16 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8aZUd6O9A

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: rent $4.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $9.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-13.*

Also available in: AT, AU, CA, CZ, DE, GB, HU, NO, RO, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1999: Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Treasure of the Sierra Madre* (1948), Fi1m 88: Gold and suspicion steadily poison the company of men who need each other. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre.md)
- *Fargo* (1996), Fi1m 91: More wintry crime, with foolish schemes and a less forgiving sense of humour. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fargo.md)
- *The Wages of Fear* (1953), Fi1m 90: Desperate men take a paid risk, and suspense grows from every practical detail. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-wages-of-fear.md)
- *Shallow Grave* (1994), Fi1m 78: Shared money makes a domestic arrangement considerably harder to live with. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md)
- *The Salesman* (2016), Fi1m 72: An ordinary household becomes the setting for a painful examination of wounded pride. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-salesman.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan