--- title: "Good Will Hunting: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/good-will-hunting/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/good-will-hunting" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 8 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." --- # Good Will Hunting (1997): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Good Will Hunting, with praise centred on the performances and the wit and feeling of Damon and Affleck’s screenplay. Robin Williams draws particular attention for the tenderness of his serious role, while Damon’s performance and his chemistry with Williams give the familiar therapeutic story emotional weight. The reviews also credit Gus Van Sant with handling the material carefully, finding humour and convincing relationships within a premise some consider implausible. Reservations concern how neatly the film packages its troubles and resolves its emotional business, with a noticeable gap between enthusiastic and mixed responses. The Los Angeles Times finds the commercial polish too conspicuous, while Time Out questions the overplayed sincerity, familiar tropes and confused attitude towards academia. The Independent is less persuaded by Van Sant’s handling of the material, though it singles out the romance with Minnie Driver as unusually convincing: even the dissenting reviews find something to value in the relationships. ## Empire — Bob McCabe Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 1998. The film is praised as a beautiful piece of filmmaking with an assured script and strong performances; Robin Williams is highlighted as providing the heart and highlight of the movie. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/good-will-hunting-review/) ## Radio Times — Joanna Berry Rating 4/5. This is a moving drama skilfully directed by Gus Van Sant and stunningly performed by its cast, including Oscar-winning turns from Damon, Affleck and Williams. It is mesmerising from start to finish. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9ivdhi/good-will-hunting/) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 1998. The reviewer notes that despite a preposterous premise, the script is full of dazzle and wit, and the film works as both touching and funny. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/good-will-hunting-review/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The film is recommended as a crowd-pleaser with charm, wit and vigour in the writing by Damon and Affleck. Robin Williams delivers two juicy speeches with sharpness and tenderness, while Stellan Skarsgard stands out as the MIT professor. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11035949/Good-Will-Hunting-review-Robin-Williams-brings-off-sharpness-and-tenderness.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 19 July 2021. The film is honest and moving but its sincerity is overdone and it falls back on familiar tropes; it challenges anti-intellectualism yet veers toward equating academia with effeminacy. It is acted and directed with care, with Damon outstanding in his scenes with Minnie Driver. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/good-will-hunting-1997) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 1998. The critic finds that Van Sant does not fully succeed in making the film more than meets the eye without compromising. The love story with Minnie Driver is singled out as unusually convincing and a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/new-films-selfdiscovery-by-way-of-mathematical-genius-1148515.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 5 December 1997. The critic notes the fairy-tale origins and appealing performances by Damon and Affleck but finds the script's commercial elements and Hollywood polish turn a flaw into a larger problem, resulting in a tidy but resistible entertainment. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-05-ca-60701-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge 5 December 1997. The critic calls the film a jarringly powerful drama about a working-class math genius who struggles with his personal life, predicting it will win over both critics and mainstream audiences. They single out the brilliant acting, especially Matt Damon’s tender portrayal and Robin Williams’ standout supporting performance, along with Gus Van Sant’s direction that emphasizes the film’s messy humanity. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/good-will-hunting-1997-review-952640/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin 5 December 1997. The critic praises the smart and touching screenplay by the two young actors and Gus Van Sant's stylish, shrewd direction. Robin Williams receives a rare serious role that fully utilizes his talents in this graceful film. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/05/movies/film-review-logarithms-and-biorhythms-test-a-young-janitor.html) ## Variety 1 December 1997. Towering performances by Matt Damon and a terrific Robin Williams elevate the film above its mainstream therapeutic story, with Van Sant delivering a beautifully textured, funny, moving drama rich in tone. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/good-will-hunting-3-1200452429/) ## Collider — Chase Hutchinson Rating A. 25 February 2023. The critic praises the film's natural dialogue and character development, highlighting Robin Williams' magnificent performance in the therapy scenes as a standout for its heartfelt energy and insight into masculinity and pain. [Read the review](https://collider.com/good-will-hunting-review/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2009. The critic finds the film a beautiful and affecting piece of cinema despite its lack of surprises. They single out the dazzling dialogue, poignant moments, and especially Robin Williams' standout serious performance (with some lines improvised) alongside the strong chemistry between Damon and Williams. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/good-will-hunting-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/good-will-hunting.md