Safe Haven

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Safe Haven

PG-13

2013

1h 55m

Romance

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Katie Feldman moves to a small town on the North Carolina coast, determined to make a new life for herself. She takes a job as a waitress and keeps a low profile, but she is soon won over by the warmth and caring of the close-knit community, especially that of Alex, a widower. With the help of Alex and his children, Katie learns to love and trust again, but when a mysterious stranger arrives and starts asking questions, Katie's dark past threatens to reclaim her.

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Critics Consensus

Schmaltzy, predictable, and melodramatic, Safe Haven also suffers from a ludicrous plot twist, making for a particularly ignominious Nicholas Sparks adaptation.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Sep 5, 2017

2/5

How long can writer Nicholas Sparks trade off his iconic blub-fest The Notebook?

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Wesley Morris

Grantland

Jan 3, 2014

A movie whose punch line is so delightfully absurd that even after you pretty much know what's coming you spit out your Pepsi anyway.

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Drew Hunt

Chicago Reader

Mar 7, 2013

Keeping up with the movie's inane plot twists makes for a capricious good time, but an unimaginative denouement turns the whole thing into a fool's errand.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 18, 2023

2/5

However, despite some added bite to Sparks' traditional mix of beachside frolics and attracting opposites, there's just a sense of déjà vu about the whole enterprise...

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Kip Mooney

College Movie Review

Sep 18, 2021

C+

Still has all the eye-rolling trademarks of a Nicholas Sparks production.

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Jade Budowski

Decider

Mar 8, 2021

Josh Duhamel is smokin' hot, the love story is sweet, and it's all undeniably watchable.

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Emma N

@jayjay420 Jul 23, 2026

It has always been one of my favorites!

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Keri K

@RT47023992 Jun 28, 2026

I thought it was super cute and edgy at the same time . I noticed a lot of the men gave it a low score which is understandable. Not many men are romantics. I mean cmon…it has Josh Duhamel for crying out loud. 🔥🔥 I also think Julianne Hough did a decent job, too. Gorgeous cast. Interesting plot. Unforeseen twists. Intensity. Watch it and decide for yourself

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Two L

@ElGaranon Jun 15, 2026

It's a romantic little film with bit of thriller danger element. Don't take it too seriously, but it's fun to watch. And Julianne Hough looks so different, chunkier and nicer than how she presents now. (I just ignored the little twist at the end, kinda dumb)

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Brittany B.

@RT33324103 May 22, 2026

Nicolas Sparks does it again!

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Gabriella S

@RT57332201 May 11, 2026

Coming from a person who has seen a LOT of hallmark and formulaic romance movies, this far exceeds my expectations. Some parts are unrealistic or sped through, but the only details missing are unnecessary at best. The director did an amazing job at capturing every part of the story and every twist and turn was artistically revealed and artfully written. I did not expect the ending and felt that it brought the whole story wonderfully full circle. I'm no critic, but I know how to recognize a good movie for what it is.

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Bryan D

@RT38924338 Nov 14, 2025

Safe Haven is what a good romantic story should be. The movie is very well paced, with enough happening to keep the viewer interested. The suspense is good with a couple twists. And leaves the viewer feeling different emotions throughout.

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Josh Duhamel

Alex Wheatley

Julianne Hough

Katie Feldman

Cobie Smulders

Jo

David Lyons

Kevin Tierney

Noah Lomax

Josh

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Synopsis

Katie Feldman moves to a small town on the North Carolina coast, determined to make a new life for herself. She takes a job as a waitress and keeps a low profile, but she is soon won over by the warmth and caring of the close-knit community, especially that of Alex, a widower. With the help of Alex and his children, Katie learns to love and trust again, but when a mysterious stranger arrives and starts asking questions, Katie's dark past threatens to reclaim her.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: Ryan Kavanaugh, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Nicholas Sparks
Screenwriter: Dana Stevens, Gage Lansky
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: Temple Hill, Relativity Media, Nicholas Sparks Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Sexuality|Threatening Behavior|Violence)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.3M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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