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The Good Lie

Play trailer Poster for The Good Lie PG-13 2014 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After their village is destroyed and their parents killed by Northern militia, Sudanese orphans Theo, his siblings and other survivors make a difficult journey to a refugee camp in Kenya. Thirteen years later, the group gets the chance to settle in the U.S. They are met in Kansas by Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), who has been charged with finding them jobs. However, seeing how adrift they are in 20th-century America, Carrie endeavors to help them in rebuilding their shattered lives.
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The Good Lie

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Critics Consensus

The Good Lie sacrifices real-life nuance in order to turn its true story into a Hollywood production, but the results still add up to a compelling, well-acted, and deeply moving drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Shadow and Act Staff Shadow and Act Sep 13, 2022
Other than some war set pieces, fish-out-of-water montages, and an uplifting message about the human spirit, there’s not much going on. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) Apr 26, 2015
3/5
Strong performances from Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany and Emmanuel Jal ensure that the characters of Mamere, Jeremiah and Paul are never reduced to "exotic" victimhood. Go to Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times Apr 25, 2015
2/5
A Unesco educational resource cast in the style of an unreconstructed 1970s sitcom. Go to Full Review Cory Woodroof Williamson Home Page Feb 11, 2022
The Good Lie weaves a powerful tale of family and survival in the midst of trial. It's an impactful film thats well-worth your time. Go to Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Feb 2, 2021
2.5/5
A well-intentioned, feel good movie, nicely performed by Witherspoon and the Sudanese cast - Duany and Oceng are stand-outs - that is more successful at raising a smiles than awareness. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 9, 2020
3.0/4.0
Possesses such a richness of and a faith in humanity that it's practically impossible to watch the film without tearing up a bit. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Glory A @RT08322771 Jul 9, 2026 Emotional, inspiring, and based on a true story. Definitely worth watching. 🥹 See more Jill C. @jcaseyphoto84 Aug 10, 2025 Great movie! I enjoyed learning about Sudan. Watching them learn and grow in Kansas City was heartwarming. The twist at the end surprised me as well. See more Oct 3, 2024 For 2014: another A-grade piece of cinema from Reese Witherspoon she plays a humanitarian taking care of a family of South African refugees during the 1987 Sudan civil war it's awful seeing the violent and difficult reality of Africa along with the system diving families apart the movie still shows the Lost Boys of Sudan willing to do whatever it takes in order to stay together it takes a familiar route being a fish-out-of-water story with these refugees struggling to adapt to American soil and just maybe help the others left behind in a hurting country it's true we may be divided by our cultures but it's our humanity that connects us this family of refugees also lives by a code that lying is a sin in itself but they are living the 'good' kind considering the challenges they've faced sure this film feels like corporate Hollywood-esque but it's still a heartwarming and aware journey of a group of people wanting to start over and be free from the traumatizing terrors of a corrupt nation it's really all about these Sudanese individuals, the ones they've lost, the things they've sacrificed, and the hope that lies ahead for them See more Dani G @RT81139271 Jun 15, 2024 Told in a simple, not overexplained way, it's a heartbreaking and encouraging story, about some people and places we don't even have an idea of his life See more Emilliano Jr S @emill_santos Aug 27, 2023 It may defict real migration struggles but too fairtales ish. See more Rick A @RT74236593 Aug 17, 2023 Surprising small-budget film that relates the story of a family of Sudanese conflict refugees from their perspectives. Worth watching. See more Read all reviews
The Good Lie

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Cast & Crew

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Philippe Falardeau

Director

Reese Witherspoon

Carrie Davis

Arnold Oceng

Mamere

Ger Duany

Jeremiah

Emmanuel Jal

Paul

Corey Stoll

Jack

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The Good Lie

(L-R) Corey Stoll as Jack, Arnold Oceng as Mamere and Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis in "The Good Lie." Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis and Corey Stoll as Jack in "The Good Lie." Corey Stoll as Jack in "The Good Lie." Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis in "The Good Lie." Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis and Corey Stoll as Jack in "The Good Lie." Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis and Corey Stoll as Jack in "The Good Lie." Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis in "The Good Lie." (L-R) Corey Stoll as Jack and Arnold Oceng as Mamere in "The Good Lie." Ger Duany as Jeremiah in "The Good Lie." (L-R) Reese Witherspoon as Carrie Davis and Sarah Baker as Pamela Lowi in "The Good Lie." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After their village is destroyed and their parents killed by Northern militia, Sudanese orphans Theo, his siblings and other survivors make a difficult journey to a refugee camp in Kenya. Thirteen years later, the group gets the chance to settle in the U.S. They are met in Kansas by Carrie Davis (Reese Witherspoon), who has been charged with finding them jobs. However, seeing how adrift they are in 20th-century America, Carrie endeavors to help them in rebuilding their shattered lives.
Director
Philippe Falardeau
Producer
Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill
Screenwriter
Margaret Nagle
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Reliance Entertainment, Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media, Imagine Entertainment, Blue Sky Films
Rating
PG-13 (Drug Use|Brief Strong Language|Some Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 3, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.7M
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS
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