A Simple Plan poster

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A Simple Plan

1998 · Movie · 121 min
B

MEANRANK

78/100

Averaged across 8 ratings · 170.4K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 6 October 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

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61–91 out of 100

Split

Lowest is Criticker on 61, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 91.

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Three blue-collar men discover a crashed plane containing a dead pilot and four million dollars in cash. They devise a simple plan: to keep the money secretly until the search dies down. This single decision to conceal the treasure begins a devastating chain reaction of paranoia, mistrust, and murder, as the immense weight of their secret destroys their friendships, their families, and their own morality.

Details

Director
Sam Raimi
Based on
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
Released
11 December 1998
Country
United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany
Language
English
Runtime
121 min
Rated
R
Budget
$17.0M
Box office
$16.3M
Awards
15 wins, 21 nominations

This title elsewhere

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton

Jacob Mitchell

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton

Hank Mitchell

Bridget Fonda

Bridget Fonda

Sarah Mitchell

Brent Briscoe

Brent Briscoe

Lou Chambers

Jack Walsh

Jack Walsh

Tom Butler

Chelcie Ross

Chelcie Ross

Carl Jenkins

Becky Ann Baker

Becky Ann Baker

Nancy Chambers

Gary Cole

Gary Cole

Baxter

Awards & nominations

See all 36 →

2 major awards won · 15 wins from 36 nominations across 23 ceremonies

Critics' Choice Movie Awards 1998 Best Screenplay – Adaptation Scott B. Smith Winner
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 1998 Best Supporting Actor Billy Bob Thornton (also for Primary Colors ) Winner
Academy Awards 1998 Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Scott B. Smith Nominee
Academy Awards 1998 Best Supporting Actor Billy Bob Thornton Nominee
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 1998 Best Picture Nominee
Golden Globe Awards 1998 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Billy Bob Thornton Nominee
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1998 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Billy Bob Thornton Nominee
Writers Guild of America Awards 1998 Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Scott B. Smith Nominee
Show all 36 awards across 23 ceremonies