RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Good Will Hunting (1997)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
97 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:59

Fresh:57

Rotten:2

Average Rating:8.1/10

Consensus: Van Sant, working from Affleck and Damon's script, lends warmth and real emotion to the film's somewhat basic story.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: A South Boston whiz kid elects to clean the halls of learning rather than enter them, slumming his way through life as a janitor at MIT. But his natural ability to unravel complex equations... A South Boston whiz kid elects to clean the halls of learning rather than enter them, slumming his way through life as a janitor at MIT. But his natural ability to unravel complex equations attracts the attention of a professor who won't let him quit, a beautiful Harvard student who wants to save him, a sympathetic buddy who wants him to escape South Boston, and a counselor who encourages him. A soundly acclaimed, homegrown effort from lifelong Boston buddies Damon and Affleck, who pushed their script through development by disguising it as a suspense thriller. [More]

Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver

Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgaard, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser, John Mighton, Rachel Majowski, Colleen McCauley, Alison Folland, George Plimpton

Director: Gus Van Sant

Director: Gus Van Sant
Screenwriter: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Composer: Danny Elfman
Producer: Lawrence Bender

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jan 5, 1999

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Good Will Hunting
  • A true motion picture phenomenon, this triumphant story was nominated for 9 Academy Awards(R) -- winning Oscars for Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor) and hot newcomers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (Best Original Screenplay). The most brilliant mind at America's top university isn't a student ... he's the kid who cleans the floors! Will Hunting (Damon) is a headstrong, working-class genius who's failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will's last chance is a psychology professor (Williams), who might be the only man who can reach him! With acclaimed performances from Academy Award(R)-nominee Minnie Driver (GROSSE POINTE BLANK) and Ben Affleck (ARMAGEDDON) -- you'll find GOOD WILL HUNTING a powerful and unforgettable movie experience!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Good Will Hunting

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    41 - 60 (sorted by date)
    Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    ... an engrossing, emotional roller coaster with peaks and valleys of perceptive wit, unsettling anger, coarse humor, and touching affection.

    Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jack Garner
    Jack Garner
    Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

    ...a worthwhile sample of entertainment.

    Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    James Berardinelli
    James Berardinelli
    ReelViews
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    As Francis Ford Coppola does with The Rainmaker, Van Sant demonstrates how entertainingly a real pro can direct a strong if not especially groundbreaking story.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Janet Maslin
    Janet Maslin
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Even rarer than a breath of fresh air is a breath of fresh Hollywood film. Brainy and heartfelt and right on target, Good Will Hunting is such a film.

    Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jay Carr
    Jay Carr
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Good Will Hunting represents the firmest step into the mainstream yet for director Gus van Sant.

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jeff Millar
    Jeff Millar
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Damon and Affleck show a wisdom beyond their years with some of the dialogue, which is alternately poignant and humorous.

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jeff Vice
    Jeff Vice
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City

    Van Sant makes Good Will Hunting a lot livelier than it might have been.

    Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Joe Baltake
    Joe Baltake
    Sacramento Bee

    This has not been a great year for language in movies, but people are going to be memorizing and reciting some of these lines for years to come.

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    John Hartl
    John Hartl
    Film.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Good Will Hunting is a most accomplished writing debut for two young actors with a solid future as Hollywood hyphenates.

    Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment 1 Comment
    01/01/00
    Kevin Lally
    Kevin Lally
    Film Journal International

    An impressive scripting debut for actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck...

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Kim Williamson
    Kim Williamson
    Boxoffice Magazine

    [A] very good film.

    Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Madeleine Williams
    Madeleine Williams
    Cinematter

    Part character study, part redemptive drama, and all cheesy heart, it's Boston-baked melodrama, a little too gooey at times, but still pretty delicious.

    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Marc Savlov
    Marc Savlov
    Austin Chronicle

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Mark R. Leeper
    Mark R. Leeper
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    A good movie allows its characters to learn and grow. It doesn't just happen; it takes a good script, good acting, and good direction. Good Will Hunting has all three.

    Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Marty Mapes
    Marty Mapes
    Movie Habit

    Will's relationships with his best friend, Chuckie (Affleck), and new girlfriend, Skylar (Minnie Driver), resonate with a depth that unfortunately few other movies approach.

    Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    MaryAnn Johanson
    MaryAnn Johanson
    Flick Filosopher

    ... a very good film which is well worth your hard-earned time and money.

    Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Matt Easterbrook
    Matt Easterbrook
    Matt's Movie Reviews

    Good Will Hunting narrowly avoids many sentimental pitfalls thanks to what doesn't happen...

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Matthew Kohut
    Matthew Kohut
    Film.com

    It is the touchy-feely enterprise its plot synopsis suggests, but to simply dismiss it as that would be to discount the true emotional chords Affleck and Damon's intelligent script touches.

    Full Review Source: Movie Poop Shoot | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Michael Dequina
    Michael Dequina
    Movie Poop Shoot

    Mature teens will appreciate this story, written by its appealing two stars, of a brilliant young man with a troubled past.

    Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Nell Minow
    Nell Minow
    Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Peter Keough
    Peter Keough
    Boston Phoenix
     
     
    41 - 60 (sorted by date)
    Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for Good Will Hunting

    June 04, 2008: RT Interview: Ben Affleck Goes After the Critics for a Change
    The actor-turned-director on Gone Baby Gone, his relationship with reviewers and, erm, his favourite critical aggregator... RT! More...

    February 08, 2008: Howard Zinn's People's History Getting Feature Doc Treatment
    If you've had Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States on your must-read list for years, but have always been too lazy to actually open the book, good news: It's... More...

    December 12, 2007: Total Recall: I Am Legend and the Work of Richard Matheson
    This week, Will Smith plays a guy who discovers he's the last man on earth in I Am Legend. So it's a good time to take a look at the movie work of Richard Matheson, who penned... More...

    October 17, 2007: Total Recall: Ben (Affleck's) Bits
    In Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck directs younger brother Casey in a mystery surrounding the case of a missing Boston girl. In the spirit of Total Recall, we decided to take a look... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    36% 36% Angels & Demons
    25% 25% Four Christmases
    68% 68% Funny People
    95% 95% Star Trek
    14% 14% The Ugly Truth

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    32% 32% Terminator Salvation
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
    86% 86% A Christmas Tale
    60% 60% Paper Heart

    More New Releases…

    RT On Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196

    What’s Hot On RT

    Disney Countdown

    Disney Countdown

    Look back on Disney's best animated movies!

    RT's Gift Guide

    RT's Gift Guide

    Give the best movies, gear, and more!

    Jason Reitman

    Jason Reitman

    The Up in the Air director's Five Faves

    Natalie Portman

    Natalie Portman

    See what her 10 best reviewed films are!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Spielberg Hops Away from Harvey Source: Variety
    1
    • Tarantino Could Have Directed Green Lantern Source: MTV
    24
    • Will Duvall be Gilliam's Don Quixote? Source: Collider.com
    26
    • No Hobbit Until 2012? Source: The Wrap
    22
    • Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2 Source: HitFix
    42
    • Peter Berg Talks Battleship Source: CHUD
    2
    • Summit Ponders Twilight Finale Source: Variety
    156
    • First Look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Source: USA Today
    56
    • Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Possibilities Source: Superhero Hype
    14
    • Todd Phillips Talks The Hangover 2 Source: Entertainment Weekly
    18
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies
    65
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
    42
    • Five Favorite Films with Jesse Ventura
    39
    • 10 Horrifically Profitable Films
    39
    • Critics Consensus: Everybody's Fine Is Just OK
    31
    • Five Favorite Films with Jason Reitman
    30
    • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
    28
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle
    21
    • Awards Tour: National Board of Review Winners List!
    15
    • 2010 Sundance Film Festival Lineup Announced
    10
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    1
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    11
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    21
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    15
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    22
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
    • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
    28
    • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
    28
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Good Will Hunting at Rotten Tomatoes
    • Good Will Hunting at IGN

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    History of Disney Animation
    History of Disney Animation External Link

    MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

    90 Years of Screen Vampires
    90 Years of Screen Vampires External Link

    TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

    Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones
    Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones External Link

    Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

    Recent Headlines as TV Movies
    Recent Headlines as TV Movies External Link

    AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

    The Death of Original Thought
    The Death of Original Thought External Link

    Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.