A Simple Plan (1998): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
A Simple Plan is a 1998 drama thriller directed by Sam Raimi, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $16.3 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It won 2 awards from 6 nominations, among them 2 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 1m (121 min)
- Director
- Sam Raimi
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $30M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Simple Plan About?
The premise of A Simple Plan without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Three men living ordinary lives in a small town discover a crashed plane containing a substantial amount of money. Faced with the unexpected windfall of millions, they devise a plan to keep the discovery secret. However, as Hank’s sense of morality conflicts with Jacob’s desire for the money and Lou’s opportunistic nature, their initial plan quickly unravels. The situation escalates, causing severe consequences for their relationships and the fabric of their community.
A Simple Plan Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- snow
- plane wreck
- found money
- bag of money
- shot in the back
- screenplay adapted by author
- neo noir
- based on novel
- minnesota
- brother brother relationship
- united states of america
- pregnant woman
+38 more Show fewer
- money
- pick up
- murderer
- pick up truck
- death
- weapon
- rifle
- pump action shotgun
- revolver
- chevrolet
- volvo
- brother
- policeman
- murder of a policeman
- man wears eyeglasses
- police officer
- police officer killed
- brother murders brother
- dark comedy
- secret
- fbi agent
- stolen money
- hitchcockian
- rural setting
- murder of a police officer
- blood splatter
- crime gone awry
- voice over narration
- burning money
- drunkenness
- pistol
- shotgun
- guilt
- shot in the head
- shootout
- suffocation
- moral corruption
- cover up
A Simple Plan Cast
Billy Bob Thornton leads the cast, with Bill Paxton. Directed by Sam Raimi.
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Director Sam Raimi
A Simple Plan Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave A Simple Plan 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 81%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 81 Metascore
User score 7.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB
A Simple Plan Plot Summary
What happens in A Simple Plan from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Hank Mitchell, a bookkeeper, and his pregnant wife, Sarah, reside in the tranquil countryside of Wright County, Minnesota. While Hank holds the distinction of being one of the town’s few college graduates, Sarah serves as the local librarian. One day, while chasing a fox into the woods alongside his slow-witted older brother, Jacob, and their friend Lou Chambers, they unexpectedly stumble upon a downed airplane. 4 million** in $100 bills. Although he proposes turning the found fortune over to the authorities, Jacob and Lou persuade him to keep it a secret. Hank ultimately decides to stash the money in his home until spring thaw when they’ll decide what to do if the plane remains undiscovered.
Full summary
The whole story of A Simple Plan, scene by scene
A Simple Plan Box Office & Budget
A Simple Plan grossed $16.3 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, 54% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$16.3M
54% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $16.3M
- Budget
- $30M
A Simple Plan Awards & Nominations
A Simple Plan won 2 awards from 6 nominations, among them 2 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 1999, with 2 wins from 2 nominations.
2 wins6 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 1999 2 wins · 2 nominations- Won Best Screenplay – Adaptation
- Won Best Supporting Actor – Billy Bob Thornton
-
Oscars 1999 2 nominations- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Billy Bob Thornton
- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published)
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Golden Globes 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) – Billy Bob Thornton
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Actor Awards (SAG) 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Billy Bob Thornton
A Simple Plan Trailers & Videos
The trailer of A Simple Plan.
How Well Do You Know A Simple Plan?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What unexpected discovery do Hank, Jacob, and Lou find in the woods?
Cars in A Simple Plan
9 cars on screen, including the 1971 Chevrolet C-20 and the 1966 Volvo 122 S Station Wagon.
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1971 Chevrolet C-20 Important role -
1966 Volvo 122 S Station Wagon Important role -
1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Minor role -
1987 Ford Bronco Minor role
A Simple Plan Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “A Thousand Miles” and “El Plan”.
- Also known as
-
- A Thousand Miles
- El Plan
- A
- En enkel plan
- Un plan sencillo
- Ein einfacher Plan
- Soldi sporchi
- Un plan simple
- Простой план
- Basit Bir Plan
- 绝地计划
- En simpel plan
+16 more Show fewer
- Jednoduchý plán
- シンプル・プラン
- Ένα απλό σχέδιο
- Szimpla ügy
- תוכנית פשוטה
- Un plan simplu
- Um Plano Simples
- План без грешка
- Prosty plan
- 심플 플랜
- Простий план
- یک نقشه ساده
- Joka leikkiin ryhtyy
- 絕地計畫
- แผนปล้นไม่ต้องปล้น
- Kế Hoạch Đơn Giản
Seen A Simple Plan?
Movies Like A Simple Plan
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Simple Men, A Small Fortune and Plane.
A Simple Plan FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of A Simple Plan, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).
When was A Simple Plan released?
A Simple Plan was released on December 11, 1998.
Who directed A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan was directed by Sam Raimi.
More films by Sam Raimi Who is in the cast of A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan stars Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton.
How much did A Simple Plan make at the box office?
A Simple Plan grossed $16.3 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million.
How is A Simple Plan rated?
A Simple Plan has 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.
What awards did A Simple Plan win?
A Simple Plan won 2 awards from 6 nominations, including Best Screenplay – Adaptation at the Critics' Choice 1999.
Does A Simple Plan have a post-credit scene?
No. A Simple Plan has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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