One True Thing (1998): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
One True Thing is a 1998 drama directed by Carl Franklin, starring Renée Zellweger, Meryl Streep and William Hurt. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $26.6 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 7m (127 min)
- Director
- Carl Franklin
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is One True Thing About?
The premise of One True Thing without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
When a cancer diagnosis disrupts the Gulden family’s life, daughter Ellen returns from New York. She’s forced to confront her mother’s unspoken struggles and long-held family secrets. As they spend time together, Ellen gains a deeper understanding of her parents' relationship and uncovers hidden complexities within her family. The experience challenges her idealized perceptions and reveals a more nuanced portrait of her mother.
One True Thing Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- terminal illness
- mother daughter relationship
- based on novel
- argument
- homecoming
- nonlinear timeline
- grief
- adultery
- cancer
- female protagonist
- dysfunctional family
- father daughter relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- magazine writer
- singing a christmas carol
- breakup
- pain
- anger
- crying man
- wheelchair
- kitchen
- crying woman
- brother sister relationship
- affection
- disillusionment
- friendship between women
- grave
- death of wife
- father son relationship
- interrogation
- flashback
- best friend
- medication
- character repeats someone else's dialogue
- remorse
- housewife
- chauvinist
- planting a flower
- woman in a bathtub
- emotional blackmail
- frustration
- childhood memory
- surprise birthday party
- selfishness
- philanderer
- new york city
- family relationships
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- college professor
- reflection
- melodrama
One True Thing Cast
Renée Zellweger leads the cast, with Meryl Streep and William Hurt. Directed by Carl Franklin.
-
Director Carl Franklin
More from Carl Franklin
More films directed by Carl Franklin, best-rated first: One False Move, Devil in a Blue Dress, Out of Time and Bless Me, Ultima.
One True Thing Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave One True Thing 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 87% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 71%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
One True Thing Plot Summary
What happens in One True Thing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A poignant story unfolds as Ellen (Renée Zellweger), a young writer, returns home for a weekend from her bustling city life, only to discover that her mother, Kate (Meryl Streep), is gravely ill. Her father, George (William Hurt), an English professor, expects Ellen to set aside her aspirations to help care for her mother post-surgery. Ellen grapples with this expectation, questioning her father’s understanding of her dreams and the sacrifices being asked of her.
“This is no way to live.”
Full summary
The whole story of One True Thing, scene by scene
One True Thing Box Office
One True Thing grossed $26.6 million worldwide. $23.2 million came from the US and Canada and $3.4 million (13%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$26.6M
- US & Canada
- $23.2M
- International
- $3.4M
One True Thing Awards & Nominations
One True Thing was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 3 nominations come from 3 ceremonies.
3 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Meryl Streep
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
-
Oscars 1999 1 nomination- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
One True Thing Trailers & Videos
The trailer of One True Thing.
How Well Do You Know One True Thing?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- 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
What career does Ellen aspire to pursue?
Cars in One True Thing
8 cars on screen, including the 1983 SAAB 900 and the 1989 Cadillac Brougham Stretched Limousine.
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1983 SAAB 900 Main role -
1989 Cadillac Brougham Stretched Limousine Important role -
1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Important role -
1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Minor role
One True Thing Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “La voce dell'amore” and “Kati alithino”.
- Also known as
-
- La voce dell'amore
- Kati alithino
- Um Amor Verdadeiro
- Jedna istinita stvar
- Истинные ценности
- Contre-jour
- Cosas que importan
- Familiensache
- Se mikä on totta
- Életem értelme
- דבר אחד אמיתי
- Jediná správná věc
+12 more Show fewer
- Un lucru adevărat
- Den eneste sandhed
- Нещо истинско
- 亲情无价
- Jedyna prawdziwa rzecz, ჭეშმარიტი ღირებულებები
- Κάτι Αληθινό
- 母の眠り
- Jediná správna vec
- 원 트루 씽
- Справжні цінності
- Jedina prava stvar
- 親情無價
Seen One True Thing?
Movies Like One True Thing
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including All Good Things, Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter and One Summer.
-
All Good Things 2010 -
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter 1979 -
One Summer 2021 -
Fine Things 1990 -
Two Against Time 2002 -
One More Time 2016 -
One Man’s Journey 1933 -
Good One 2024 -
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her 2000 -
After Everything 2018 -
18 Presents 2020 -
Things We Lost in the Fire 2007
One True Thing FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of One True Thing, each answered in a sentence.
How long is One True Thing?
One True Thing runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).
When was One True Thing released?
One True Thing was released on September 18, 1998.
Who directed One True Thing?
One True Thing was directed by Carl Franklin.
More films by Carl Franklin Who is in the cast of One True Thing?
One True Thing stars Renée Zellweger, Meryl Streep and William Hurt.
How much did One True Thing make at the box office?
One True Thing grossed $26.6 million worldwide ($23.2 million domestic, $3.4 million international).
How is One True Thing rated?
One True Thing has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Was One True Thing nominated for any awards?
One True Thing received 3 nominations across 3 ceremonies.
Does One True Thing have a post-credit scene?
No. One True Thing has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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