Palmer (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Palmer is a 2021 drama starring Justin Timberlake as Palmer, Ryder Allen and Alisha Wainwright. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Young Actor/Actress at the Critics' Choice 2021. Critics gave it 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
What Is Palmer About?
The premise of Palmer without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After serving twelve years in prison, former football star Eddie Palmer returns to his hometown in Louisiana, where he's met with a mixture of nostalgia and skepticism. He begins to rebuild his life with his grandmother and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, a young boy facing his own challenges. As Eddie helps Sam navigate his difficulties, he also develops a romantic connection with Sam’s teacher, Maggie. However, Eddie's past mistakes and the town’s lingering doubts threaten the fragile peace he’s found.
Palmer Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bare chested male
- homophobia
- hairy armpit
- female rear nudity
- friendship
- ex convict
- grandmother grandson relationship
- death of grandmother
- trailer home
- princess costume
- calling someone kiddo
- calling someone an asshole
+38 more Show fewer
- school janitor
- reference to jackson browne
- sex standing up
- little boy
- cemetery
- funeral
- church service
- reference to jesus christ
- female drug addict
- bus ride
- hugging one's friend
- character name as title
- birthday party
- party hat
- ukulele
- female teacher
- 7 year old
- halloween costume
- title appears in writing
- f word
- high school football star
- janitor
- fundraiser
- bullied at school
- guardianship
- child protective services
- on parole
- abusive boyfriend
- kidnapping
- arrest
- parental custody
- bar fight
- gender non conforming
- apple tv
- playing with toys
- conservative prejudices
- redemption
- domestic drama
Palmer Cast & Characters
Justin Timberlake leads the cast as Palmer, with Ryder Allen as Sam and Alisha Wainwright as Maggie.
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Justin Timberlake as Palmer - Ryder Allen as Sam
- Alisha Wainwright as Maggie
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June Squibb as Vivian
Also Starring in Palmer
· 9 more- Juno Temple Shelly
- Lance E. Nichols Sibs
- Dean Winters Jerry
- Jesse C. Boyd Coles
- J.D. Evermore
- Wynn Everett Lucille
- Charmin Lee
- Jake Brennan
- Molly Sue Harrison Emily
Palmer Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Palmer 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in sensory experience (60).
Palmer Echo Score Breakdown
In terms of its net effect, Palmer benefits from strong performances and a consistently warm tone even as its narrative remains predictable. The film’s heart lies in the bond between a former athlete and a young boy, offering genuine emotional moments that reviewers found moving. While the plot adheres closely to familiar redemption arcs with few surprises, it sustains engagement through measured pacing and heartfelt interactions. Overall, Palmer delivers a moderately satisfying drama that leans on its central relationship to maintain appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, Palmer exhibits a composed visual style with straightforward cinematography and unobtrusive editing. The production design remains functional, reinforcing working-class settings without ornate flourishes. Direction adheres to genre conventions with minimal visual surprises but maintains coherence across scenes. These elements combine for a solid yet unremarkable aesthetic presentation.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, Palmer shines through its leads’ nuanced performances. Justin Timberlake and the young actor convey authentic chemistry and depth, anchoring the story with credible emotional beats. Supporting characters receive less development but do not detract significantly from the central bond. The resulting character dynamics drive the film’s emotional impact.
- Story & Flow 65
In terms of story and flow, Palmer follows a predictable redemption arc with familiar plot beats that offer few surprises. Pacing remains measured, allowing emotional moments to resonate, but occasional lapses in narrative innovation limit overall originality. Despite these limitations, the plot maintains cohesion and provides sufficient engagement through its central father-child relationship.
- Sensory Experience 60
When considering the sensory experience, Palmer delivers a serviceable score and sound design that support emotional scenes without drawing attention to themselves. Visual style remains cohesive but restrained, lacking bold stylistic flourishes. Soundtrack cues underscore key moments in a conventional manner. Together, these elements yield a consistent but understated audiovisual presentation.
- Rewatch Factor 70
In terms of rewatch factor, Palmer offers a comforting emotional core that may appeal on repeat viewings. The strength of the lead performances and poignant relationship scenes retain some resonance, yet the film’s predictability and lack of narrative surprises reduce its replay novelty. Ultimately, rewatch value is moderate, rooted in character warmth rather than fresh discoveries.
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IMDb 7.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 72% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 53 Metascore
User score 7.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 81% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
130 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
Palmer Plot Summary
What happens in Palmer from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Eddie Palmer, a once-prominent high school football star and recently released ex-felon, is confronting a new reality after spending twelve years behind bars. He moves in with his grandmother, Vivian, who cares for a lively young boy named Sam. As fate would have it, when Vivian passes away, Eddie finds himself as Sam’s unexpected guardian, while his mother, Shelly, frequently disappears.
Full summary
The whole story of Palmer, scene by scene
Palmer Awards & Nominations
Palmer earned 1 award nomination, including Best Young Actor/Actress at the Critics' Choice 2021.
1 nomination1 ceremony
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Critics' Choice 2021 1 nomination- Nominated Best Young Actor/Actress – Ryder Allen
Palmer Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Palmer.
How Well Do You Know Palmer?
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 is Palmer's profession after he is released from prison?
Cars in Palmer
10 cars on screen, including the 1991 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and the 1997 Dodge Dakota.
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1991 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer Main role -
1997 Dodge Dakota Minor role -
MCI MC-12 Minor role -
2006 Dodge Charger Background role
Palmer Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “פלאמר” and “帕尔默”.
- Also known as
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- פלאמר
- 帕尔默
- Палмер
- 帕瑪
- पामर
- パーマー
- '파머' - Palmer
- Palmeris
- Палмър
- پالمر
Seen Palmer?
Movies Like Palmer
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Pals, Making the Grade and Making the Grade.
Palmer FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Palmer, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Palmer?
Palmer runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Palmer released?
Palmer was released on January 29, 2021.
Who is in the cast of Palmer?
Palmer stars Justin Timberlake as Palmer, Ryder Allen as Sam and Alisha Wainwright as Maggie, among 13 credited actors.
How is Palmer rated?
Palmer has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 81% on TMDB.
Was Palmer nominated for any awards?
Palmer received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Palmer have a post-credit scene?
No. Palmer has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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