The Good Lie

  • 2014
  • PG-13
  • 110m
movieMx RATING
7.4/10567
VERDICT
HIT
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Performance & Direction: The Good Lie Review

Last updated: January 27, 2026

movieMx Editorial Team
REVIEWED BY

movieMx Editorial Team

🔍 Cinematic Analysis Expert

Leading cinematic analysis expert with over 10 years of experience in Bollywood and Hollywood box office tracking. Reviewed 500+ films with a focus on narrative structure and commercial profitability.

📅 Updated: January 27, 2026 🎟️ Verified Viewing

🎬 Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?

Is The Good Lie (2014) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.

🎭 Cast Performances: A Masterclass

The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Good Lie features a noteworthy lineup led by Reese Witherspoon . Supported by the likes of Corey Stoll and Arnold Oceng , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.

Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.

💡 Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?

In summary, our editorial assessment of The Good Lie (2014) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 7.4/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.

Result: HIT
Based on verified audience sentiment and box office trajectory, The Good Lie stands as a HIT.

Story & Plot Summary: The Good Lie

Quick Plot Summary: The Good Lie is a Drama film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.

Story Breakdown

This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A young refugee of the Sudanese Civil War who wins a lottery for relocation to the United States with three other lost boys. Encountering the modern world for the first time, they develop an unlikely friendship with a brash American woman assigned to help them, but the young man struggles to adjust to this new life and his feelings of guilt about the brother he left behind. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.

Narrative Structure

  • Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
  • Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
  • Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.

Ending Explained: The Good Lie

Ending Breakdown: The Good Lie resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.

The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.

Ending Analysis:

  • Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
  • Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
  • Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.

The final moments of The Good Lie reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.

Who Should Watch The Good Lie?

Worth Watching If You:

  • Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
  • Are a fan of the cast or director
  • Want a character-driven story with emotional moments

Box Office Collection: The Good Lie

Metric / RegionCollection (Approx)
Production Budget $20.0M
Worldwide Gross $3.4M
Trade Verdict CLEAN HIT

The Good Lie Budget

The estimated production budget for The Good Lie is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.

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Top Cast: The Good Lie

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Where to Watch The Good Lie Online?

Streaming Hub

🎟️ Rent on

Apple TV StoreApple TV Store
Google Play MoviesGoogle Play Movies
YouTubeYouTube

🏷️ Buy on

Apple TV StoreApple TV Store
Google Play MoviesGoogle Play Movies
YouTubeYouTube

The Good Lie Parents Guide & Age Rating

2014 Advisory
PG-13

Official Age Rating

Wondering about The Good Lie age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:

The Good Lie is rated PG-13. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

⏱️ Runtime & Duration

The total runtime of The Good Lie is 110 minutes (1h 50m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.

Verdict Summary

Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.4/10, and global performance metrics, The Good Lie is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2014 cinematic calendar.

HIT
Official movieMx status for The Good Lie. Rating: 7.4/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Good Lie worth watching?

The Good Lie is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.4/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.

Where can I find The Good Lie parents guide and age rating?

The official parents guide for The Good Lie identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.

What is the total runtime of The Good Lie?

The total duration of The Good Lie is 110 minutes, which is approximately 1h 50m long.

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Critic Reviews for The Good Lie

🛡️

movieMx Verified

This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.

This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.

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Expert Consensus
Live Rating
MOVIEMX
★ 7.4
The Good Lie
<a href="https://moviemx.in/review/the-good-lie-250538" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;"><div style="background:#121212;border:1px solid #f5c518;border-radius:12px;padding:15px;width:180px;text-align:center;font-family:sans-serif;box-shadow:0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);"><div style="color:#f5c518;font-size:10px;font-weight:900;letter-spacing:2px;">MOVIEMX</div><div style="color:white;font-size:28px;font-weight:900;margin:8px 0;">★ 7.4</div><div style="color:#888;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;">The Good Lie</div></div></a>

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