A Simple Plan
“Sometimes good people do evil things.”
Synopsis
Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Original TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-08-30
Top Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
Jacob Mitchell
Bill Paxton
Hank Mitchell
Bridget Fonda
Sarah Mitchell
Brent Briscoe
Lou Chambers
Jack Walsh
Tom Butler
Chelcie Ross
Carl Jenkins
Becky Ann Baker
Nancy Chambers
Gary Cole
Baxter
Bob Davis
FBI Agent Renkins
Peter Syvertsen
FBI Agent Freemont
Tom Carey
Dwight Stephanson
John Paxton
Mr. Schmitt
Marie Mathay
News Reporter
Paul Magers
Anchorman
Joan Steffend
Anchorwoman
Jill Sayre
Hospital Nurse
Wayne A. Evenson
Bartender
Tim Storms
Drinker
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 11, 1998
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 7, 2000
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$17M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$16.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.96x
-$684K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sam Raimi
- Screenplay & Story
- Scott B. Smith
- Original Score
- Danny Elfman
- Original Title
- A Simple Plan
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Production Budget
- $17M
- Worldwide Gross
- $16.3M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures, Mutual Film Company, Savoy Pictures, BBC, Marubeni, Tele München, TOHO-TOWA, UGC PH, Newmarket Capital Group
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sam Raimi
Scott B. Smith
Danny Elfman
Paul Ryan, Alar Kivilo
Arthur Coburn, Eric L. Beason
Mark Gordon, James Jacks, Gary Levinsohn, Adam Schroeder
Department Leadership Roster
Sam Raimi
Director
Scott B. Smith
Screenplay
Arthur Coburn
Editor
Danny Elfman
Original Music Composer
Christopher Doyle
Stunt Coordinator
Julie Weiss
Costume Design
Patrizia von Brandenstein
Production Design
Eric L. Beason
Editor
Alar Kivilo
Director of Photography
James Jacks
Producer
Jay Caputo
Stunt Coordinator
Adam Schroeder
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Simple Plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Simple Plan
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Simple Plan about?
Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.
Who directed A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan was directed by Sam Raimi.
Who stars in A Simple Plan?
The principal cast of A Simple Plan includes Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, Brent Briscoe, Jack Walsh.
When was A Simple Plan released and how long is it?
A Simple Plan was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 2h 1m.
What was the box office and production budget of A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan had a reported production budget of $17M and grossed $16.3M at the worldwide box office (0.96 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for A Simple Plan?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Simple Plan was composed by Danny Elfman.
Is A Simple Plan based on a book or true story?
A Simple Plan is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Scott B. Smith".
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Simple Plan?
A Simple Plan holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).