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Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgård ... see more see more... , Casey Affleck , Cole Hauser , George Plimpton

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck co-scripted and star in this drama, set in Boston and Cambridge, about rebellious 20-year-old MIT janitor Will Hunting (Damon), gifted with a photographic memory, who hangs ... read more read more...out with his South Boston bar buddies, his best friend Chuckie (Affleck), and his affluent British girlfriend Skylar (Minnie Driver). After MIT professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) stumps students with a challenging math formula on a hallway blackboard, Will anonymously leaves the correct solution, prompting Lambeau to track the elusive young genius. As Will's problems with the police escalate, Lambeau offers an out, but with two conditions -- visits to a therapist and weekly math sessions. Will agrees to the latter but refuses to cooperate with a succession of therapists. Lambeau then contacts his former classmate, therapist Sean McGuire (Robin Williams), an instructor at Bunker Hill Community College. Both are equally stubborn, but Will is finally forced to deal with both his past and his future. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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R, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Release Date: December 5, 1997

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DVD Release Date: December 8, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (19,297)

  • cosmo313
    June 13, 2013
    cosmo313
    Coming off the heels of the sadly underrated but brilliant To Die For, Van Sant made his first overtly mainstream, but no less superb effort, which is this movie.

    Co-written by co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, this is the story of Will Hunting- a troubled 20 year-old janito... read morer at MIT with a dark past, and a bad attitude, but an amazing gift for upper level mathematics. He is a genius, but would rather spend his time hanging out with his blue collar buddies in Southie. After secretly solving a challenging math problem posed for students, the professor seeks Will out. Due to some troubles with the law, he's facing jail time, but finds an out. The catch is that he has to do math for MIT and see a therapist. He reluctantly agrees, and despite a rough start, he soon finds himself with a better grasp on both his troubled past and his uncertain future.

    Damon and Affleck won Oscars for their script, and Robin Williams won an Oscar for his turn as Will's no-nonsense sage therapist. It's all some very impressive work. and the film itself is quite a marvel. It's a very touching and moving drama with some great life lessons and message, but there's still a decent amount of humor here, too.

    The film is well shot, the cast are terrific, and, as I said, there's a strong message. The characters are well crafted and believable, too. It's fine that Van Sant directed this. He's versatile, and his style is pretty fluid, or at least it can be, so he's a fine match. It's a fine film, even if it might be a tad overrated. It does a lot right though, so, even with the hype, give it a chance.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    October 4, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    An inspirational tale which has a nice fuzzy affect on those who believe they can do something great, however I really don't think it's that accessible. Will knows he has a talent whereas many people on this earth don't realise it, so it takes away part of the inspiration. It wou... read moreld be better if he didn't know how great he was, and his talent grew over the course of the film. A feel good watch, nonetheless.
  • spielberg00
    June 2, 2012
    spielberg00
    Thereâ(TM)s something suspicious about the story here. Itâ(TM)s quite ironic that the film itself is easily comparable to its lead character. Its script often seems to keep running on and on, similar to how Damonâ(TM)s character speaks quickly in his sentences of interminable len... read moregth; it doesnâ(TM)t seem to care what its own outcome is; and, worst of all, it doesnâ(TM)t seem to be moving in any specific direction. For quite a long time, the film consists of talky, in-depth explanations of the characters it details. Each character seemed to be studied to a certain depth, with Williamsâ(TM)s and Damonâ(TM)s characters being expounded upon greatly. It takes at least forty-five minutes for the premise to be officially established, where we first see Dr. Maguire start to work with Will. After that, the film spends its precious time trying to explain upon this premise, but the pacing is so slow that it ends up going a very short distance.

    Perhaps the greatest relief GOOD WILL HUNTING had to offer was Williamsâ(TM)s performance. Watching him break away from his comedic comfort zone is like listening to Afrika Bambaataa try to yodel. Whatâ(TM)s even more odd (and impressive), he succeeds enormously. If there is one performance that makes this film watchable, itâ(TM)s that from Robin Williams. Iâ(TM)ll include mention that this opened up the careers of other recognizable names such as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Those two are impressive in their acting roles, but Williams is the one that seems to shine.
  • aquateen2
    February 6, 2012
    aquateen2
    The name of the film is as smart and powerful as the movie itself. Good Will Hunting is about a janitor (Damon) who doesn't use his outstanding intelligence the way he should, consequently he fails to live his life to his full potential. A therapist (Williams)is hired to boost hi... read mores confidence and open his eyes. And it's pretty predictable when it unfolds, but this movie is proof that emotional performances and heart can be just as entertaining as a film with a well constructed plot. Sommetimes it got scary and/or funny. It's a drama that deserves to remain a classic because it's a deeply inspiring movie and I loved watching it.
  • TomBowler
    November 3, 2011
    TomBowler
    Although now Matt Damon is a bona fide superstar with an action trilogy and a heist trilogy both securely under his belt, there was a time when he wasn't so well known as to have his own marionette in Team America. With a few bit parts and a couple of supporting roles behind him,... read more Damon had yet to make any sort of lasting mark on cinema. Ben Affleck, similarly, hadn't yet moved into the legitimate public eye, despite roles in Chasing Amy and Dazed and Confused. Then there was Good Will Hunting.

    The story follows a South Boston construction worker with an unusual gift for mathematics. After he's discovered by an MIT professor and put under his supervision as a result of an assault charge, he's suddenly faced with a lot of important decisions.

    Gus Van Sant's direction here is flawlessly old school. Long, lingering shots with minimalist camera work and just the right amount of emotion makes for some beautifully restrained work. Think David Fincher's work with the Social Network but with less cutting. The nature of the film demands a careful balance of humour and emotion and Van Sant never drops the ball. When it's supposed to be funny, you'll be laughing. When you're meant to be sad, there will be tears. Despite his often childlike apporach to the material, he is able to be unflinchingly mature in the moments that call for it. It's this versatility which is the mark of a great director that Van Sant displays so intuitively here.

    Good Will Hunting also features one of Danny Elfman's more diverse compositions, a bittersweet combination of keys and strings with a lilting pipe tune which stays with you for a while. It may verge on twee on the odd occassion but it's used with enough restraint that it doesn't become a crutch or substitute for real emotion. The real standout of the soundtrack is Elliott Smith's Oscar nominated song "Miss Misery." Hitting just the right note, his full stop at the end of the film is sweetly depressing as well as marking a new chapter for our main character.

    Speaking of the Academy Awards, one of the biggest draws of the film is the Oscar winning script penned by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Thirteen years on and it's still as powerful as it ever was, managing to walk the line between stilted and realistic with an uncanny instinct for everyday conversations and natural dialogue. Even Will's super smart outbursts are grounded by the film's realistic feel. But the screenplay's greatest achievement is the raw emotion that it is capable of evoking. Scenes such as Skylah and Will's fight in the dorm room linger in the mind long after the final credits have rolled. In particular the dialogue between Will and Sean is incredibly powerful, their exchanges both layered and meaningful. Their relationship development is incredibly rewarding, moving from the sizing up of two boys from Southie to two friends with grace and realism. The elegance and simplicity of the plot is astoundingly straightforward with no sudden, attention seeking twists or unstable divergences, instead focussing on extracting every moment of nuance and emotion from various conversations between the characters. It's an incredible achievement, especially in light of the fact that it's the writing debut of Damon and Affleck.

    The two of them don't let down in the acting department either, with both of them turning in brilliant performances. Damon's character is the main character of the piece and as such his performance is more rewarding in depth and evolution but Affleck does well with the screentime allotted to him. He is funny and loudmouthed as well as playing the role of Will's best friend with uncharacteristic restraint. Damon's performance easily outshines him, however, moving from dangerously inflamed to easy-going with style. Jason Bourne may be his best known character but his performance here is so beautifully vulnerable and simply realistic that it's easily his best performance to date. His love interest in the film is a delightful Minnie Driver who is able to evoke a goofy sense of humour at times while being undeniably powerful in the more emotional scenes. But the star here is Robin Williams, the manic stand-up bringing forth an incredible performance filled with nuance and humour as well as depth and vulnerability. His delivery of some exquisitely crafted speeches make an incredible document almost obsolete with such astounding timing and realism that it's difficult to tell where the acting ends and Williams begins. He is quietly, understatedly brilliant in the midst of an incredible cast.

    With an eternally brilliant script, beautiful direction and amazing performances all round, Good Will Hunting is as close to perfect as movies get.

    Defining Scene:
    Tough one to pick but it has to be Sean and Will's second meeting. A rivetting piece of acting from Williams combined with one of the best monologues in the film.

    Quotes:
    Do you like apples?
    Yeah.
    Well, I got her number. How do you like them apples?

    I read your book last night.
    So you're the one.

    What if I said I wouldn't have sex with you again 'til I got to meet your friends; what would you say?
    I'd say it's 4:30 in the morning; they're probably up.

    Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself.

    You're legally allowed to drink now, so we figured the best thing for you was a car.

    Look - you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat; now, that's a fact. I'll fuckin' kill you.

    So this is a Harvard bar, huh? I thought there'd be equations and shit on the wall.

    See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in fifty years you're gonna start doin some thinkin on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certainties in life. One, don't do that. And two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a fuckin education you coulda got for a dollar fifty in law away charges at the public library.

    Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, send in the Marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a shit. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, 'cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass. And he comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, 'cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, he realizes the only reason he was over there in the first place was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And, of course, the oil companies used the skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them, but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and fuckin' play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the fuckin' job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin', 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat, the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure fuck it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.
  • fb100000883534329
    October 29, 2011
    fb100000883534329
    I'll give it this, I never would have thought the two actors Affleck and Damon (In their frat boy prime) could write something I could take serious. But I did enjoy it. Dident love it like some filmmakers and watchers prase but it was entertaining... I still think the sequal fe... read moreatured in "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" should be released. I would pay to see that!
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Great performances from Damon, Affleck and Williams. Van Sant finally received box office success with this film.
  • stevenecarrier
    August 31, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    Every time I watch "Good Will Hunting" I am taken aback. I always forget how simple, elegant and honest this film is. How exquisitely acted and directed it is. Gus Van Sant knew exactly how to handle Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's screenplay. By letting the story speak for itself a... read morend foregoing the intrusion of directorial flourishes, Van Sant makes a powerful story speak even louder. This is a story than can speak to anyone and Van Sant lets that happen. "Good Will Hunting" is a 90s classic for all the right reasons and it's a lovely example of purely great filmmaking. Each filmic aspect comes together perfectly for a wonderful final product.
  • ajv2688
    August 11, 2011
    ajv2688
    I know a lot of people hold this film in high esteem, but I found it oh so boring. It's predictable and there are a lot of other similar movies that came before it. Plus none of the stars were really good in this movie. I say it's just a so-so drama.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    July 30, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Some people can never believe in themselves, until someone believes in them.

    Very good debut by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck! The story is very original and dynamic which only talented actors as those in it were able to show us the way. Robin Williams and Minne Driver were very go... read moreod also and were the key for it's success. Overall, I thought this movie was believable and touching, without your typical ending. Sit down to watch this movie with a completely impartial attitude, you will see that it really is beautiful. Enjoy it!

    Though Will Hunting (Matt Damon) has genius-level intelligence (such as a talent for memorizing facts and an intuitive ability to prove sophisticated mathematical theorems), he works as a janitor at MIT and lives alone in a sparsely furnished apartment in an impoverished South Boston neighborhood. An abused foster child, he subconsciously blames himself for his unhappy upbringing and turns this self-loathing into a form of self-sabotage in both his professional and emotional lives. Hence, he is unable to maintain either a steady job or a steady romantic relationship.

    In the first week of class, Will solves a difficult graduate-level math problem that Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård), a Fields Medalist and combinatorialist, left on a chalkboard as a challenge to his students, hoping someone might solve the problem by the semester's end. Everyone at MIT wonders who solved it, and Lambeau puts another problem on the board -- one that took him and his colleagues two years to prove. Will is discovered in the act of solving the problem, and Lambeau initially thinks that Will is vandalizing the board and chases him away. When Will turns out to have solved it correctly, Lambeau tries to track Will down. Meanwhile, Will attacks a youth who had bullied him 15 years ago in kindergarten, and he now faces imprisonment after attacking a police officer who was responding to the fracas. Realizing Will might have the potential to be a great mathematician, such as the genius Évariste Galois, Lambeau goes to Will's trial and intervenes on his behalf, offering him a choice: either Will can go to jail, or he can be released into Lambeau's personal supervision, where he must study mathematics and see a psychotherapist. Will chooses the latter even though he seems to believe that he does not need therapy.

    Five psychologists fail to connect with Will. Out of sheer desperation, Lambeau finally calls on psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), an estranged old friend and MIT classmate of his who grew up in the same neighborhood as Will. Sean differs from his five predecessors in that he pushes back at Will and is eventually able to get through to Will and his hostile, sarcastic defense mechanisms. At one point, Will analyzes a watercolor painting that Sean had done himself and concludes that it reflects Sean's suppressed feelings and guilt over the premature death of his wife. Sean becomes offended and hostile and grabs Will by the throat, threatening to sink his chances for reform. Will ends the appointment and walks out; Lambeau walks in believing that Will had ruined his chances with another therapist, however, Sean sees Will as a challenge and tells Lambeau to bring him back each week.

    In a later session Will is particularly struck when Sean tells him how he gave up his ticket to see the Red Sox in the 1975 World Series (thus missing Carlton Fisk's famous home run in Game 6) in order to meet and spend time with a stranger in a bar, who would later become his wife. Will is encouraged to try to establish a relationship with Skylar (Minnie Driver), a young woman he met at a bar near Harvard University.

    This doctor-patient relationship, however, is far from one-sided. Will challenges Sean in the same way that Sean is encouraging Will to take a good, hard, objective look at himself and his life. Sean's own pathology is that he is unable and unwilling to even consider a second romantic relationship in the aftermath of his first beloved wife's premature death from cancer several years before. This may well be the primary reason why Sean agrees to take Will on as a client.

    Meanwhile, Lambeau pushes Will so hard to excel that Will eventually refuses to go to the job interviews that Lambeau arranged for him for positions that might prove challenging, even to his immense talents. Lambeau and Sean also squabble about Will's future. Will's accidental witnessing of this furious argument somehow acts as a catalyst for his decision to enter a deeper level of trust and sharing with Sean. He has apparently realized from this event that the situation is a little more complex than Will vs. The World. He now sees that these mentors are every bit as human, fallible, and conflicted as he is.

    Skylar asks Will to move to California with her, where she will begin medical school at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Will panics at the thought. Skylar then expresses support about his past, which is received as patronization and triggers a tantrum in which Will storms out of the dorm while still in a state of undress. He shrugs off the work he's doing for Lambeau as "a joke," even though Lambeau is incapable of solving some of these theorems and admittedly envies Will. Lambeau begs Will not to throw it all away, but Will walks out on him anyway.

    Sean points out that Will is so adept at anticipating future failure in his romantic relationships, that he either allows them to fizzle out or deliberately bails, in order to avoid the risk of future emotional pain. When Will then provides a whimsical reply to Sean's very serious query of what he wants to do with his life, Sean simply shows him the door. When Will further tells his best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck) that he wants to be a laborer for the rest of his life, Chuckie becomes brutally honest with Will: he feels it's an "insult" for Will to waste his potential as a laborer, and that his recurring wish is to knock on Will's door in the morning when he picks him up for work and find that he just isn't there, that he has left without saying goodbye.

    Will goes to another therapy session, where he and Sean share that they were both victims of child abuse. At first, Will is defensive and resentful at Sean's repeated reassurances that "It's not your fault," but he eventually breaks down in tearful acknowledgment. Finally, after much self-reflection, Will decides to cease being a victim of his own inner demons and to take charge of his life. When his buddies present him with a rebuilt Chevrolet Nova for his 21st birthday, he decides to go to California and reunite with Skylar, setting aside his lucrative corporate and government job offers. Will leaves a brief note for Sean explaining what he's doing, using one of Sean's own quips, "I had to go see about a girl." Sean also leaves to travel the world, though not before reconciling with Lambeau. The movie ends as Chuckie poignantly discovers, in fulfillment of his own long-standing wish, that Will has left for a better life. Will is then shown starting his life-affirming drive to California for a new beginning with Skylar and a leap into an unpredictable future.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
February 5, 2008
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Towering performance by Matt Damon as a troubled working class who needs to address his creative genius elevates this drama way above its therapeutic approach, resulting in a zeitgeist film that may t... Full Review

Andrew Sarris
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

The film works as a character-driven narrative because Mr. Van Sant and his co-screenwriters are not afraid to unlock the psychological mysteries of their five major characters with clear and concise ... Full Review

Derek Adams
February 9, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

It's acted and directed with care, and Damon is outstanding, his scenes with Driver being especially sparky. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

While the charismatic performances of Damon and Affleck make "Good Will Hunting" a difficult entertainment to resist, doing just that is not as hard as the film would like to think. Full Review

Matthew Kohut
January 1, 2000
Matthew Kohut, Film.com

Good Will Hunting narrowly avoids many sentimental pitfalls thanks to what doesn't happen...

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

As Francis Ford Coppola does with The Rainmaker, Van Sant demonstrates how entertainingly a real pro can direct a strong if not especially groundbreaking story. Full Review

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

This has not been a great year for language in movies, but people are going to be memorizing and reciting some of these lines for years to come.

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

Good Will Hunting represents the firmest step into the mainstream yet for director Gus van Sant.

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Van Sant makes Good Will Hunting a lot livelier than it might have been. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Intimate, heartfelt and wickedly funny, it's a movie whose impact lingers. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Sean McGuire: Disrespect my wife again and I'll burn down your house!
    • Sean McGuire: People call those imperfections, but no, that's the good stuff.
    • Lambeau: Most days I wish I'd never met you 'cause then I could sleep at night. I didn't have to walk around with the knowledge that there was someone like you out there. I didn't have to watch you throw it all away.
    • Lambeau: Most days I wish I'd never met you 'cause then I could sleep at night. I didn't have to walk around with the knowledge that there was someone like you out there. I didn't have to watch you throw it all away.
    • Sean McGuire: Time's up.
    • Morgan: My boy's wicked smart.
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Good Will Hunting Trivia

  • Ben Affleck's brother starred with him in Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy, and 200 Cigarettes. What is his name?  Answer »
  • In "good will hunting", what school subject is Will excellent at? (Not history or economics)!  Answer »
  • For what movie did Ben Affleck & Matt Damon receive an Oscar for best screenplay?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Robin Williams star as a therapist to Matt Damon?  Answer »
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