A Simple Plan (1998)

A Simple Plan is a slow-burning crime thriller and moral drama about three ordinary, blue-collar men who stumble on an extraordinary temptation: a crashed plane in a remote nature preserve containing millions in cash. They agree on a seemingly simple plan to hide the money and wait to see if anyone claims it, but small compromises, personal needs and simmering resentments quickly unravel their pact. As secrecy gives way to lies, paranoia and violence, the men’s relationships and consciences fracture in ways neither they nor the viewer expect. Watching the film, you’ll be pulled into a grim, wintry Midwestern world where everyday routines and quiet lives collide with sudden ill-gotten wealth. The pacing is deliberate and suspenseful: the initial pragmatic problem-solving gradually turns into a tightening coil of mistrust and moral corrosion. Tension builds not from flashy action but from character choices—how greed, fear and guilt infect decisions and escalate consequences. Viewers can expect a bleak, atmospheric tone, strong character-driven conflict, and a sense of inevitability as small missteps compound into tragedy. The movie asks uncomfortable questions about temptation, loyalty and the cost of trying to take the easy way out, leaving you with lingering unease rather than tidy answers.

Actors: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda

Director: Sam Raimi

Runtime: 121 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

7.0 /10 81 /100 7.5 /10 7.5 /10