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The Lucky Ones

Play trailer Poster for The Lucky Ones R 2008 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
38% Tomatometer 73 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.
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The Lucky Ones

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Critics Consensus

The Lucky Ones features heartfelt performances, but is undone by the plot's overwrought parade of coincidence and contrivance.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor 09/29/2008
C
The Iraq war has thus far produced no truly memorable dramatic movies, as opposed to documentaries, and the losing streak continues with The Lucky Ones. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 09/26/2008
3.5/4
There are so many little touches, so many delicate nuances that constantly amaze and inspire, that by the time it was over I almost didn't want their story to come to an end. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig USA Today 09/26/2008
2.5/4
This is not the worst of the Iraq-themed movies of the past few years, and it's possibly the best acted of any of them. But you wish the bonding of these three people wasn't diluted by the trite scenarios and artificial circumstances of their saga. Go to Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine 12/16/2017
It feels like it secretly wants to be a Iraq vet version [ of Y tu Mama Tambien] but is afraid to go there. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 06/03/2017
C+
A cautious but strained apolitical Iraqi War drama. Go to Full Review Martin Tsai Critic's Notebook 10/07/2015
Mostly everything in the film, regardless of how contrived the set up, eventually rings true. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sean K @Esky3 07/24/2025 Great acting with an okay script. I liked it. Don't believe all the negative reviews. See more Gaylord R @RT95327010 01/11/2023 I am so tired of reading reviews written by wannabee critics who seem to love finding some little flaw somewhere so they can prove that they are really "critics". I, on the other hand, am not a jaded, faded pseudo-intellectual, I am an enthusiastic fan of darn good, out-of-the-world true to life films which do no pretend to be either drama, or comedy, or any genre but rather mirror life as it unfolds in its myriad forms of hilarity, sadness, hope, disappointment, ludicrousness, and redemption. The Lucky Ones is a film that has it all, superb writing, amazing chemistry, scenery, camera work, you name it. It entertains, but it enlightens more. See more steve d @RT35616104 06/22/2020 Some strong performances help an interesting script and compelling characters. I thought it was heartfelt and fun. See more 08/28/2019 Bad story line. Acting is Ok. Ending horrible. Is there a letter for suck-so-bad? LOL! F- Infinity. HA! See more 08/15/2017 Touching, a great movie about how much people can affect each other's lives. See more 08/06/2017 As a civilian, I've never experienced the cohesiveness a military unit develops through facing mortal threats and surviving them. The Lucky Ones is not a perfect movie but the performances are good and i feel i got a taste of what it could be like to be these characters. The bar scene is particularly memorable for its illustration of unit interdependence. See more Read all reviews
The Lucky Ones

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Cast & Crew

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Neil Burger

Director

Rachel McAdams

Colee

Tim Robbins

Cheaver

Michael Peña

TK

Molly Hagan

Pat Cheaver

Mark L. Young

Scott Cheaver

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The Lucky Ones

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The Lucky Ones

The Lucky Ones (2008) The Lucky Ones (2008) The Lucky Ones (2008) The Lucky Ones (2008) The Lucky Ones (2008) Tim Robbins as Cheever in "The Lucky Ones." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.
Director
Neil Burger
Producer
Neil Burger, Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Rick Schwartz
Screenwriter
Neil Burger, Dirk Wittenborn
Distributor
Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Sony Pictures, Lionsgate Films, QED International, Roadside Attractions
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$183.1K
Runtime
1h 55m
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