The Best of Me (2014)
Kernel Score: 84% · 2,674 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 2014-10-15
Runtime: 117 minutes
Is The Best of Me worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Former high-school sweethearts are pulled back together after twenty years. It's a sincere, tearjerking Nicholas Sparks romance, which will work if you like the style and feel predictable if you don't.
Watch it if you
- like weepy, sentimental romances
- enjoy second-chance love stories
- are a Nicholas Sparks fan
Skip it if you
- dislike melodrama
- want an unpredictable story
Best for: Date night with tissues
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Best of Me
- Free with ads: Kanopy, YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.
The Best of Me parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Best of Me is a Nicholas Sparks romantic drama involving young sweethearts, tragedy, and adult reunion themes.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Involves a tragedy and some dramatic peril consistent with a Sparks romance.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Romantic relationships between young sweethearts and adult reunions imply some sensuality typical of PG-13 romance.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Best of Me
If you liked The Best of Me, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Choice (2016) — 80%: Another Nicholas Sparks romance with a similar tone.
- Safe Haven (2013) — 81%: Another Sparks-style romance in a small town.
- You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011) — 82%: Warm, nostalgic story of high-school sweethearts.
- Life in a Year (2020) — 90%: Tearjerking romance about a short time together.
- The Way We Were (1973) — 78%: Classic romance about love that does not last.
- Love at First Sight (2023) — 80%: Romantic drama about fate and chance.
Director
Michael Hoffman
Cast
- Michelle Monaghan as Amanda Collier
- James Marsden as Dawson Cole
- Luke Bracey as Younger Dawson Cole
- Liana Liberato as Young Amanda Collier
- Gerald McRaney as Tuck Hostetler
- Caroline Goodall as Evelyn
- Clarke Peters as Morgan Dupree
- Sebastian Arcelus as Frank Reynolds
- Jon Tenney as Harvey Collier
- Sean Bridgers as Tommy Cole
The Best of Me FAQ
Is The Best of Me worth watching?
Depends on your taste. Former high-school sweethearts are pulled back together after twenty years. It's a sincere, tearjerking Nicholas Sparks romance, which will work if you like the style and feel predictable if you don't.
Where can I watch The Best of Me?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Best of Me OK for kids?
The Best of Me is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Best of Me is a Nicholas Sparks romantic drama involving young sweethearts, tragedy, and adult reunion themes.
What movies are like The Best of Me?
If you liked The Best of Me, try The Choice, Safe Haven, You Are the Apple of My Eye and Life in a Year.