The Good Girl (2002)
74%RT Audience Score: 59%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 16 nominations
In “The Good Girl,” Jennifer Aniston delivers a performance that is both nuanced and captivating, proving that she is more than just a comedic actress. Miguel Arteta’s direction takes us on a journey through the mundanity of suburban life, exploring the depths of human desire and the consequences of moral calculation. While the film may not be a masterpiece on par with Flaubert, it is a warmly satisfying comedy that will leave you pondering the choices we make and the paths we take in life. Aniston’s portrayal of Justine is a revelation, and it’s no wonder that this film has cemented her status as a true movie star.
The Good Girl” is a movie that proves Jennifer Aniston can do more than just make us laugh. She shines in this quirky indie feature about a woman searching for meaning in her mundane life. It’s a warm and satisfying comedy that will make you laugh and think about your own choices in life. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good movie about escaping the soulless suburbs? So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy Aniston’s best performance yet.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Scott Rudin Productions,
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Santa Clarita, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexuality, some language and drug content
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 33m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal, John C Reilly, Tim Blake Nelson, Zooey Deschanel, Mike White, directed by Miguel Arteta, written by Mike White, comedy, drama, R rating, box office performance, $14.0M gross USA, reviewed by Bill Stamets, Christy Lemire, David Rooney, Derek Adams, Olly Richards, Sandra Hall, Jas Keimig, Emanuel Levy, Felix Vasquez Jr., Todd Gilchrist, Joe Lozito, Betsy Bozdech, Jennifer Aniston as Justine Last, Jake Gyllenhaal as Holden Worther, John C Reilly as Phil Last, Tim Blake Nelson as Bubba, Zooey Deschanel as Cheryl, Mike White as Corny, produced by Matthew Greenfield, Fox distributor, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround sound mix
Worldwide gross: $16,860,964
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,964,964
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,568
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,049,614
US/Canada gross: $14,018,296
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,250,221
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,359
US/Canada opening weekend: $151,642
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $251,508
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,590
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $13,268,501
Production budget ranking: 1,554
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,145,088
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,551,376
ROI to date (est.): 37%
ROI ranking: 1,209
Jake Gyllenhaal – Holden Worther
John C. Reilly – Phil Last
Tim Blake Nelson – Bubba
Zooey Deschanel – Cheryl
Mike White – Corny
Director(s)
Miguel Arteta
Writer(s)
Mike White
Producer(s)
Matthew Greenfield
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 16 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (159) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (131) | Rotten (28)
…this is hardly Flaubert, but it is a fairly beguiling look at moral calculation…
May 7, 2021
Bill Stamets
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
“The Good Girl” will finally make Jennifer Aniston a movie star.
June 12, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
A warmly satisfying comedy about dissatisfied people seeking to escape from the personal prison of their mundane lives in soulless suburbia.
March 31, 2009
David Rooney
Variety
TOP CRITIC
I wish I could say I liked it more, but despite a smattering of priceless moments, The Good Girl gets bogged down in the very narrowness that afflicts Justine.
February 9, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Aniston may not have received her much-touted Oscar nomination, but this brilliantly funny and often touching film should assure her a solid post-Friends career.
May 2, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Olly Richards
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Maybe Aniston should stop trying to be serious and stick with being funny, which is something she can certainly do.
May 2, 2003
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The film is unexpectedly chewy, following a rather tender and unpredictable route up to the very end.
December 9, 2021
Jas Keimig
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Arteta’s third feature is good step in the right direction, for him as a disrector and for Jennifer Anniston as an actress
June 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Jennifer Aniston is excellent in what is the best performance of her career, yet.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
In Miguel Arteta’s quirky indie feature, Jennifer Aniston searches for meaning and passion in a swirl of suburban malaise and ironically may have finally found a character who can reveal the shades of her talent.
July 2, 2008
Todd Gilchrist
IGN Movies
After languishing in second-banana roles in such films as Picture Perfect and Rock Star, Ms. Aniston here creates a fully realized character of surprising nuance and depth.
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
A wistful exploration of life’s choices; thanks to Aniston, it resonates as both a comedy and a detailed character study.
November 6, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com…
Plot
The plot revolves around a young married woman whose mundane life takes a turn for the worse when she strikes up a passionate and illicit affair with an oddball discount-store stock boy who thinks he’s Holden Caulfield.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Good Girl features a standout performance from Jennifer Aniston, who sheds her Rachel Green persona for a more nuanced role.
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