The Best of Me

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The Best of Me

PG-13

2014

1h 58m

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

12%

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82 Reviews

59%

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25,000+ Ratings

Amanda and Dawson, who were once high-school sweethearts, have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual friend. Seeing each other again after 20 years apart reignites the love they've never forgotten, but Amanda and Dawson soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today.

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Critics Consensus

At nine films and counting, the line between Nicholas Sparks film fans and detractors is clear, and The Best of Me will change few minds on either side of the divide.

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Evan Williams

The Australian

Oct 31, 2014

2/5

The Best of Me turns into a half-baked dramatic thriller, with violent confrontations, gunfights, plenty of nasty characters and one big scary action scene.

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Oct 29, 2014

2/5

There's something heavy-handed, even for Sparks, in the telling of the couple's story, particularly when it comes to Dawson's family: they are leering, brutal embodiments of evil who function as handy plot devices.

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Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

Oct 22, 2014

2/5

The Best Of Me, like all Sparks' work, would rather kill his characters and leave a beautiful corpse than have them continue a real, scarred relationship.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jun 26, 2020

2/5

Sparks' devoted following knows what it wants, and The Best of Me does not relent until it has delivered every last longing look, lovelorn lunge and lachrymose loss of luck.

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Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

May 27, 2020

I actually kind of enjoyed it.

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Avaryl Halley

Movie Bitches

Mar 26, 2020

6.5/10

It's achieving exactly what it set out to accomplish... but also it's very bad.

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Minseo S.

@tubi_addict Mar 6, 2026

Fun bc it’s too chopped.

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Daniela M

@Whatever837 Feb 24, 2026

Why the end? It was just great movie. Until the end. Wtf??? There should be some kind of warning so us romantics don’t waste 2 hours of our time to end up sad I had to stop the movie

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Chloe N

@Chloe184 Jan 26, 2026

I absolutely love The Best of Me. I could watch this movie a hundred times and it would never get old. It’s perfectly cheesy in the best way, the kind of romance that just pulls you in and makes you feel everything right along with the characters. What really gets me, though, is the ending—it’s not the typical fairytale wrap-up you expect, but it’s still incredibly powerful and heavy on the heart. This movie stays with you long after the credits roll, and that’s what makes it so special.

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Amanda J.

@akjones Dec 4, 2025

A beautifully told story. It’s sweet, emotional, and the flashbacks and fast-forwarding is done well. BUT WHY did they put me through that emotional roller coaster? After everything Dawson went through, he ends up being shot by his cousin-brother-father situation. Why not let the father die instead, donating his heart to her son, and giving Amanda and Dawson the happily ever after they deserved. Imagine Dawson saying, “Something good finally came of his heart.” Missed opportunity womp womp Overall good though

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Patrick K

@padragon Nov 7, 2025

Severely underrated in $$$ and review right now. Made close to same emotional depth as Notebook. The ending killed me that didnt make sense but maybe bc I fell in love with him and want them together like Allie and Noah. Wish was alternate version way better that it should've been to bring close to notebook in being alive and together for more crying react (or maybe would be boring for some). Great casted ppl in Liana, James, Michelle and Luke 👍👌.

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I Am F

@Creepblaster Sep 10, 2025

Just a meh movie. The best scene is when James Marsden get killed.

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Michael Hoffman

Director

Michelle Monaghan

Amanda

James Marsden

Dawson

Luke Bracey

Younger Dawson

Liana Liberato

Young Amanda

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Synopsis

Amanda and Dawson, who were once high-school sweethearts, have a bittersweet reunion when they return to their hometown for the funeral of a mutual friend. Seeing each other again after 20 years apart reignites the love they've never forgotten, but Amanda and Dawson soon discover that the forces that drove them apart when they were younger pose even more threats today.

Director: Michael Hoffman
Producer: Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, Nicholas Sparks, Russ Kavanaugh, Ryan Kavanaugh, Justin Burns, Theresa Park
Screenwriter: J. Mills Goodloe, Will Fetters, Michael Fetters
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: DiNovi Pictures, Nicholas Sparks Productions, Relativity
Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality|Brief Strong Language|Some Drug Content|Violence)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.8M
Runtime: 1h 58m

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