You Can Count on Me

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You Can Count on Me

R

2000

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Sammy is a single mother who is extremely protective of her 8-year-old son. She is satisfied with living in the small town she grew up in and working in a local bank. When her brother Terry visits he fits the void in the life of both her and her son. Temporarily free of the constraints of single motherhood she begins to break free of her normal routine. In a string of traumatic events Sammy is torn between helping her brother and her maternal instinct to protect her son from getting hurt.

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Critics Consensus

You Can Count On Me may look like it belongs on the small screen, but the movie surprises with its simple yet affecting story. Beautifully acted and crafted, the movie will simply draw you in.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Jul 19, 2025

Age hasn’t dulled the heartache of Kenneth Lonergan’s finely tuned portrayal of grief.

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Gavin Smith

Film Comment Magazine

Apr 10, 2018

Unusually sharp editing is the first hint that in fact it's a superior, acutely observed comedy-drama about family ties and the struggle to find a sense of purpose, even managing to work in some genuinely metaphysical intimations.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Sep 7, 2011

A

Beautiful, compassionate, articulate.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Aug 6, 2026

3.5/4

There are few filmmakers who can carefully craft an intriguing family character drama. You Can Count on Me proves that Kenneth Lonergan is one of them.

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Rudie Obias

Battleship Pretension

Jul 22, 2025

You Can Count on Me is great and one of the most important movies in American independent cinema of the last 25 years.

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Joshua Ryan

FandomWire

Jul 15, 2025

9/10

Lonergan showcases a knack for exploring family dynamics with intricate detail, bringing complex emotions to the surface in a way that maintains effortless entertainment.

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Marina M

@RT96992112 Oct 11, 2026

Absolutely beautiful movie .. Mark Ruffalo gives a poignant sensitive intelligent performance. I really love this actor, and I respect how he cares for our society and stands up for justice. Just amazing.

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Keith B

@Okbullard Oct 7, 2026

Wow what an awesome film. I've liked Mark Ruffalo for decades but wish he'd cool the over the top political activism. I always liked Laura Linney and she was great in this. I was so impressed with little Rory Culkin, here he may have surpassed his excellent job in Signs. I can't believe I missed this one for so many years.

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Scott R

@ScottR Aug 31, 2026

NYT 1000 films. An enjoyable drama that eventually I stopped caring about part way through and found myself losing interest. It was progressive in its themes in confronting conventional values and showing how they don’t always make sense. The characters and their motivations were frustrating, but I guess that’s why they were there to create drama. Ultimately, the film won’t stand the test of time and will be forgotten. I don’t want to see it again. Saw on Pluto.

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Jim H

@RT04229066 Mar 25, 2026

Aside from Laura Linney's strikingly solid performance...this film's characters say exactly what they're feeling, very much on the nose. The movie tries to tell you how to feel instead of showing it. Some people resonate with that. I found it hollow.

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Tyler P.

@TylerPhoenixMD Jan 28, 2026

Perfect small screen movie night movie. Great story, the acting is on point. Id say it’s a comedy and a drama, there’s a lot of humor to be found in this story of grief.

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darren m

@DarrenM Jan 27, 2026

Just terrific. And I'm hard to please. Watch it alone somewhere quiet and cozy. The direction is wonderful. The screenplay is funny, yet dramatic and realistic. The film's many awards and nominations are deserved. While there are a couple of slightly unrealistic situations, the acting and dialogue never falter. This is the far superior little brother to Manchester By the Sea. Kinda a must see, if you ask me.

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Kenneth Lonergan

Director

Laura Linney

Sammy Prescott

Mark Ruffalo

Terry Prescott

Rory Culkin

Rudy

Matthew Broderick

Brian

Jon Tenney

Bob

You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Your Future at the Bank

1:33

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Goodbye, Uncle Terry

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Rudy Meets His Father

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - I F***ed My Boss

2:09

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - I Think You Should Leave

1:49

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Can I Ask You A Personal Question?

2:06

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Meeting Uncle Terry

2:12

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You Can Count on Me: Official Clip - Serving Some Time

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Synopsis

Sammy is a single mother who is extremely protective of her 8-year-old son. She is satisfied with living in the small town she grew up in and working in a local bank. When her brother Terry visits he fits the void in the life of both her and her son. Temporarily free of the constraints of single motherhood she begins to break free of her normal routine. In a string of traumatic events Sammy is torn between helping her brother and her maternal instinct to protect her son from getting hurt.

Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Producer: Barbara De Fina, John Hart, Larry Meistrich, Jeff Sharp
Screenwriter: Kenneth Lonergan
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Hart Sharp Productions, Shooting Gallery, Crush Entertainment, Cappa Productions
Rating: R (Scene of Sexuality|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.2M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby EX
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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