Palmer

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2:06

Palmer

R,

2021,

1h 51m,

Drama

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Palmer: Featurette - First Look

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72%

116 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

116 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Former high school football star Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake) went from hometown hero to convicted felon, earning himself 12 years in a state penitentiary. He returns home to Louisiana, where he moves back in with Vivian (June Squibb), the grandmother who raised him. While trying to keep his head down and rebuild a quiet life for himself, Palmer is haunted by memories of his glory days and the suspicious eyes of his small town community. Things become more complicated when Vivian’s hard-living neighbor Shelly (Juno Temple) disappears on a prolonged bender, leaving her precocious and unique 7-year-old son Sam (Ryder Allen), often the target of bullying, in Palmer’s reluctant care. In time, Palmer is drawn into a more hopeful world as he forges a connection with Sam through their shared experience of being made to feel different by those around them. Life improves for Palmer, and a romance develops between him and Sam’s teacher Maggie (Alisha Wainwright). An inspiring and unexpected journey unfolds for the three of them, but soon Palmer’s past threatens to tear apart this new life.

Critics Consensus

Although it traffics in familiar territory, Palmer is elevated by worthy themes and a strong ensemble led by an impressive Justin Timberlake.

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Audience Says

Palmer is a heartfelt film with a moving message of acceptance and a terrific cast -- and Ryder Allen will make you cry.

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Mark Kermode

New Statesman

Feb 9, 2021

Much more affected than I expected...I'd like to see more films starring her. Very well-written.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Feb 3, 2021

2.5/5

To its credit, the film never jumps to glib conclusions about who Sam is or might become. Nor can I doubt that its heart is in the right place, even if there's a degree of hokey sentimentality in the premise.

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Maureen Lee Lenker

Entertainment Weekly

Feb 1, 2021

B

A tender, earnest tale of how love and nurturing can truly change lives.

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James Profetto

Reel James (YouTube)

Jul 7, 2026

6/10

The writing could've been more layered and, instead, it was just surface level with cliche story beats.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 16, 2025

3/5

Timberlake, though, gives one of his best screen performances while Ryder Allen is appealing as the doe-eyed kid, trying hard to make sense off the blundering behaviour of the adults around him and wondering why boys can’t be cheerleaders too.

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Sukanya Verma

Rediff.com

Oct 2, 2024

In this moving melodrama of unlikely bonds, Justin Timberlake plays a former football star and prisoner starting afresh as a school janitor...it's easy to see where this is going but you just don't mind.

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Fisher Stevens

Director

Justin Timberlake

Eddie Palmer

Juno Temple

Shelly

Alisha Wainwright

Maggie

June Squibb

Vivian

Ryder Allen

Sam

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Palmer: Featurette - First Look

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Synopsis

Former high school football star Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake) went from hometown hero to convicted felon, earning himself 12 years in a state penitentiary. He returns home to Louisiana, where he moves back in with Vivian (June Squibb), the grandmother who raised him. While trying to keep his head down and rebuild a quiet life for himself, Palmer is haunted by memories of his glory days and the suspicious eyes of his small town community. Things become more complicated when Vivian’s hard-living neighbor Shelly (Juno Temple) disappears on a prolonged bender, leaving her precocious and unique 7-year-old son Sam (Ryder Allen), often the target of bullying, in Palmer’s reluctant care. In time, Palmer is drawn into a more hopeful world as he forges a connection with Sam through their shared experience of being made to feel different by those around them. Life improves for Palmer, and a romance develops between him and Sam’s teacher Maggie (Alisha Wainwright). An inspiring and unexpected journey unfolds for the three of them, but soon Palmer’s past threatens to tear apart this new life.

Director: Fisher Stevens
Producer: Charlie Corwin, Sidney Kimmel, Daniel Nadler, John Penotti, Charles B. Wessler
Production Co: Rhea Films (II), Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, SK Global, Hercules Film Fund
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content/Nudity|Language|Brief Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 29, 2021
Runtime: 1h 51m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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