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Now Is Good

Now Is Good

Live every moment, love every minute

2012103 minPG-13Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
Director
Ol Parker
Starring
Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Irvine, Kaya Scodelario, Olivia Williams

A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Now Is Good?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Now Is Good to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Now Is Good?

Now Is Good earns 8 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Box Office Hit.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Now Is Good worth watching?

Now Is Good's Midcredits score is the 80th percentile of all films, from 53K ratings across 4 sources. 73% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

80th percentile

Better received than 80% of films

83rd percentile among Drama80th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)76th
Approval (how many liked it)82nd

69 /100

76th percentile of all films

79th percentile among Drama75th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

73% liked it

82nd percentile of all films

84th percentile among Drama83rd percentile among 2010s
73% rated it 7–1027% rated it 1–6

Critics 56% · Audience 64%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 1 noms overall

93rd percentile

53K ratings across platforms

95th percentile among Drama93rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 37% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$2.3M

70th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a familiar, formulaic cancer drama that follows the beats of a terminal-teen bucket list story.

Fans praised

  • Emotionally impactful, elicits strong tears without feeling manipulative
  • Honest and unsentimental portrayal of terminal illness and family dynamics
  • Strong central performance by Dakota Fanning, capturing a defiant, complex character

Detractors panned

  • Main character is unlikable, rude and selfish, making sympathy impossible
  • Predictable plot hits every cliché of the genre with nothing fresh or surprising
  • Dakota Fanning's performance feels wooden and flat; unconvincing as a dying teen

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

Praise for Dakota Fanning's nuanced, raw performance vs. detractors find it wooden and unconvincing

Emotional impactDivisive65

Fans deeply moved and cried; detractors felt nothing or were annoyed

EndingDivisive60

Satisfying and poignant for fans; detractors find it too little too late

CharactersDivisive55

Divisive: fans appreciate the angry, realistic teen; detractors call her a brat and one-dimensional

DialogueDivisive45

Mixed: some witty lines but often criticized as mediocre or cringey

Plot and storyDivisive40

Familiar bucket-list story; many call it predictable and lacking originality

Originality30

Widely seen as derivative of films like The Fault in Our Stars and A Walk to Remember

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 18 points higher than critics.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 10 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Now Is Good like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
BittersweetHopefulMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
Tender · 13% of filmsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its emotionally heavy material completely straight, with a sincere and tender approach that never undercuts the gravity of its subject matter.
The rideThe film balances tender moments with inevitable sadness, peaking in the final act as Tessa's health declines and goodbyes are said.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from Tessa's decision to pursue her bucket list, through her romance with Adam, and towards her final days, following a conventional three-act structure that tracks her emotional arc and the escalating approach of her death.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetDevastating · 3% of filmsHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves viewers with a profound sense of both loss and the beauty of life lived fully, lingering sorrow for a life cut short mixed with a warming affirmation of love and connection.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% (this title) · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Liberation: Breaking free of a confining life (Room).

13% of films fit this archetype

with Tragedy underneath

Why this archetypeThe film follows a terminally ill teenager who actively chooses to break free from a constrained hospital-bound life, embracing risky experiences and love before her death. Her journey is one of liberation from the confines of illness and the expectations of others, while the inescapable tragedy of her fate underpins the narrative.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% (this title) · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 6% of filmsMortality · 2% of filmsRomantic love · 15% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film focuses on Tessa making the most of her remaining time, redeeming her final days through connection and leaving a mark, while confronting death and discovering love.
StanceThe film celebrates the value of life and love even in the face of death, presenting Tessa's journey as ultimately affirming rather than despairing.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRuralRealistic
Orchestral classicalAmbientSupportive music · original score · Dustin O'Halloran
Settinga seaside town in the UK
MusicThe score is delicate and piano-led, underscoring the emotional intimacy of Tessa's journey.

Content guide

Is Now Is Good okay for kids?

PG-13

Now Is Good is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving illness, sexuality, and drugs, and for brief strong language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (20/100), sexual content at mild (25/100), language at mild (33/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • UK12A
  • Germany12
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 42%
Profanity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (33 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Now Is Good have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Now Is Good?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Dakota Fanning
as Tessa Scott
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jeremy Irvine
as Adam
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Kaya Scodelario
as Zoey
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Olivia Williams
as Mother
Paddy Considine
as Father
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Joe Cole
as Scott
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Rose Leslie
as Fiona
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Franz Drameh
as Tommy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Julia Ford
as Sally
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Julian Wadham
as Dr. Ryan

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Now Is Good?

Movies like Now Is Good include The Fault in Our Stars (2014), A Walk to Remember (2002) and If I Stay (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, most are teen dramas, and several are whirlwind romances.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

7 of these 12 share its subject: mortality. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Now Is Good?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: teen drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.