Analysis

Analysis


Symbols and Tropes

Hero's Journey

Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces? A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning home and everybody applauding his or...

Setting

Boston in the 1990sBeautiful Beantown is the belle of the ball in Good Will Hunting: This is one of the iconic Boston movies. The only way that this movie—which features the Sox, Southie, Harvard...

Point of View

Third-Person (Omniscient)Although the movie mostly follows the story of Will Hunting, it involves tons of scenes where Will isn't present or even aware that the scene is happening. This goes especi...

Genre

Coming of AgeUsually, someone Will Hunting's age would be a little old for a coming-of-age story. But in this case, his growth as a person has been stunted by the emotional baggage that he's still...

What's Up With the Title?

Well we all know that Will Hunting is the name of the main character in this movie, so it makes sense that it's in the title. But the moment you throw "Good" in front of his name, it messes with th...

What's Up With the Ending?

At the end of this movie, it looks as though Will is all ready to take one of the jobs that Professor Lambeau has set up for him and use his intellectual gifts to their fullest potential. But then...

Shock Rating

PG-13Yes, it's an uplifting movie about a boy genius who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. But there's also a lot of raunchy humor that gets thrown around when Will is with his buddies from...