THE GOOD LIE
A powerful refugee story sustained by faith.
Should You Watch It?
Yes, if you and your family are ready for a heavy but uplifting drama. The Good Lie follows Sudanese refugees through extreme trials and into the challenge of making a new life in America. It can make you laugh and cry, and its Christian worldview gives the suffering a foundation of Scripture, prayer, sacrifice, and hope.
The film does not avoid painful material. Warlords attack a village, children lose their parents, and the refugees endure violence and separation. There are also mature relationship choices, marijuana use, alcohol, and some nudity. The movie rebukes the destructive choices it presents, but younger children may still find the subject matter too difficult.
For teenagers and adults, The Good Lie is worth seeing for its moving story and strong Christian message.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESWhen warlords destroy their village, several Sudanese children flee together and walk hundreds of miles to a refugee camp. Years later, they are chosen to begin new lives in America.
The brothers arrive in Kansas City, where Carrie, a young woman struggling to put her own life together, helps them look for work. Their journey becomes a story of survival, family, sorrow, and the hope of healing.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a very well-made and deeply moving drama. The acting by the refugees is especially impressive, while Reese Witherspoon gives a good, though not her best, performance. The cinematography, suspense, and dialogue are also well done.
The film’s subject is heavy, but moments of laughter provide relief. Its powerful story will likely make audiences cry multiple times while ultimately leaving them inspired.
The Worldview
The Good Lie presents faith as a source of endurance through suffering and displacement. Its Christian worldview includes Scripture, prayer, preaching, church, giving, and a sacrificial theme. The refugees’ faith helps preserve hope through extreme trials and supports their movement toward a new life.
The film also includes choices that require discernment. An American woman is promiscuous and unable to commit to a relationship, while one refugee is influenced by coworkers to use marijuana. Both are ultimately rebuked, and the refugees help soften the woman’s heart.
The movie’s central message is that sacrificial love, faith, and hope can help people endure sorrow and begin again. That emphasis fits the biblical call to “be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian, biblical worldview, with prayer before meal, Scripture read, Bible stories told, sacrifice, characters carry the Bible hundreds of miles as their only item, preaching, church scene, giving; four obscenities and four light profanities; strong violence includes warlords come into village and shoot people (mostly heard but some shooting seen), multiple people die, children lose their parents, child dies, children fight off tiger, dead people float down a river after gunshots fired, children are shot at and taken; upper male nudity in African villages; implied fornication from character who doesn’t have her life in order and can’t commit to a relationship and some kissing; alcohol use; no smoking, but African character is given marijuana but doesn’t understand and starts using a lot but is rebuked; and, lying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The refugees endure suffering while holding on to faith and hope. What helps you remain faithful when life is painful?
Romans 12:12 · Hebrews 10:23The film presents sacrifice as part of loving others. What does Jesus teach about sacrificial love, and where might you practice it this week?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4One character is drawn into marijuana use but is rebuked. How can friends influence our choices, and how should we respond when someone corrects us?
1 Corinthians 15:33 · Proverbs 27:5–6The refugees carry Scripture and tell Bible stories to preserve hope. Which biblical story has strengthened you during a difficult season?
Psalm 119:105 · Romans 15:4The Final Word
The Good Lie is a powerful, well-made drama with a strong Christian message about faith, sacrifice, and hope. Its violence and mature content call for discernment, but teenagers and adults can find an inspiring story here. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
