After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.5/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.55/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Metacritic: 53
TMDB: 8.1/10
Director
Fisher Stevens
Production
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Nadler No-GMO Popcorn Company, Hercules Film Fund, Rhea Films
Cast
Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, Juno Temple, Alisha Wainwright, June Squibb, Dean Winters, Wynn Everett, Jesse C. Boyd, Charmin Lee, Jake Brennan, J.D. Evermore, Stephen Louis Grush, Lance E. Nichols, Stacie Davis, Carson Minniear, Theodus Crane, Hero Hunter, Nicholas X. Parsons, Ray Gaspard, Zonia Pelensky
Where to watch
Apple TV Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A familiar redemption drama, but it works because of the central bond between a damaged ex-con and a neglected boy. The movie leans on warmth, small emotional gestures, and a gentle Southern atmosphere more than big twists, and that sincerity carries it through its clichés.
Best for
viewers who like heartfelt character-driven dramas
fans of found-family stories
audiences drawn to redemption arcs and second chances
people who enjoy quiet, emotional films with a rural Americana setting
Skip if
you want sharp originality or formal risk-taking
you dislike sentimental drama
you prefer plot-heavy stories with lots of suspense
you are tired of familiar ex-con-with-a-heart-of-gold narratives
Overview
Palmer is a modest, earnest drama built around a relationship that feels emotionally legible from the start: a man trying to rebuild his life and a boy who has learned not to expect care from adults. The film’s biggest strength is its patience with small moments, letting trust accumulate through routine, protection, and shared loneliness rather than speeches.
Worth noting
It is also very much the kind of movie you can see coming, with a familiar redemption shape and a few broad supporting-character beats. But the performances, especially the understated lead turn and the child actor’s vulnerability, keep it grounded enough to work as a sincere crowd-pleaser.
Bottom line
If you’re open to a well-worn framework handled with warmth, Palmer is an easy watch. If you need sharper writing or more narrative surprise, it may feel safe, but it still lands as a compassionate story about acceptance and chosen responsibility.
Top Letterboxd reviews
tata (4★) · 1055 likes
How many boys do you see on that show?
None
And what does that tell you?
That I can be the first.
Oliver Swift (3.5★) · 598 likes
I can only hope to be as good a dad as attempted murderer Eddie Palmer
davidehrlich (3★) · 295 likes
Warm acoustic guitar. A helicopter shot of early morning sunlight falling over a river in rural Louisiana. A bearded and clenched Justin Timberlake staring out the window of the prison bus that’s taking him back to his southern-fried hometown after a 12-year stretch behind bars. You can tell exactly what kind of movie “Palmer” is going to be before the title card even appears onscreen: A nice (but hopefully knowing) drama about decent people finding the strength to persevere through… more Warm acoustic guitar. A helicopter shot of early morning sunlight falling over a river in rural Louisiana. A bearded and clenched Justin Timberlake staring out the window of the prison bus that’s taking him back to his southern-fried hometown after a 12-year stretch behind bars. You can tell exactly what kind of movie “Palmer” is going to be before the title card even appears onscreen: A nice (but hopefully knowing) drama about decent people finding the strength to persevere through… more
Apelsins (4★) · 243 likes
''I know what it feels like to be left alone. I can’t abandon that boy. I will not abandon that boy.''
George Clark (3.5★) · 221 likes
Apple TV's latest gem Palmer, starring Justin Timberlake, Alisha Wainwright, June Squibb, Juno Temple and Ryder Allen, follows the story of former high school football star Eddie Palmer who, after 12 years in prison, returns home to put his life back together, and soon forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home.
Not often has a film surprised me in the manor Palmer has. Fisher Stevens has long been a director I've admired, directing critically… more