Robert Pattinson embarks on twisted odyssey in ‘Good Time’

A24 Films debuted the first trailer for Cannes favourite Good Time from Joshua Safdie and Ben Safdie ahead of its theatrical release in August.

Good Time unfolds over one adrenalized night after a botched bank robbery lands Constantine Nikas’ younger brother in prison. In a race against the clock to save him, Constantine embarks on a twisted odyssey, drenched in violence and mayhem, through the city’s underbelly.

The Safdie brothers rose to fame in the indie community following the success of their mind-bending drama Heaven Knows What (2014). The film starred recovering drug addict-turned-actress Arielle Holmes in the lead. It was penned by Joshua Safdie and Ronald Bronstein and based on Holmes’ actual life.

“Anchored by a career-defining performance from Robert Pattinson, Good Time is a psychotic symphony of propulsive intensity crafted by two of the most exciting young directors working today. Josh and Benny Safdie’s transcendent vision is an intoxicating portrait of desperation and destruction that will not be soon forgotten”, reads a statement issued by A24.

Good Time was pegged as a favorite for the Palme d’Or award at this year’s 2017 Cannes Film Festival, having been treated to a six-minute standing ovation after it was screened. However, the award instead went to Ruben Östlund’s The Square.

The heist thriller stars Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Remember Me, Cosmopolis), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight, The Machinist, Road to Perdition), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips, Extortion, Eye in the Sky), and director Ben Safdie himself as the protagonist’s younger brother.

A24 swooped in to secure North American distribution rights to the film, financed by Hercules Film Fund, back in October for a reported seven-figure sum. The flick is produced by Elara Pictures, the Safdie Brothers, Sebastian Bear-McClard, Paris Latsis, Terry Dougas, and Oscar Boyson. Jean-Luc De Fanti served as executive producer.

Release Information

Good Time hit theaters on August 11, 2017, opening in limited release before expanding wide on August 25. Audiences caught the film on the big screen during a summer dominated by blockbusters, and the Safdies’ gritty night-in-the-life thriller carved out its own lane. Over the years the picture has cycled through streaming windows, including runs on Netflix and Max, keeping it accessible long after the theatrical window closed.

Production and Distribution

A24 acquired North American rights in 2016 for a seven-figure sum, marking another early bet on the Safdie brothers after Heaven Knows What. The distributor has kept Good Time listed among its signature titles on the official site, treating it as a cornerstone of the catalog. The production team included Elara Pictures along with the Safdie brothers themselves, and the financing came through Hercules Film Fund, giving the project the resources to shoot across New York locations with minimal interference.

Critical Reception and Awards

Critics responded strongly to the film’s breakneck pacing and Pattinson’s feral turn. Good Time earned a 92 percent Tomatometer score and an 84 Metacritic rating. Oneohtrix Point Never’s propulsive electronic score won the Cannes Soundtrack Award, and the film collected six wins and 47 nominations across various ceremonies according to IMDb records. Reviewers often cited the picture’s ability to sustain tension across a single evening without traditional heist-movie structure.

Box Office Performance

Commercially the film remained modest. Domestic earnings reached roughly two million dollars while the worldwide total landed between 3.3 and 4.1 million. With an estimated budget of 4.5 million, Good Time did not turn into a mainstream hit, yet it performed respectably for an indie thriller that opened against major studio competition. The numbers reflected the Safdies’ growing reputation more than immediate box-office muscle.

Robert Pattinson's Breakthrough Role

Pattinson’s performance as the desperate, manipulative Connie Nikas marked a clear pivot away from his Twilight image. Reviewers singled out his willingness to appear sweaty, unhinged, and morally compromised, qualities that helped reposition him as a serious dramatic actor. The role opened doors to later auteur-driven projects and established a template for the kind of intense, physical performances that followed in his subsequent films.

The Safdie Brothers' Career Trajectory

After Good Time the brothers delivered Uncut Gems in 2019, another anxiety-inducing New York story that further raised their profile. By 2025 they had begun working separately, with Joshua Safdie attached to Marty Supreme and Benny Safdie directing The Smashing Machine. The split allowed each to explore distinct tones while retaining the kinetic style first showcased in Good Time.

Good Time is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on August 11, 2017; see the trailer here.