Good Time (2017)

Last updated:
September 25, 2025

The Safdie Brothers’ Good Time is a gritty, adrenaline-fueled crime thriller that pulls you headfirst into one chaotic night in New York City. It’s raw, tense, and often painful to watch—but in the best way possible. Let’s break it all down.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Botched Bank Robbery

Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson) and his mentally challenged brother Nick (Benny Safdie) attempt a bank robbery. At first, it goes surprisingly well—the teller hands them a bag of cash. But the money is soaked in dye packs, which explode and ruin both the cash and their escape.

Nick Gets Caught

While trying to flee, Nick panics and is arrested. Connie, desperate to free him, begins plotting a rescue. His love for his brother is genuine, but his methods are reckless and criminal, setting the film’s spiral in motion.

Connie’s Desperate Moves

Connie tries everything—first convincing his girlfriend (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) to pay Nick’s bail with her mother’s credit card, only for it to be declined. Later, he learns Nick is hospitalized after a prison fight. Connie decides to break him out, but in classic Safdie fashion, nothing goes as planned.

Mistaken Identity

In the hospital escape attempt, Connie mistakenly rescues the wrong man—Ray (Buddy Duress), a parolee who had overdosed on acid. Instead of realizing his mistake and retreating, Connie doubles down, dragging Ray into his chaotic mission.

The Amusement Park Heist

The pair end up at an abandoned amusement park, where Ray has hidden a bottle of LSD and money. Cops show up, leading to a frantic chase through the neon-lit rides. This is one of the film’s most visually striking and heart-pounding sequences.

Movie Ending

After a long night of bad decisions, betrayals, and failed schemes, Connie’s luck finally runs out. Ray is killed during the amusement park chaos, and Connie himself is cornered by the police.

In a subdued and emotionally powerful final sequence, Connie sits in a police interrogation room. He doesn’t fight back anymore—he quietly accepts his fate. We see him being taken away, no longer running, finally trapped by the consequences of his choices.

Meanwhile, Nick—safe from Connie’s destructive influence—is shown in a therapy group for people with disabilities. At first hesitant, Nick eventually joins in the group’s activities. The implication is bittersweet: Nick may actually have a chance at a better life without his brother’s constant chaos, while Connie is doomed by his own inability to stop hustling.

The ending drives home the tragic irony—Connie thinks he’s protecting Nick, but in reality, he’s the one holding him back.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Good Time does not have any post-credits scenes. Once the final emotional montage ends, the film fades to black with no additional surprises.

Type of Movie

Crime thriller, neo-noir, character study. It’s raw, stressful, and intimate—more psychological than action-driven, even though it’s filled with chase scenes.

Cast

Robert Pattinson as Connie Nikas
Benny Safdie as Nick Nikas
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Corey
Buddy Duress as Ray
Barkhad Abdi as Dash the security guard
Taliah Webster as Crystal

Film Music and Composer

The pulsating, synth-heavy score was composed by Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin). The soundtrack is essential to the film’s energy, giving every scene a throbbing, anxious heartbeat. The track The Pure and the Damned (featuring Iggy Pop) plays over the ending and perfectly encapsulates the film’s mix of chaos and melancholy.

Filming Locations

The film was shot in New York City, primarily in Queens and Brooklyn. The Safdie Brothers insisted on shooting in real neighborhoods, using actual apartments, stores, and streets. This grounds the movie in realism—every environment feels lived-in and authentic, not like a movie set.

Awards and Nominations

Cannes Film Festival (2017): Oneohtrix Point Never won the Best Soundtrack Award.
Robert Pattinson’s performance was widely praised and marked a turning point in his career, though he didn’t snag major awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Robert Pattinson personally sought out the Safdie Brothers after seeing their previous film Heaven Knows What. He wanted to collaborate with them, which led to Good Time.
Much of the film was shot guerilla-style in New York, with non-professional extras who often had no idea they were in a movie.
Benny Safdie (Nick) is one half of the directing duo but also acted in the film, adding authenticity to the brotherly dynamic.
Pattinson lived in a small Queens apartment during filming to stay in character and absorb the environment.

Inspirations and References

Inspired by New York crime films of the 1970s, particularly works by Martin Scorsese and Sidney Lumet.
The Safdie Brothers’ own upbringing in Queens heavily influenced the setting and tone.
The film reflects themes of desperation, co-dependency, and survival in a gritty urban landscape.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

The Safdies have revealed that the ending was always meant to show Nick in a better place than Connie, so there are no major alternate endings. Some minor deleted scenes exist but were mostly trimmed for pacing—the filmmakers wanted the movie to feel relentless and breathless.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book. It is an original screenplay by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The bank robbery and dye-pack explosion.
Connie rescuing “Nick” from the hospital, only to realize it’s Ray.
The entire amusement park sequence, a neon-soaked fever dream.
The final therapy group scene with Nick, offering a sliver of hope.

Iconic Quotes

Connie: “I’m better than you.” (to Ray, a moment of delusional self-righteousness)
Connie: “Don’t be confused. It’s just gonna make it worse for me.” (to Nick, foreshadowing the tragedy)
Nick’s silence and vulnerability, which speak louder than words.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The amusement park scene was filmed in Adventureland, a nod to the iconic theme park that has also appeared in other films.
The Safdies cast non-actors in smaller roles to enhance realism—many of them were actual locals from Queens.
The film’s title, Good Time, is ironic; nearly every moment is the opposite of a good time.

Trivia

The Safdie Brothers wrote the script in under a year after meeting Pattinson.
Taliah Webster, who plays Crystal, was discovered during a high school audition search and had never acted before.
The movie’s runtime—101 minutes—was intentional to maintain relentless pacing.

Why Watch?

Because it’s one of the most intense, grounded crime thrillers of the 2010s. Robert Pattinson gives a career-defining performance, the Safdies’ direction is razor-sharp, and the score alone will keep your heart pounding. If you like movies that feel raw, unpredictable, and deeply human, Good Time delivers.

Good Time (2017)