The One: Martin Sheen Helps a Foster Kid Heal
The One (2026) is a family drama in which a young man takes a train journey to cross the country and meets various people on the train and in different stops, all of whom are grieving the loss of someone.
Noak Redclay stars as Hawk, a Native American teen who has aged out of the Chicago foster system. He has a one-way train ticket to Enid, OK, to see what is advertised as the world's tallest Christmas tree.
During his journey, he meets an enigmatic traveler named Jefferson (Martin Sheen) and Alexis (Olivia Sanabia) who is a runaway.
Directed by Lisa Arnold and written by Erin Elizabeth Cook, The One has a limited release in U.S. theaters in early November 2026. (IMDb)
Hawk Leaves the Foster System Behind
Hawk is at a major point in his life where everything changes.
He has aged out of the Chicago foster system. He gets a one-way train ticket and heads to Enid for the Christmas tree lighting.
The trip is more than tourism.
Hawk has to figure out what he's going to do with his life now that the structured system he had is no longer there. Hawk deals with a lot of anxiety and financial, social and emotional isolation as he travels to unknown places.
For people who find the film using entertainment searches on the 123movies website watch, the film is a drama rather than an adventure film.
The focus is on Hawk's search for stability and connection.
Martin Sheen Plays the Mysterious Jefferson
Martin Sheen plays an older traveler, Jefferson, that Hawk meets during his journey.
Jefferson helps Hawk get food and shows him where the community is, and in turn, gives him a means of support, since Hawk has very few people that he can depend on. (Hawk Hill Pictures)
Jefferson then disappears.
This creates an air of mystery in the otherwise grounded family drama.
The movie doesn't immediately explain everything about Jefferson and why he enters Hawk's life at the specific moment he needs it the most.
It's more so about the impact Jefferson has on Hawk and how he treats him.
Jefferson sees Hawk as someone who needs help and not someone else who he should be crossing off his "to do" list.
As a result, Sheen's role offers more of an emotional guidance and support and doesn't takes the spotlight off Hawk.
Alexis is dealing with family Issues of her own
After Jefferson leaves, Hawk meets Alexis.
Olivia Sanabia plays Alexis, a 15 year old, who runs away to deal with her family issues on her own.
Her mom, Lisa is played by Jana Kramer and is very busy with planning the Christmas tree event, as well as many other things. Alexis's dad is Nick Zano, who plays Jim. (IMDb)
Like Alexis, Hawk feels lost and disconnected from everybody and everything around him.
This feeling is what brings the two together.
Instead of focusing on just one character saving the other, the movie shows the characters as individuals who can relate and understand experiences that their adult counterparts are unable to relate or express.
For the audience who can search for the movie as 123movies online, this relation ship shows one of the emotional cores of the movie.
Music Is an Additional Way For Hawk to Communicate
Hawk travels with a guitar and music becomes another way for him to express himself and to connect with Alexis.
Hawk and Alexis eventually collaborate on writing and performing a song, during which they discuss Hawk's life and his experiences within the foster care system, his cultural identity, and his questions concerning faith. (Movie Insider)
The song helps the audience understand Hawk and Alexis without having to have lengthy conversation scenes.
Hawk does not always have the answers about where he belongs.
His identity as a Native American, his experiences with the foster care system, as well as his future all contribute to how he sees himself.
The questions are expressed through the song and provide another emotional core to the story.
The Christmas setting contrasts the public celebration of Christmas with the private hardships of several of the characters.
Lisa Arnold Directs Family Drama
Lisa Arnold does the directing for the movie The One, while Erin Elizabeth Cook writes the screenplay.
Hawk Hill Pictures states the run time of the movie is 104 minutes and names the genres as drama, family and holiday. (Hawk Hill Pictures)
The main cast members include Noah Redclay, Martin Sheen, Jana Kramer, Olivia Sanabia and Nick Zano.
The production crew uses Enid's Christmas Celebrations as seasonal decorations.
The tree serves a couple of critical functions in the story. It serves as a physical destination toward which Hawk is traveling, and it also serves as a deadline, bringing together the various characters.
Because of this, The One is a holiday movie, even though its main themes are not centered on Christmas.
The movie's themes are mainly about grief, family, belonging, and what happens to people when they lose the obvious anchor or support in their life.
The One arrives in November 2026.
As of now, the only release listing places The One in some U.S. theaters on November 5 or 6, 2026.
Movie Insider gives November 6 as the release date and a run time of 1 hour and 44 minutes, and IMDb gives November 5 as the date. (IMDb)
As of now, there is no information about a streaming release. (JustWatch)
We already have the bare bones of the story.
To start, Hawk is traveling to a Christmas tree lighting that is hundreds of miles away.
On his journey, he meets people like Jefferson and Alexis, and a whole community of people who's lives unexpectedly connect to his.
The One is not about finally reaching a renowned holiday destination. It's about everything that Hawk learns and experiences along the journey.
The most important destination for Hawk may be about reaching a place where he has a family that supports him.