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A Simple Favor

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2:16

A Simple Favor

R

Released Sep 14, 2018

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

259 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Stephanie is a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily, seems to have it all -- a successful career, a loving family and a glamorous lifestyle. When Emily mysteriously disappears one day, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging into her friend's past -- and finding a few surprises along the way.

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Critics Consensus

Twisty, twisted, and above all simply fun, A Simple Favor casts a stylish mommy noir spell strengthened by potent performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Imagine an ABC sitcom based on David Fincher's Gone Girl, and you'll get an idea of what this lightweight comic mystery is like.

Mar 4, 2020

Full Review

Matthew Norman

London Evening Standard

It seeks only to entertain, and in its haphazard way it does.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 25, 2018

Full Review

Jo Livingstone

The New Republic

A deeply confused movie that feels like a mash-up of Mean Girls and an episode of Law and Order.

Sep 24, 2018

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…even though the conclusion is fairly silly by going way OTT in several directions, A Simple Favour digs deeply enough into the characters to keep audiences entertained... Kendrick expanded her range as an not-so-innocent and Lively lived up to her name.

Rated: 3/5

May 29, 2025

Full Review

Brittany Patrice Witherspoon

Pop Culture Reviews

A Simple Favor is a fun and fashionable thriller accompanied by killer performances from Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 11, 2024

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

Feig and his creative team weren’t willing to follow their leads to a weirder, more disturbing, and more satisfying film.

Jun 29, 2024

Full Review

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Spencer P

An old-fashioned domestic mystery given a dark, modern mommy edge, Anna Kendrick excels as a lovable, quirky protagonist, but Blake Lively plays a very unpleasant gaslighter through and through.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

Full Review

Timothy E

I love this mystery movie. I hope they make another one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

Full Review

John D

The plot started out well enough and then ventured in the ridiculous. Anna Kendrick has a constant smirk on her face even in the darkest moments making her act much less believable. She had one good scene and the rest of the time I thought she would bust out laughing which did not fit the movie at all. Either poor acting or poor direction, take your pick.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

Full Review

J F

I was so excited to watch this, the first is one of my favorite movies. This one felt over-the top, trying to be funny/shocking. The twist was ridiculous, the acting wasn't great (even though none of these people are bad actors...I'm so confused lol). I feel like I wasted my time watching this, and being excited about it. What's with all the prolonged sequels that are so much worse than the original??? It was like watching third graders put on an impromptu play for you...things didn't make sense and it just wasn't funny lol

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

Danica D

horrible, lost precious time looking at this film, poor acting and poor story, don't start to watch this

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/18/25

Full Review

Tiffany K

I wanted to like this because I love the book and it’s a great cast. I was ok until the ending. so disappointing and such a jarring shift in tone. It starts as a great noir story but turns into a joke.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/14/25

Full Review

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Paul Feig

Director

Anna Kendrick

Stephanie Smothers

Blake Lively

Emily Nelson

Henry Golding

Sean Townsend

Ian Ho

Nicky Nelson

Joshua Satine

Miles Smothers

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Violent Confessions

2:31

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Emily Is Dead

1:44

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Murder and Manipulation

1:42

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Drinks and Death

2:26

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Seducing a Widower

2:04

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - It's All Good, Baby

2:34

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Mile High Club

1:44

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Sleeping With My Brother

2:55

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - I Shot My Ex-Husband

3:00

A Simple Favor: Official Clip - Skinny Dipping Slaughter

1:47

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A Simple Favor: A Simple Favor - Best Scenes

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A Simple Favor: Trailer 1

2:16

A Simple Favor: Teaser Trailer - Tell Me Your Secret

1:44

A Simple Favor: Teaser Trailer 1

1:18

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Synopsis

Stephanie is a widowed, single mother who works as a vlogger in Connecticut. Her best friend, Emily, seems to have it all -- a successful career, a loving family and a glamorous lifestyle. When Emily mysteriously disappears one day, Stephanie launches her own investigation by digging into her friend's past -- and finding a few surprises along the way.

Director: Paul Feig
Producer: Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson
Screenwriter: Jessica Sharzer
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Sexual Content|Some Graphic Nude Images|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.5M
Runtime: 1h 57m

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