A Simple Favor

R

Released Sep 14, 2018

1 hr. 57 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

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List

84%

257 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Premiered Apr 30

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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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Rebecca I

I loved Emily as a character. Stephanie was all over the place and a terrible best friend. I really wish they kept the same ending and a few other things that were in the book. I think the characters were not well developed on screen and the ending was basic.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Bruce R

This movie doesn't take itself too seriously & you shouldn't either. Just enjoy the frenetic, beautifully shot/produced fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Cristian s

Muy buena película de misterio; el ritmo, la trama y los personajes funcionan a la perfección. Tal vez si fuese la misma trama pero en un toque mas serio no resultaría, creo que el tono de comedia es clave para mejorarla completamente. Grata sorpresa, me encanto.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Prateek S

Interesting concept!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

Full Review

Timothy D

This is a mystery movie first and foremost, but A Simple Favor has insane firepower thanks to Kendrick's and Lively's spellbinding performances. The twisted story makes perfect use of its enticing characters to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's perfectly performed, perfectly excuted, and left me extremely satisfied.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

Full Review

Jeff M

OK, this was a really interesting viewing experience for me. As it started, I was not impressed - it felt was over the top, almost cartoonish, both in plot and performance. But then the tide changed. I don't know if this is what the filmmakers had in mind, but I started viewing it as a satire of films like GONE GIRL, and I felt a groove, especially at the end when plot twist upon plot twist almost became laughable. And I realized this is kinda brave filmmaking, considering they're not necessarily winking at the audience. It reminded me of a Lifetime movie called A DEADLY ADOPTION with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, which was played dead straight but was actually a remarkable satire of the kind of movie audiences confused it for being. It turned out to be a grand time and one of the nice surprises of 2018.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

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

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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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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

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

A devilishly fun time from Paul Feig, thanks in large part to Blake Lively's sinister performance.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 18, 2023

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Paul Feig's super stylish and fun suburban noir features Anna Kendrick in a solid, albeit very familiar Kendrick role. It's Lively, however, who steals the show with hera sexy, confident, multi-faceted performance

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a neo-noir of suburban pep and middle-class warmth meeting cool sophistication.

Apr 14, 2023

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Jason Cloth, Mike Drake, Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis
Screenwriter: Jessica Sharzer
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Lionsgate, Feigco Entertainment
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

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