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The Farewell

Play trailer 2:16 Poster for The Farewell PG 2019 1h 45m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 350 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Verified Ratings
Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch -- the only person that doesn't know she only has a few weeks to live.
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The Farewell

The Farewell

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Critics Consensus

The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Sachs Chicago Reader 12/17/2019
What follows is a series of hackneyed scenes about the different interpersonal relationships within the family, centering on the heroine's bond with her grandmother. Go to Full Review Esther Zuckerman Thrillist 12/17/2019
Thematically, The Farewell is about reconciliation with the past and wrestling with cultural traditions that now seem foreign in a country that once was home. But it's also simply about grappling with loss... Go to Full Review Clarisse Loughrey Independent (UK) 10/10/2019
5/5
The Farewell is a comedy of warmth and bracing honesty. Simply put, it's one of the best films of the year. Go to Full Review Lexi Amoriello Movie Recs by Lex Jul 10
The Farewell is impressive for its ability to feel universal despite telling such a specific, personal story. It’s also impressive for its ability to juggle comedy and tragedy while still remaining age-appropriate. Go to Full Review Julian Singleton Cinapse 07/12/2025
Wang’s film is a succinct and heartfelt examination of one family’s emotional crossroads, featuring a rich ensemble anchored by a surprisingly dynamic and layered performance by rapper-actress Awkwafina. Go to Full Review Calum Cooper Source (Scotland) 07/14/2024
5/5
Lulu Wang has made an expertly and sagely constructed ode to both western and eastern values, joining them together with familial sentimentality, resulting in charm and effortless poignancy. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Manuel G 12/27/2019 We enjoyed it very much. Very entertaining and funny See more Candace K 10/01/2019 Thoughtful portrayal of family dynamics with wonderful characters. Interesting reveal of customs. Excellent acting. Well written script. See more Timmothy 09/21/2019 emotional and funny synth same time. Great movie See more Sonya 09/20/2019 I thought it was going to be a comedy but it wasn’t at all funny. See more Sandra G 09/17/2019 Loved the idea of family loyalty and tradition. Food scenes were delicious. Awkafina was excellent as were other members of the cast. The director captured scenes in China perfectly. See more damien c 09/11/2019 Touching, heartfelt. A Must see! See more Read all reviews
The Farewell

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Lulu Wang

Director

Awkwafina

Billi

Tzi Ma

Haiyan

Diana Lin

Jian

Gil Perez-Abraham

Tony

Jim Liu

Doctor Song

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The Farewell

Awkwafina's Movies with Grandma Awkwafina's Movies with Grandma 4:46 The Farewell: Trailer 1 The Farewell: Trailer 1 2:16 View more videos
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The Farewell

Poster Art The Farewell (2019) The Farewell (2019) The Farewell (2019) The Farewell (2019) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch -- the only person that doesn't know she only has a few weeks to live.
Director
Lulu Wang
Producer
Chris Weitz, Andrew Miano, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub, Anita Gou, Daniele Tate Melia, Jane Zheng, Dani Melia
Screenwriter
Lulu Wang
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Big Beach, Kindred Spirit, Ray Production
Rating
PG (Some Smoking|Brief Language|Thematic Material)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 2, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 27, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.7M
Runtime
1h 45m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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