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The Friend

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for The Friend R Released Apr 4 2h 3m Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 135 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250+ Verified Ratings
In The Friend, writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.
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The Friend

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Critics Consensus

Leavening its parable of grief with some adorable human-canine bonding, The Friend is a winsome dramedy that'll resonate with pet owners and just about anyone who's experienced loss.

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Critics Reviews

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Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) The Friend is a stirring and thoughtful film that taps into that exquisite connection between humans and every very good dog. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 28, 2025 Full Review Stephanie Zacharek TIME Magazine Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s film adaptation can’t quite capture the prickly subtlety of the book—yet on its own, it still works. May 1, 2025 Full Review Lou Thomas Empire Magazine Naomi Watts’ exceptional performance is the crucial element of this moving if flawed tale. The film to see if you’ve ever wondered how to tackle grief with a ginormous dog in the Big Apple. Rated: 3/5 Apr 29, 2025 Full Review Cain Noble-Davies FILMINK (Australia) ... as a film in its own right, it’s too distant to connect with, and so rote as to seem trivial, which is not a good look considering the issues it tries to tackle. Rated: 9.5/20 Jul 25, 2025 Full Review Sammie Purcell Rough Draft Atlanta “The Friend,” unfortunately, isn’t able to capitalize on its premise. Instead, the only real emotion it’s able to conjure is cheap and emotionally manipulative. Jul 18, 2025 Full Review Cody Allen Geek Vibes Nation By the time we reach the film’s final moments, when Iris has to make an impossible decision, we realize something: this was never really a movie about a woman taking in a dog. It was about two lonely souls finding their way back to the world, together. Rated: 8/10 Jul 18, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bugsy Light hearted and show what real friendship is. I loved the movie and the dog was awesome! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review fern l quirky story..great dane Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Chris A somewhat slow-paced movie that explores grief and mourning for humans and canines. Subtle but touching performance by Naomi Watts and Apollo. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/18/25 Full Review Robert I thought the movie was thought provoking and basically well acted. And who doesnt like a movie that stars an adorable Great Dane! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/30/25 Full Review Mike D An emotional heartfelt movie with an NYC feel Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Diante Certainly not a bad movie, but has its rough edges on a driven plot. It explores the grieving of a friend that has taken their life but does not go profoundly deep into what that looks like. The primary story revolves around Iris taking in Apollo (the Dane) and the challenges that causes, both emotionally and tangibly. What drew me to this movie was having a family Great Dane that recently passed. In ways, it helped me grieve, for which I am thankful. For anyone that has loved a dog, I think you’ll enjoy (and maybe shed a tear - that is entirely okay) and hopefully get a kind reminder of how important they can be. And certainly if you have lost a loved one to suicide, perhaps I hope there will be some empathy with you in the movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Friend

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Movie Info

Synopsis In The Friend, writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.
Director
Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Producer
Liza Chasin, Scott McGehee, David Siegel, Mike Spreter
Screenwriter
Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Distributor
Bleecker Street
Production Co
3dot productions, Big Creek Projects
Rating
R (A Sexual Reference|Language)
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2025
Runtime
2h 3m
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