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THE FRIEND

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The Friend (2024 film)

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The Friend
Release poster
Directed byScott McGehee
David Siegel
Screenplay byScott McGeheeDavid Siegel
Based onThe Friend
by Sigrid Nunez
Produced byScott McGeheeDavid SiegelLiza ChasinMike Spreter
StarringNaomi WattsBill MurraySarah PidgeonCarla GuginoConstance WuAnn Dowd
CinematographyGiles Nuttgens
Edited byIsaac Hagy
Music byJay WadleyTrevor Gureckis
Production
companies		3dot ProductionsBig Creek
Distributed byBleecker Street (United States and Canada)
Focus Features
Universal Pictures (International)
Release datesAugust 30, 2024 (Telluride)March 28, 2025 (United States)
Running time120 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4.9 million[2][3]

The Friend is a 2024 American drama film written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel. Based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez, it stars Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, and Ann Dowd.

It had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and screened in the Gala section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically on March 28, 2025 by Bleecker Street.[4][5]

Cast

Production

In February 2022, it was announced Naomi Watts had joined the cast of the film, with Scott McGehee and David Siegel set to direct from a screenplay they wrote, based upon the 2018 novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez.[6] In February 2024, Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, Noma Dumezweni, Felix Solis, and Owen Teague joined the cast. In March 2024, Carla Gugino joined the cast.[7][8][9] Principal photography began by February 2024, in New York City.[10][11]

Release

The Friend premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024, and was also screened in the Gala Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024. In October 2024, Bleecker Street acquired North American distribution rights to the film, planning to release it sometime in early 2025.[12] The film was released in the United States on March 28, 2025.[13]

The film will open 2nd Croatia International Film Festival on August 8, 2025.[14]

Reception

Box office

During its first weekend of release, The Friend played in two theaters and grossed $67,629 during the weekend of March 28–30.[15] The following weekend, the film had its wide release and opened alongside A Minecraft Movie, The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2, Hell of a Summer, and The Luckiest Man in America, and grossed $1.6 million, finishing ninth at the box office for the weekend of April 4–6.[16]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 131 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10. The website’s consensus reads: “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.”[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.[18]

References

  1.  “The Friend (15)”. British Board of Film Classification. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  2.  “The Friend”. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  3.  “The Friend – Financial Information”. The Numbers. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  4.  D’Alessandro, Anthony (July 22, 2024). “TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres From Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics With Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int’l Premieres ‘Conclave’ & ‘Piece By Piece’, More”. Deadline. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  5.  Hammond, Pete (August 29, 2024). “Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes ‘Saturday Night’, ‘The Piano Lesson’, ‘Conclave’ & ‘Nickel Boys’ World Premieres”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  6.  Wiseman, Andreas (February 9, 2022). “Naomi Watts To Star In Canine Pic ‘The Friend’ Based On Hit Novel; Liza Chasin Produces & The Veterans Launches Sales — EFM Hot Pic”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7.  Grobar, Matt (February 26, 2024). “Naomi Watts & Bill Murray To Topline Dramedy ‘The Friend’ From Scott McGehee & David Siegel; Constance Wu, Ann Dowd Among Others Set”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8.  Grobar, Matt (February 29, 2024). “Felix Solis & Owen Teague Join Naomi Watts, Bill Murray In Dramedy ‘The Friend'”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9.  Grobar, Matt (March 5, 2024). “Carla Gugino Latest To Join Naomi Watts, Bill Murray In ‘The Friend'”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  10.  Braun, Don (February 9, 2024). “Naomi Watts at “The Friend” Filming Set in New York 02/08/2024″. Celeb Mafia. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11.  Paumgarten, Nick (May 6, 2024). “An A-List Animal Trainer Prepares a Great Dane for His Film Début”. The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  12.  Vlessing, Etan (October 23, 2024). “Naomi Watts’ ‘The Friend’ Goes to Bleecker Street”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  13.  D’Alessadndro, Anthony (December 17, 2024). “Bleecker Street Sets 2025 Slate With Sundance Title ‘The Wedding Banquet’, ‘The Friend’, ‘Hard Truths’ & More”. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  14.  Addie Morfoot (June 3, 2025). “‘The Friend’ Starring Bill Murray to Topline Second Annual Croatia International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)”. Variety. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  15.  “Domestic 2025 Weekend 13”. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  16.  “Domestic 2025 Weekend 14”. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  17.  “The Friend“. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 26, 2025. 
  18.  “The Friend“. Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
vteFilms directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel
vteSigrid Nunez

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