The Friend

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The Friend

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2h 3m

Drama

Comedy

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83%

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109 Reviews

80%

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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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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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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Even if you’re not into the ‘non-action’ genre, the film’s worth it for the dog. There is a dog by the way, did I say?

Apr 24, 2025

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Bing could hardly be more charming as the dog whose presence causes her to confront what’s missing in her own life. How does the closing number go? “A wondrous toy just made for a girl and boy”. I’ll buy that.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 23, 2025

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Dwight Brown

DwightBrownInk.com

A love letter to the canine community. Also, one of the warmest depictions of New York in recent memory.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 15, 2025

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Marie Asner

Phantom Tollbooth

The dog is really the heart of the film, and Naomi Watts and Apollo blend into an acting team.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 24, 2025

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Hilary A White

Sunday Independent (Ireland)

Watts and Murray, both guilty of being underutilised to their full potential in recent years, immerse themselves into characters with rich interiors who are conversing across the afterlife.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 24, 2025

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Sarah Gopaul

Digital Journal

[The dog] has a very expressive face and appears to be acting alongside his human co-stars. His sadness offsets anyone else’s on screen, causing audiences to empathize with him, perhaps even more than the human bereaved.

Apr 22, 2025

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Meloney

It was a sad movie.. but we enjoyed it… a good one to stream, esp if you love dogs.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/25

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Nick

Acting was good, the story was real. Great dog trainer and thought provoking, heartwarming. On the dislike side it was a little bit slow.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

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Chris

I really like the movie and the past sequences incorporated into it to bring it up to the modern day. Of course I love dog movies. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray were very good in it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

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Janet E

Loved the dog and the story was very heartwarming.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/19/25

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Yoland B

Found it a compelling movie, housed by writers who couldn't use their words, to convey their desperation, loneliness and self sabotage. Their stories only becomes less opaque as the film progresses. I loved the NYC it captured, the natural aging beauty of Naomi Watts and the soulful eyes of Apollo.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/19/25

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Debra J

Love the movie A lot of good thoughts.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/25

Full Review

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Scott McGehee

Director

David Siegel

Director

Naomi Watts

Iris

Bill Murray

Walter

Noma Dumezweni

Barbara

Sarah Baskin

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The Friend: Trailer 1

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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
Runtime: 2h 3m

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