Friendship (2024 film)

Friendship
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Andrew DeYoung
Written by	Andrew DeYoung
Produced by	Raphael Margules J. D. Lifshitz Johnny Holland Nick Weidenfeld
Starring	Tim Robinson Kate Mara Jack Dylan Grazer Paul Rudd
Cinematography	Andy Rydzewski
Edited by	Sophie Corra
Music by	Keegan DeWitt
Production companies	Fifth Season BoulderLight Pictures
Distributed by	A24 (United States and Canada) Republic Pictures (through Paramount Pictures; International)
Release dates	September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08) (TIFF) May 9, 2025 (2025-05-09) (United States)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$16.6 million

Friendship is a 2024 American black comedy film written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his directorial debut. The film stars Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Paul Rudd. Its plot centers on Craig, a socially awkward marketing executive who obsessively yearns to be friends with his new neighbor Austin, a charismatic but unfulfilled weatherman.

Friendship had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024, as part of the festival's Midnight Madness program, and was theatrically released in the United States by A24 in a limited release on May 9, 2025, before opening wide on May 23, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised DeYoung's direction and screenplay, as well as its lead performances of Robinson and Rudd.

Plot

Craig Waterman, a marketing executive in the fictional city of Clovis, is preparing to sell his family home alongside his wife, Tami. Recently recovered from cancer, Tami is frustrated with Craig's emotional unavailability and his lack of interest in her flower business and has rekindled a relationship with her ex-boyfriend Devon, leaving Craig increasingly adrift. The new neighbor, Austin Carmichael, a quirky local meteorologist, drops off a gift to Tami to introduce himself. Austin invites Craig over for a beer that evening, which Tami accepts on Craig's behalf. Craig reluctantly agrees.

The two strike up an unexpected friendship, bonding over music, work frustrations, and a shared sense of restlessness. During their first hangout, Craig introduces Austin to his personal mantra "just ask", a philosophy that inspires Austin to pursue his longtime dream of becoming the town's daytime weatherman. That night, Austin shows Craig a hidden tunnel system beneath Clovis City Hall, and they explore it together.

The next day, Austin calls Craig at work and convinces him to play hooky to go mushroom hunting in a nearby bog. On the way back, they pass a yellow sports car, and Austin says that if he ever buys one, Craig will be the first to ride in it. As their bond strengthens, Craig becomes increasingly infatuated with Austin, especially after Craig and Tami attend one of Austin's punk rock shows. Energized by the connection, Craig becomes a more attentive husband, father, and coworker.

Cracks begin to form after Austin invites Craig to a hangout with a group of his friends. Initially cordial, the evening takes a turn when Craig, feeling insecure and desperate to fit in, escalates a friendly boxing match with Austin by landing a cheap shot. The group recoils, and Craig responds by stuffing a bar of soap in his mouth as a bizarre act of self-punishment.

After the incident, Austin distances himself. Craig, desperate to reconnect, visits the TV station unannounced and causes Austin to stumble during his first daytime weather broadcast. Austin formally cuts ties with Craig, but Craig continues to obsess over him, breaking into Austin's home while his wife Bianca naps and inadvertently stealing a handgun from Austin's home office.

In an effort to recreate the intimacy he felt with Austin, Craig takes Tami on a manic date through the underground tunnels beneath city hall, during which Tami becomes disoriented and goes missing. After getting the police involved in the search, Craig and Austin are arrested for trespassing in the sewer previously. In jail, it is revealed Austin wears a hairpiece, a secret he begs Craig to keep. Tami is eventually found, shaken but safe. At her welcome-back party, Craig is shunned by Tami's friends and family and upstaged by Devon, and Tami soon moves into Devon's pool house. Craig's downward spiral continues — he loses a client pitch and suffers a public meltdown, resulting in his termination from the marketing firm.

Some time later, Craig attempts to rebuild his life by working as a parking officer. He reconnects with his son, Steven and buys Tami a van to support her flower business. The family appears to be on the mend—until Craig drives past Austin's house and sees him hosting another guys' night and driving the yellow sports car. Overcome with jealousy, Craig storms the gathering and holds the group at gunpoint, forcibly trying to recreate the first night. When Austin attempts to wrestle the gun out of Craig's hands, it goes off, causing everyone to duck for cover. In the struggle, Austin's toupée once again comes off. Craig, desperate to retain this shared secret, threatens his friends to stay on the ground while Austin puts his hairpiece back on.

The police arrive and Craig knocks himself unconscious while attempting to flee. In the back of the patrol car, Craig imagines an alternate version of events in which nothing went wrong during that initial group hang. Craig watches from the back of the patrol car as Austin turns and gives him a wink, and Craig smiles.

Cast

• Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael
• Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman
• Kate Mara as Tami Waterman, Craig's wife
• Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman, Craig's son
• Josh Segarra as Devon
• Billy Bryk as Tony
• Jason Veasey as Zed
• Jon Glaser as Big Sam
• Eric Rahill as Mike
• Conner O'Malley as Patton
• Carmen Christopher as Jimp
• Craig Frank as Buzz
• Omar Torres as Jared
• Jacob Ming-Trent as Nathan
• Daniel London as Stan
• Whitmer Thomas as Ian
• Raphael Sbarge as Garrett
• Ivy Wolk as Jen Peyser
• Meredith Garretson as Bianca

Production

In February 2024, Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd and Kate Mara joined the cast of the film, with Andrew DeYoung set to direct. In March 2024, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey, Jon Glaser, Eric Rahill, Conner O'Malley, Carmen Christopher, Craig Frank, Omar Torres, Jacob Ming-Trent, Daniel London, Whitmer Thomas and Raphael Sbarge joined the cast. Filming occurred in Yonkers.

The role of Craig was written specifically for Robinson.

Rudd's character was originally named Brian in the script. When Rudd was cast, he requested that this be changed to avoid confusion with his Anchorman character and personally suggested the name Austin.

Release

The film had its world premiere on September 8, 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the festival's Midnight Madness program. That same month, A24 acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film. In May 2025, Republic Pictures acquired international distribution rights to the film, with plans to release it theatrically. It was given a limited release in the United States on May 9, 2025, followed by a wide release on May 23.

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 143 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Tim Robinson expands his exquisitely painful cringe comedy style to feature length with seamless results in Friendship, a toxic bromance that'll make audiences laugh and wince in equal measure." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Awards

At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, the film was second runner-up for the People's Choice Award, Midnight Madness.

External links

• Friendship at IMDb