Friendship Release Date, Storyline, and Everything You Need to Know
The upcoming comedy film Friendship is already one of the most anticipated releases of 2025. It pairs comedy titans Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in a story that comedically explores the trials of male companionship in adulthood. Slated for theater release on May 23, 2025, this A24 flick has already made waves after debuting successfully at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024.
The Road To Release: A Festival Run for FRIENDSHIP
“Friendship” premiered on September 8, 2024, as part of the Midnight Madness section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film’s mix of humor and discomfort struck a chord with festival-goers, carrying it to second runner-up honors for the People’s Choice Award in the festival’s Midnight Madness section.
It is so hot off its TIFF premiere that A24 — the indie studio behind Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Brutalist — snapped up domestic distribution rights. The studio’s support positions “Friendship” as a possible break-out hit in a strong slate for 2025 that includes “Parthenope,” “Death of a Unicorn,” and “The Legend of Ochi.”
After its premiere at TIFF, “Friendship” was also chosen to screen at the March 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival, building more anticipation for its theatrical release. The film’s initial release date of May 9, 2025, has since shifted to May 23, 2025, effectively placing it as a significant early summer release.
The Pitch Of Friendship: New Neighbors Turn Nightmarish Connections
“Friendship” focuses on Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), a happy suburban dad whose orderly life is turned upside down when his new neighbor, weatherman Brian (Paul Rudd), moves in next door. The once relatively harmless move Craig makes toward bro-friendship with Mal quickly devolves into an all-consuming relationship that endangers their lives and families.
The movie subtly identifies with that strange new realm of adult male bonding—the clumsiness, vulnerability, and raw desire to connect that men often share but never speak of. Craig’s character epitomizes this battle; he finds happiness in simple things: New Balance shoes, Subway sandwiches, Marvel movies, and a pleasant life with his wife Tami (Kate Mara) and son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). His job at Universal Digital teaching brands to build more habit-forming products mirrors his dogged stick-to-itiveness.
(Rudd plays Brian with his trademark charm and emotional depth — he’s everything that Craig’s not: an enigma, but also approachable; strong, emphasizing traditionally masculine ideals, but able to let men’s vulnerability flow.) Their burgeoning relationship is pure comic gold and unexpectedly incisive commentary on contemporary American male friendship.
Part Of Your World: Songwriter & Stars Bring Song To Life
| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Robinson | Craig Waterman | He is a suburban dad whose life unravels as he seeks a new friend |
| Paul Rudd | Brian | Charismatic weatherman neighbor and Craig’s obsession |
| Kate Mara | Tami Waterman | Craig’s increasingly concerned wife |
| Jack Dylan Grazer | Steven | Craig’s teenage son |
| Josh Segarra | Austin | – |
| Billy Bryk | Tony | – |
| Jason Veasey | Zed | – |
| Jon Glaser | Big Sam | – |
| Conner O’Malley | Patton | – |
| Carmen Christopher | Jimp | – |
| Craig Frank | Buzz | – |
| Omar Torres | Jared | – |
| Jacob Ming-Trent | Nathan | – |
| Daniel London | Stan | – |
| Whitmer Thomas | Ian | – |
| Raphael Sbarge | Garrett | – |
| Ivy Wolk | Jen Peyser | – |
| Meredith Garretson | Bianca | – |
The Production Journey of Friendship
“Friendship” is the feature directorial debut of Andrew DeYoung, who wrote and directed the movie. DeYoung’s credits include Emmy-nominated work on “Would It Kill You to Laugh?” and directing credits on hit series, including “The Decameron,” “Our Flag Means Death,” and “PEN15.” He has honed this ability to create cringey but funny situations across shows, and it serves him well in “Friendship.”
Production started in February 2024, at which time Robinson, Rudd, and Mara were confirmed as the stars of the film. As of March 2024, the supporting cast was bolstered by a remarkable roster of talent. And it was not an urban role — nothing like D.C., where much of the action is set — but a suburban one, providing a genuine backdrop for middle-class men.
Production credits include Andy Rydzewski (cinematographer), Sophie Corra (editor), and composer Keegan DeWitt (music score). The project was a collaboration between BoulderLight Pictures and Fifth Season, with Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Nick Weidenfeld, and Johnny Holland producing.
Early Praise of Friendship
“Friendship” has received positive reviews from critics all around. Based on the reviews of 37 critics, the film has a 92% approval rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7.6/10. Metacritic scored 82 out of 100 based on eight critics, indicating “universal acclaim.”
Many reviewers have noted that the movie feels like “an extended episode of I Think You Should Leave,” and that’s a plus for its opening-weekend arty-porn audience. This cartoonishly uncomfortable stuff is precisely what they’re signing up for, and the movie reliably pushes cringey situations to their uncomfortable extremes. Robinson and Rudd’s chemistry has been especially praised by critics, with several calling out their disparate comedic styles as the perfect combination of tension and humor.
The film’s exploration of male friendship has also been praised for infusing surprising depth into what could have been a one-note comedy premise. Multiple critics pointed out DeYoung’s deft directorial hand, particularly his ability to negotiate the fine line between comedy and authentic emotional stakes.
What Sets Friendship Apart In The Comedy Landscape
“Friendship” arrives at a time when comedic films are becoming scarcer at the multiplex, making its theatrical debut all the more significant. This combination of A24’s arthouse weirdness with mainstream comedy appeal makes the film feel simultaneously fresh and accessible.
The movie’s male-friendship study occupies a specific space in modern comedy. Buddy comedies have always had a place in the genre, but an outing like “Friendship” is more psychological in nature, investigating the desperation and vulnerability that often lie within male bonding attempts. Craig’s character embodies the anxiety many men face when developing new friendships as grown-ups—the fear of rejection, uncertainty over social protocols, and the attempt to forge an authentic connection.
DeYoung’s script reportedly leavens these awkward realities without being mean-spirited toward its characters. Instead, the film encourages viewers to see themselves in Craig’s bumbling gestures at friendship, generating comedy that slays while still somehow ringing true.
Faith In Friendship
The type of brand you’d likely associate with bygone Hollywood eras, through their highlights, A24 has become one of America’s most exciting distributors, a company able to sustain both artsy darlings and commercial hits. “Friendship” feels like it’s being eyed as a potential crossover hit that could cater to the studio’s core audience and mainstream comedy fans.
It adds to A24’s 2025 lineup, which already features Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine, Rose Byrne’s If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, and many more highly anticipated movies. The studio is confident in its commercial potential, moving it to the front of the summer movie season with Friendship.
As an act, Robinson’s quirky cult comedy appeal could be an interesting combination with Rudd’s broad mainstream appeal, allowing “Friendship” to break out beyond the typical indie movie crowd. From early marketing materials, including the film’s initial trailer, released in February 2025, much has been made of balancing this accessibility with the A24 brand of offbeat sensibility.
FAQ
When will Friendship be in theaters?
Friendship premieres July 13, 2023, as an exclusive in U.S. theaters. Release dates outside of the U.S. have yet to be revealed.
Who stars in Friendship?
Tim Robinson stars as Craig Waterman (in the above screengrab), and Paul Rudd is his new neighbor, Brian. Craig’s wife, Tami, a supportive partner and unwavering ally, is played by Kate Mara, while Jack Dylan Grazer plays the couple’s son, Steven. The rest of the cast includes Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey, and Jon Glaser.
Who directed Friendship?
Andrew DeYoung, making his feature directorial debut, wrote and directed the film. DeYoung’s previous credits include “The Decameron,” “Our Flag Means Death,” and “PEN15.”
What is Friendship about?
The film centers on suburban father Craig Waterman, whose life is disrupted by a new neighbor. As Craig tries to forge an adult male friendship, his obsessive tendencies loom large and threaten to ruin both their lives.
Is Friends suitable for kids?
Though official ratings have not yet been publicised, its style of comedy and themes suggest that it will likely receive R ratings, making it best suited for older audiences.
The Final Word on Friendship
With a theatrical release on the horizon, “Friendship” looks set to be one of the comedy highlights of 2025. The film promises to combine comedian Tim Robinson’s all-his-turns-in-wiords style of humor with Paul Rudd’s potentially-motivated-for-a-tale-of-obfuscation character and, hopefully, upends gushy sentiment with a heavy dose of laughs and surprising emotional weight.
Andrew DeYoung’s feature directorial debut seems able to bring his television comedy experience to the big screen in an equally uncomfortable and universally relatable story. With strong reviews from festivals and A24’s marketing muscle pushing it, “Friendship” could be the rare comedy that connects with critics as much as through lineups.
Whether you count yourself among fans of Robinson’s specific strain of cringe comedy or Rudd’s more broad-based appeal, “Friendship” provides something that’s becoming an ever-scarcer breed on cinema screens these days, what with the market saturation of IP: an original comedy idea executed by only the sharpest-of-edge performers and filmmakers. Save the date: May 23, 2025, for “Friendship,” arriving to show us how awkward, funny, viable (and sometimes terrifying) adult friendships can get.
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