The Friend

Name: The Friend
Genre: Drama
Released: March 28, 2025
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 70

2025

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Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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The Friend

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Bleecker Street | Release Date: March 28, 2025 | R

Summary: 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 destructionWriter 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.… Expand

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Mar 28, 2025

The work Watts and Murray do in this sequence is both emotionally raw and acutely thoughtful, rife with specificity. It’s career-high stuff. Read full review

The Daily Beast Nick Schager

Mar 26, 2025

A compassionate portrait of mourning and the bonds that keep us united. Read full review

The Times Kevin Maher

Apr 25, 2025

Yes, the canine element is structurally paramount, and yes, Apollo the Great Dane, as played by Bing, is adorable and regally sad throughout. But this is pedigree material. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Apr 2, 2025

The Friend stretches on a bit too long, but it’s done with such care and a kind heart that it’s not hard to give it two hours of your time. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Apr 4, 2025

Given the pitfalls of gush and treacle in this type of material, The Friend is no small achievement. Is it impertinent to say that Watts has never had a better partner in the movies? The levels of emotion she brings to the role clearly have much to do with her co-star. Read full review

Empire Lou Thomas

Apr 28, 2025

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. Read full review

Zachary Barnes

Mar 27, 2025

Without the fizz of wit and humor the underlying emotional scenario ends up feeling flat. Read full review

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