--- title: "Friendship" year: 2025 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/friendship" fi1m_id: "friendship" imdb_id: "tt30505698" tmdb_id: 1239655 wikidata_id: "Q127821688" fi1m_score: 73 critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 23 published: "2026-09-30T22:44:15.660849+00:00" updated: "2026-09-30T22:44:24.747767+00:00" region: "RS" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Friendship (2025) Directed by Andrew DeYoung · 1h 40m · Comedy, Drama ## Identity Friendship - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/friendship - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** friendship - **IMDb ID:** tt30505698 - **TMDB ID:** 1239655 - **Wikidata ID:** Q127821688 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30505698/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1239655, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127821688 **Fi1m score: 73** · Critics 76 from 23 reviews *In a sentence:* A hundred minutes of a man being handed the right thing to say and choosing the other one > Tim Robinson’s man who cannot read a room gets a full-length film, and Andrew DeYoung shoots him like a thriller. It is often painfully funny and Paul Rudd is a pleasure; it is also a sketch stretched thin, and by the last half hour it shows. ## Synopsis Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) lives in the suburbs with his wife Tami (Kate Mara) and their teenage son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer), and has nobody he would call a friend. Then a new neighbour arrives: Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd), easy in company, sure of himself, the sort of man other men want to stand next to. Austin asks Craig in, then asks him along, and within a few days Craig has a friend for the first time in years and is trying hard not to lose him. He copies Austin’s order at Subway. He meets Austin’s friends, Ian (Whitmer Thomas), Stan (Daniel London), Mike (Eric Rahill) and Nathan (Jacob Ming-Trent), and wants to be one of them. What he does in front of them is where the trouble starts. ## Review Tim Robinson’s sketch series *I Think You Should Leave* is full of men who say the wrong thing and then defend it to the death. *Friendship* gives one of them a mortgage, a family and a hundred minutes. Craig Waterman has a job, a house, a wife Tami (Kate Mara) and a son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer), and no friends. A new neighbour moves in, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd), and asks him in. The film is often painfully funny and Rudd is a pleasure in it. It is also a sketch stretched to feature length, and once the friendship sours, which happens early, it has less to do than it thinks. Andrew DeYoung, who wrote and directed, made the decision that gives the film its character: he shoots a comedy as if it were a thriller. Andy Rydzewski frames the suburb in wide, level shots under a good deal of grey sky and holds on Robinson’s face well past the point a comedy would cut. Keegan DeWitt’s score is low synths and slow pulses, and it treats a walk to a neighbour’s front door as if someone might not come back from it. Rocio Gimenez fills Austin’s house with records, drums and things picked up on walks, and gives Craig’s a sofa and a large television. Chloe Karmin puts Craig in a padded jacket he never seems to take off. Robinson’s Craig agrees a beat too late, laughs a beat too early, and when cornered shouts a sentence nobody could have predicted at a volume nobody asked for. The first act, in which Austin takes Craig along on whatever he happens to be doing, is the film’s happiest stretch: Craig is being given what he wants and cannot work out what to do with it. Then Craig meets Austin’s friends, Ian (Whitmer Thomas), Stan (Daniel London), Mike (Eric Rahill) and Nathan (Jacob Ming-Trent), and in the space of one scene does the thing that turns them against him. We will not say what it is. We laughed until it hurt at a Subway order, of all things, with Craig repeating Austin’s sandwich word for word as though it were a password. And there is a stretch near the middle involving a toad, which we will also not describe, where we stopped laughing and sat with a hand over our mouth, which is the film working exactly as intended. Rudd is the surprise. Austin could have been the straight man; instead Rudd plays someone who has built a personality out of being the cool one on the street and needs an audience more than he would admit. Craig is an audience. Their scenes together, ordering at a Subway, walking home, standing on a doorstep at the moment Austin decides to step back, are the best in the film, because Rudd lets you see Austin enjoying the attention right up until it frightens him. The second half is where the sketch shows. Craig is on his own, and the film becomes a run of set pieces built the same way: a bad idea, a room of people who can see it is a bad idea, a detonation, and Sophie Corra cutting hard to black. Corra does it well. Done a dozen times, the rhythm becomes a pattern, and we began to know when the shout was coming. Tami is the other casualty. Mara plays her straight and with real patience, but the script gives her a job and a history and never says what she sees in Craig or wants from the marriage. Steven is a good joke and only a joke. Against the awkward comedies it descends from, this sits closer to *The Cable Guy* than to Ricky Gervais or Larry David: Craig is not a man who fails to notice he is awful but one who notices and cannot stop. The tagline says men should not have friends; we do not think DeYoung is making a case about lonely men in general. Craig is a specific disaster, and the film is best when it treats him as one. Watch it with someone, so that there is somebody else to look at when Craig starts talking. It runs a hundred minutes, and it is the right length for about eighty of them. *Fi1m score 73, published 30 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics come away laughing, and slightly winded. The reviews are largely positive, and the praise gathers around Tim Robinson, whose performance as Craig is widely called the film’s engine: awkward, committed, and painful to sit with. Paul Rudd’s turn as the more likeable friend is nearly as well received, and several critics say the two together make even mundane exchanges funny. A few also credit Kate Mara with keeping the film grounded when it tips into chaos. The reservations are about staying power. Several critics find the sketch-like structure wears thin over a feature, the plot slight and the last act short of momentum, and the Guardian faults the female characters as under-imagined. Vulture notes it stays within familiar Robinson territory. The spread is fairly wide: two outlets call it the funniest comedy in years, while Variety alone is negative, finding the cringe increasingly incoherent at length and Robinson’s character eventually shutting the audience out. ## Straight answers **Is Friendship worth watching?** *Friendship* is worth watching if you can sit through a hundred minutes of a man saying the wrong thing on purpose, and we scored it 73. Tim Robinson is painfully funny and Paul Rudd is a pleasure as the neighbour who enjoys being admired until it frightens him. It is a sketch stretched thin, and the last half hour shows it. **How long is Friendship, and what is it rated?** *Friendship* runs 1h 40m. It is a comedy and drama film. **Where can I watch Friendship in Serbia?** *Friendship* is streaming on SkyShowtime in Serbia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Friendship, and is it suitable for children?** *Friendship* is a 15 in the UK and an R in the US, and it is neither violent nor frightening in the usual sense; the discomfort is social. Craig shouts, embarrasses himself in front of rooms of people and makes bad decisions in public, and one scene near the middle left us with a hand over our mouth. It is not for children, and the squeamish about awkwardness should know what they are in for. **How does Friendship compare to The King of Comedy?** *Friendship* and [*The King of Comedy*](https://film.one/film/the-king-of-comedy) are both about a man who mistakes being near someone for being his friend, and both make you laugh while you wince. Scorsese's film is the darker and more sustained of the two; the humiliations build rather than repeat. *Friendship* is the funnier for its first hour, and the easier to watch on a sofa, though it runs out of ideas sooner. **What should I watch after Friendship?** After *Friendship*, try [*The King of Comedy*](https://film.one/film/the-king-of-comedy) (1982, Fi1m 88): Scorsese’s study of a man who mistakes proximity for friendship; the original discomfort. Then [*Toni Erdmann*](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann) (2016, Fi1m 86): A German father embarrasses his daughter for nearly three hours; funnier and sadder than that sounds; and [*Sightseers*](https://film.one/film/sightseers) (2012, Fi1m 78): Ben Wheatley’s caravan holiday, where social awkwardness turns into something much worse. ### Reviews we read (23) - **Empire**, Iana Murray (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an excruciatingly awkward but hilarious comedy. They single out Tim Robinson’s distinctive performance and Paul Rudd’s outstanding turn. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/friendship/) - **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (B+): Ehrlich calls it one of the year’s funniest comedies, though some scenes feel insufficiently strange. He praises Tim Robinson’s comic performance and the film’s carefully balanced absurdity and dramatic intent. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-1235046259/) - **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (5/4/4): Strong finds the film an offbeat, cringe-inducing comedy rather than a consistent knee-slapper. She praises Tim Robinson’s portrayal of Craig and the film’s unsettling, unpredictable energy. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/friendship) - **Radio Times**, Sean McGeady (4/5): McGeady finds the film nose-bleedingly funny and frequently discomfiting. He singles out Tim Robinson’s performance as a showcase for the comedian’s distinctive talent. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0x27bd/friendship/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (76/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the film a terrific, painfully funny portrait of male loneliness, though it sometimes keeps its other characters psychologically shallow. She especially praises the comic chemistry between Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, which makes even an ordinary Subway order funny. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-05-09/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-andrew-deyoung-a24) - **Sight and Sound** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the comedy impressive and genre-fluid, though its sketch-like structure sometimes wears thin. Tim Robinson’s cringe-perfect performance is singled out as a particular strength. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/friendship-quest-companionship-spirals-out-control-this-funny-torturous-take-buddy-movie) - **Slant Magazine**, Marshall Shaffer (3/4): The critic finds the film engaging and funny, though its deliberately uncertain comic approach can become exhausting. They praise its sharp skewering of the rituals that estrange men from their emotions. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/friendship-review-paul-rudd-tim-robinson/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a gleefully discomfiting comedy that delivers some of the year’s biggest laughs. He praises Tim Robinson’s finely balanced performance, while noting that the plot is thin and the last act could use more momentum. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-1235997184/) - **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (75/100, inferred): Willmore finds the film funny and effective, while noting it stays within familiar Tim Robinson territory. She particularly praises the comedic cul-de-sacs and Robinson’s ability to make ordinary missteps suspenseful. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/friendship-review-tim-robinson-is-at-his-most-tim-robinson.html) - **The AV Club**, Jacob Oller (B-): Oller finds the film intermittently funny but too shallow and repetitive to sustain an intimate viewing. He praises the comic chemistry between Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, along with a memorable psychedelic toad sequence. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/friendship-review) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (70/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the comedy’s absurdist turn divisive at first but increasingly effective, with male inadequacy as its central point. He praises Tim Robinson’s cringe-inducing performance, while faulting the female characters for being under-imagined. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/16/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-andrew-deyoung) - **Screen Daily**, Nikki Baughan (64/100, inferred): The review presents the film as a cringe comedy about a bromance gone sour, but its overall critical verdict is unavailable in the accessible excerpt. It singles out Robinson’s first major feature role as notable. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/friendship-review-tim-robinson-and-paul-rudd-go-head-to-head-in-bromance-gone-sour/5207071.article) - **Time Out**, Elizabeth Weitzman (3/5): Weitzman presents the film as a funny, awkward comedy built around bad choices. She singles out Paul Rudd as a joy to watch. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/friendship-review-2025) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (35/100, inferred): Gleiberman finds the film’s cringe comedy increasingly incoherent and less funny when stretched to feature length. He praises Paul Rudd’s appealing performance, but says Tim Robinson’s character eventually shuts viewers out. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/friendship-review-paul-rudd-tim-robinson-1236373946/) - **HeyUGuys** (97/100, inferred): The critic calls the film an unforgettable, potentially cult-classic comedy and says it may be the best comedy of the past decade. They single out its originality, Robinson’s comic performance, and an especially funny scene they avoid spoiling. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/friendship-review/) - **The Wrap** (95/100, inferred): The review calls Friendship the funniest film of the year and praises its distinctive, escalating comedy. It singles out Tim Robinson’s performance and the film’s carefully crafted jokes, with Paul Rudd and Kate Mara also playing effectively against the strangeness. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-comedy/) - **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (90/100, inferred): The critic calls Friendship a hilarious comedy poised to become a cult favorite. They especially praise Tim Robinson’s comic delivery and Andrew DeYoung’s writing, while also highlighting the supporting cast. [Read](https://collider.com/friendship-movie-review/) - **/Film**, Michael Boyle (9/10): Boyle finds the film a delightful, vulnerable, and agonizing comedy that should especially appeal to fans of Tim Robinson. He praises Kate Mara’s sincere, grounded performance for helping the film maintain its tone amid the chaos. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1809252/friendship-movie-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd/) - **Paste**, Garrett Martin (9.0/10): Martin praises the film as an absolutely hilarious, insightful showcase for Tim Robinson, while arguing Craig’s loneliness comes from his own social failures rather than a broader male epidemic. He singles out Paul Rudd’s increasingly insecure foil as a source of added depth and comic contrast. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/friendship/tim-robinsons-friendship-argues-that-some-men-deserve-to-be-lonely) - **The Playlist** (90/100, inferred): The headline presents the film as a riotously funny, absurdist cringe comedy. It singles out Tim Robinson’s performance, but the article text was inaccessible, so the full review verdict could not be verified. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/friendship-review-tim-robinson-is-riotously-hilarious-in-a24s-absurdist-nightmare-fueled-cringe-comedy-20250512/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4/5): The critic calls the film a delightful, cruel, and nihilistic cringe comedy. He praises its slow-boil tension and the way Tim Robinson’s character’s self-defeating behavior drives the laughs. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/friendship-review-paul-rudd/) - **Deadline**, Glenn Garner (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the dark bromance funny, subversive, and enjoyably cringe-inducing. They single out Paul Rudd’s charming contrast with Tim Robinson and Robinson’s physical comedy for praise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2025/03/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd-sxsw-1236306108/) - **Consequence**, Clint Worthington (70/100, inferred): Worthington finds the dark comedy nastily effective, though its joke and character dynamics lose impact over time. He particularly praises Tim Robinson’s consistent, committed portrayal of Craig’s escalating social inadequacies. [Read](https://consequence.net/2025/05/friendship-review-tim-robinson-paul-rudd/) ## Details - **Director:** Andrew DeYoung - **Director:** Andrew DeYoung - **Writer:** Andrew DeYoung - **Cinematography:** Andy Rydzewski - **Editor:** Sophie Corra - **Music:** Keegan DeWitt - **Production design:** Rocio Gimenez - **Costume design:** Chloe Karmin - **Producer:** J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, Johnny Holland - **Cast:** Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman; Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael; Kate Mara as Tami Waterman; Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman; Rick Worthy as Mr. Mendoza; Whitmer Thomas as Ian; Daniel London as Stan; Eric Rahill as Mike - **Runtime:** 1h 40m - **First release (Canada):** 8 September 2024 - **Genres:** Comedy, Drama - **Budget:** $2 million - **Box office:** $17 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmSPwZIZu6Y ## Where to watch in Serbia - SkyShowtime: streaming, uhd *Checked 2026-09-30.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Cable Guy* (1996): Jim Carrey as the friend who will not go away; darker than its reputation. - *The King of Comedy* (1982), Fi1m 88: Scorsese’s study of a man who mistakes proximity for friendship; the original discomfort. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-king-of-comedy.md) - *Toni Erdmann* (2016), Fi1m 86: A German father embarrasses his daughter for nearly three hours; funnier and sadder than that sounds. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/toni-erdmann.md) - *Sightseers* (2012), Fi1m 78: Ben Wheatley’s caravan holiday, where social awkwardness turns into something much worse. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/sightseers.md) - *I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson* (2019): Robinson’s sketches, where the same man detonates in fifteen minutes rather than a hundred. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/friendship