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Friendship (film)

Friendship is a 2024 American black comedy film written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature directorial debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Friendship is a 2024 American black comedy film written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature directorial debut. It stars Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, and Jack Dylan Grazer, and follows a socially awkward suburban man whose fixation on a new neighbor disrupts both of their lives.

Premise

The story follows Craig Waterman, a socially awkward suburban father whose life changes after he forms a bond with his charismatic new neighbour, Austin Carmichael. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained as Craig's fixation grows.

Cast

The principal cast includes Tim Robinson as Craig, Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael, Kate Mara as Tami Waterman, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman. Review coverage and listings also identify Rick Worthy among the supporting cast.

Production and release

Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed the film, which was produced in the United States and distributed by A24. It premiered at TIFF in September 2024 and later opened in U.S. theatres in May 2025.

Themes

Reviews describe Friendship as a dark comedy about male loneliness, social awkwardness, and the difficulties of adult friendship. Critics have compared its tone to cringe comedy and to a reverse take on buddy-comedy conventions.

Key facts

  • Friendship is Andrew DeYoung's feature directorial debut.
  • The film centers on Craig, a suburban man whose attempt to make a male friend spirals into conflict.
  • Tim Robinson plays Craig, and Paul Rudd plays his neighbour Austin Carmichael.
  • The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2024 and was released in U.S. theatres in May 2025.
  • The film is marketed by A24 and was released by the company in the United States.
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Canadian context

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, making its Canadian connection especially relevant for Canadian audiences and film-festival coverage.[1]

Frequently asked questions

What is Friendship about?
It follows Craig, a socially awkward suburban man, whose growing fixation on his new neighbour Austin turns a friendship into a disruptive conflict.
Who directed Friendship?
Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed the film; it is described as his feature directorial debut.
Who stars in Friendship?
The film stars Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, and Jack Dylan Grazer.
When was Friendship released?
It premiered at TIFF on 8 September 2024 and was released in U.S. theatres in May 2025.
What genre is Friendship?
It is generally described as a black comedy, with some reviews also characterising it as a cringe comedy or dark comedy.
Which company distributed Friendship?
A24 distributed the film in the United States.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_(2024_film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, cast, plot, and release dates
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/friendship_2024
    Supports: Synopsis, director, distributor, runtime, genre, and release information
  3. A24https://www.a24films.com/films/friendship
    Supports: Official synopsis and distributor context
  4. RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/friendship-tim-robinson-a24-film-review-2025
    Supports: Plot details, cast, and thematic description
  5. The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/12/friendship-movie-review-tim-robinson-sxsw
    Supports: Festival screening, release timing, and directorial debut context
  6. Slatehttps://slate.com/culture/2025/05/friendship-movie-a24-paul-rudd-tim-robinson-review.html
    Supports: Character names, plot outline, and thematic description