Questions

What is the plot?

The movie Friendship (2025) opens with Craig Waterman, a suburban dad and public relations worker, whose life is clearly on a downward spiral. He is married to Tami, and his existence feels corporatized and dull. One day, Craig meets Austin, a charismatic and self-assured man who introduces Craig to a new world filled with friendship, connection, and emotional availability. Austin, played with charm by Paul Rudd, becomes the catalyst for Craig’s desire to change his life and form a meaningful male friendship.

Early scenes show Craig and Austin quickly bonding. Craig takes Tami to see Austin perform with his band, and Austin convinces Craig to skip work to hang out. They go mushroom picking in the forest, where Austin spots a yellow car he dreams of owning. Craig begins to have vivid daydreams where he imagines himself as a heroic figure in Austin’s life and even in apocalyptic scenarios, signaling his deep yearning for significance and connection. Meanwhile, Craig also starts paying more attention to his wife Tami and their son Stevie, hinting at his desire to improve his personal life.

Austin invites Craig to hang out with his close-knit group of male friends at his house. The group initially bonds over a sing-along to “My Boo,” creating a warm, brotherly atmosphere. However, the mood shifts when they move to Austin’s basement for a friendly boxing session. Craig takes a couple of punches but then unexpectedly lands two sucker punches on Austin. The other guys become visibly uncomfortable with Craig’s behavior. Craig tries to laugh it off and even chews on a bar of soap as a form of self-punishment, but the damage is done. The group quickly turns against Craig, and the night ends awkwardly with the friends distancing themselves from him.

As the story progresses, Craig’s mental state deteriorates. He struggles to adapt to the emotional maturity and stability Austin embodies, especially as Austin finds a way to balance his promotion at work and his friendships. Craig, on the other hand, regresses into immaturity, seeking comfort in old habits rather than facing his evolving reality. He even vocalizes a bleak view that men shouldn’t have friends at all. This decline culminates in a series of deeply sad and shocking events that mark Craig’s disintegration and isolation.

The film’s final act is intense and unsettling, showing Craig’s emotional unraveling and the consequences of his inability to form healthy male bonds. Austin, who initially welcomed Craig warmly, sets firm boundaries after Craig crosses multiple lines, leading to a painful fallout. The movie immerses viewers in Craig’s troubled mind through subjective filmmaking and tightly edited fantasy sequences, making his desperation and loneliness palpable.

Throughout the film, Austin’s character arc moves toward emotional maturity and balance, while Craig’s arc tragically descends into immaturity and isolation. The narrative is punctuated by moments of cringe-worthy humor and discomfort, making the viewer both empathize with and feel uneasy about Craig’s actions. The story ends on a somber note, highlighting the difficulties many men face in forming and maintaining friendships.

In summary, Friendship (2025) is a darkly comedic and visceral portrayal of male bonding, focusing on Craig’s desperate and ultimately destructive attempt to connect with Austin and his friends, set against Austin’s more grounded and mature approach to life and relationships.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The movie Friendship (2025) ends with an explosive and intense confrontation between Craig and Austin that marks the culmination of Craig’s spiraling obsession and social unraveling. After pushing boundaries too far and facing rejection, Craig’s desperate need for connection leads to a dramatic and unsettling finale that leaves their friendship—and Craig’s life—in turmoil.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

The final act begins with Craig, a socially awkward marketing executive, increasingly desperate to maintain his bond with Austin, the charismatic weatherman neighbor. Their friendship, which started with casual hangouts and mutual support, has become unbalanced as Craig’s infatuation grows beyond friendship. Austin, sensing Craig’s intensity and the discomfort it causes among his own circle, begins to set firm boundaries.

Craig is invited to join Austin and his group of male friends for a hangout, but the event quickly turns sour. The other men belittle Craig for his social missteps and awkwardness, exacerbating his feelings of rejection and isolation. Craig takes these slights as personal betrayals, deepening his emotional instability.

Following this, Craig’s behavior becomes more erratic. He attempts to connect with others but fails miserably, highlighting his loneliness and lack of social skills. His family, including his wife Tami and teenage son, are distant, further isolating him.

The tension escalates when Craig confronts Austin directly, unable to accept the boundaries Austin has set. This confrontation is charged with raw emotion, revealing Craig’s vulnerability and desperation. The scene is intense and uncomfortable, reflecting the film’s dark comedic tone.

An unexpected traumatic event in the second act, which earlier brought Craig and Austin closer, contrasts with this final breakdown, showing how fragile their connection was from the start.

The movie closes on this explosive note, with Craig’s world unraveling as he faces the consequences of his obsession and social failures. The ending leaves viewers with a vivid portrayal of loneliness, the human need for connection, and the dangers of blurred boundaries in friendships.

Throughout the ending, key moments include:

  • The failed hangout with Austin’s friends, where Craig is mocked and excluded.
  • Craig’s futile attempts to find companionship elsewhere, underscoring his isolation.
  • The emotionally charged confrontation between Craig and Austin.
  • The culmination of Craig’s downward spiral, marked by his inability to move on or accept rejection.

This detailed narrative captures the film’s final scenes as a progression from hopeful friendship to tragic disintegration, emphasizing the characters’ emotional journeys without summarizing or analyzing beyond the events themselves.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The movie Friendship (2025) does not have a post-credits scene. After the six-minute-long end credits, there are no additional scenes or extras; the film concludes fully within its main runtime.

The ending itself offers a small but meaningful gesture of affirmation between the main characters, Craig and Austin, but no further scenes follow after the credits to extend the story or provide additional content.

What are the key dynamics between Craig and Austin in the story of Friendship (2025)?

Craig and Austin develop a quick friendship that becomes a turning point in Craig's life. Austin is charismatic and invites Craig into his friend group, but Craig's behavior, including a violent incident during a friendly boxing match, causes tension and alienation from Austin's other friends. Craig's intense need for connection and validation leads to increasingly uncomfortable and dark situations between them.

How does Craig's relationship with his wife Tami evolve throughout the film?

Tami, Craig's wife and a cancer survivor, initially appears distant and disconnected from Craig, hinting at reconnecting with an ex-boyfriend. Craig's self-absorption causes strain, especially when he forces Tami to relive his sewer exploration experience, resulting in her getting lost for days. Eventually, Tami leaves Craig after finding sexual satisfaction on her own, though the film implies a possible later reconciliation before Craig's final breakdown.

What role does Craig's son Steven play in the story?

Steven, Craig and Tami's son, has a smaller role but serves as a calm and confident contrast to his father Craig's increasingly unstable and self-absorbed behavior.

How does the film portray Craig's mental and emotional state?

The film immerses viewers in Craig's miserable existence, using subjective filmmaking to depict his fantasies of being a heroic figure in Austin's life. Craig's intense desire to feel valued and essential leads to an inability to accept rejection or boundaries, culminating in his emotional detonation and social alienation.

What is the significance of the social interactions between Craig and Austin's friend group?

Craig's attempts to integrate with Austin's friend group initially go well but deteriorate after a boxing match where Craig's aggressive behavior makes the group uncomfortable. The friends quickly grow to dislike Craig, which exacerbates his feelings of rejection and isolation, contributing to the film's dark and unsettling tone.

Is this family friendly?

The movie Friendship (2025) is not family friendly and is rated R due to language and some drug content. It is a dark comedy with uncomfortable, cringeworthy situations and adult themes that make it unsuitable for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting content includes:

  • Strong language throughout the film.
  • Drug use depicted in some scenes.
  • Social awkwardness and self-centered behavior that leads to tense, uncomfortable interactions.
  • Cringe-inducing, awkward social situations that may be disturbing or unsettling, especially for sensitive viewers.
  • Mild violence in the form of a friendly boxing match that escalates to a sucker punch, creating a tense atmosphere.
  • Themes involving illness and marital intimacy issues, including references to cancer remission and sexual dissatisfaction, which may be sensitive topics for some viewers.

The film’s tone is a mix of unsettling, awkward comedy and drama, focusing on adult relationships and emotional vulnerability, making it inappropriate for children or those seeking lighthearted family entertainment.

Who dies?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

In the 2025 film Friendship, no characters die. The plot and reviews focus on the complex and unsettling dynamics between Craig Waterman, a suburban dad, and his charismatic new neighbor Austin Carmichael, but there is no mention of any character deaths or fatal incidents throughout the story. The narrative centers on emotional tension, boundaries, and social awkwardness rather than physical harm or mortality.