What is the plot?

The film Friendship (2025) opens in the fictional city of Clovis, Colorado, where Craig Waterman, a socially awkward marketing executive, and his wife Tami are preparing to sell their family home. Tami, recently declared cancer-free, struggles with the emotional distance in their marriage and has rekindled a relationship with her ex-boyfriend Devon, which unsettles Craig. Their teenage son Stevie lives somewhat separately, working for Tami's flower shop and maintaining a more relaxed demeanor compared to his father's anxious disposition.

Craig's life takes a turn when their new neighbor, Austin Carmichael, a charismatic local meteorologist, introduces himself by dropping off a gift to Tami. Despite initial reluctance, Craig accepts Austin's invitation to hang out, and the two quickly bond over shared frustrations with work, music, and a mutual sense of restlessness. Craig shares his personal philosophy of "just ask," encouraging Austin to pursue his dream of becoming the town's daytime weatherman. Austin, inspired, soon lands the coveted job. Their friendship deepens as they explore the city's hidden underground tunnels beneath City Hall, smoke marijuana on the rooftop, and go mushroom hunting in a nearby bog. Austin points out a yellow sports car he hopes to own someday, promising Craig a ride if he ever buys it.

As Craig becomes more infatuated with Austin, he also improves his attentiveness toward Tami and Stevie, attending Austin's punk rock show with his wife and feeling energized by the new connection. However, cracks appear when Austin invites Craig to a gathering with his close-knit group of friends. During a friendly boxing match, Craig, desperate to fit in, lands a sucker punch on Austin, which alienates the group. The friends recoil, and Craig bizarrely punishes himself by chewing on a bar of soap. Austin distances himself, and Craig's attempts to reconnect become increasingly desperate and intrusive.

Craig's obsession escalates when he breaks into Austin's home while Austin's wife Bianca naps, inadvertently stealing a gold-plated handgun from Austin's office. In a manic attempt to recreate the intimacy he felt with Austin, Craig takes Tami on a spontaneous adventure through the labyrinthine sewer tunnels beneath City Hall. During this excursion, Tami becomes disoriented and disappears for a day, prompting a tense search involving the police. Craig and Austin are arrested for trespassing in the sewers, during which Austin reveals he wears a toupee, begging Craig to keep it secret.

Craig's downward spiral continues as he loses a client pitch at work after a public meltdown, resulting in his termination. Tami is eventually found, shaken but alive. At her welcome-home party, Craig faces scorn from Tami's friends and family and is overshadowed by Devon. Tami soon moves into Devon's pool house, signaling a further distancing from Craig.

Attempting to rebuild his life, Craig takes a job as a parking officer, reconnects with Stevie, and buys Tami a van to support her flower business. The family appears to be healing until Craig spots Austin hosting another guys' night with the coveted yellow sports car parked outside. Overcome with jealousy, Craig crashes the gathering and tries to force his way back into the group. The situation escalates when Craig brandishes the stolen gun, leading to a struggle during which Austin's toupee falls off. To protect Austin's secret, Craig orders everyone to stay on the ground while Austin replaces his hairpiece.

The police arrive, and Craig knocks himself unconscious while attempting to flee. In the back of the patrol car, Craig imagines an alternate reality where the night's events went smoothly and he remains part of the friend group. Austin winks at him, and Craig smiles, ending the film on an ambiguous note.

Throughout the film, Tami's character arc reveals her growing independence and dissatisfaction with Craig. After surviving the sewer ordeal, she admits to having found sexual satisfaction on her own and bluntly tells Craig she is leaving him. Although she initially moves in with Devon, the film implies this renewed romance does not last, and she ultimately moves beyond the toxic dynamics of her marriage.

Craig's relationship with Austin serves as the film's central tension, exploring themes of loneliness, obsession, and the difficulty of forming adult friendships. Austin's initial warmth and subsequent rejection trigger Craig's unraveling, culminating in his public breakdown and arrest. The film's tone balances dark comedy with moments of bleak absurdity, using subjective filmmaking to immerse viewers in Craig's troubled mind.

No character deaths occur in the narrative. The story focuses on emotional and psychological conflicts rather than physical violence. The major confrontations include the boxing match that fractures Craig and Austin's friendship, the sewer disappearance of Tami, and the climactic gun incident at Austin's house.

The film closes with Craig's arrest but leaves his future uncertain, suggesting a tentative possibility of reconciliation or continued struggle. Tami's fate is left open-ended but leans toward her personal growth and separation from Craig's toxic behavior. Austin maintains his career and social circle, while Craig remains isolated, caught between his desires for connection and his self-destructive impulses.

What is the ending?

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.

Who dies?

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.

Is there a post-credit scene?

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.