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Exclusive: Paramount label Republic Pictures has acquired international rights to Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd comedy Friendship, which A24 is releasing domestically this weekend.

The TIFF and SXSW film, which marks the debut of writer-director Andrew DeYoung, follows suburban dad Craig who falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, but his attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives.

Supporting cast includes Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey, Jon Glaser, Eric Rahill, Conner O’Malley, Carmen Christopher, Craig Frank, Omar Torres, Jacob Ming-Trent, Daniel London, Whitmer Thomas and Raphael Sbarge.

Nick Weidenfeld, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, and John Holland are producers. Executive producers are Paul Rudd, Tracy Rosenblum, Alexis Garcia and DeYoung and Fifth Season’s Graham Taylor, Chris Rice, Christopher Slager and Dan Guando.

The deal was negotiated by Chris Slager for Fifth Season and Sejin Croninger negotiated for Republic.

JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray had the chance to watch the comedy Friendship at the Toronto International Film Festival last year – and he loved it, giving it an 8/10 review that you can read at This Link. A24 picked up the distribution rights to the film back in September, and they’re planning to give it a theatrical release on May 9th (after screening it at SXSW in March). To start building the hype, A24 has just released a trailer for Friendship, and you can check it out in the embed above.

Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, the film stars Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) in the story of a suburban dad (Robinson) who becomes hellbent on being BFFs with his charismatic new neighbor (Rudd). Bumbray wrote that the film is, in addition to being very funny, “surprisingly nuanced about how...

A24 has released the first trailer for “Friendship,” a comedy starring Tim Robinson (“I Think You Should Leave”) and Paul Rudd. The film is slated for a theatrical release this May, following a March 9 SXSW premiere.

In “Friendship,” suburban dad Craig (Robinson) falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor (Rudd), as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra and Billy Bryk also star. Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed “Friendship” in his feature debut.

The comedy first premiered on Sept. 8, 2024 at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of its Midnight Madness section. A24 acquired the film a week later, following strong reviews out of the fest.

“Friendship” marks Robinson’s first starring role in a movie. He is best known for his Netflix sketch comedy series “I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson,...

A24 has picked up its third festival film in less than three weeks, paying what is understood to be low seven figures for US rights to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Midnight Madness selection Friendship starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd.

The comedy from Fifth Season and BoulderLight Pictures received its world premiere in Toronto on September 8 where it was a runner-up in the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award.

Friendship centres on Craig (Waterman), a suburban father whose life takes an unexpected turn when he befriends enigmatic new neighbour, Austin (Rudd).

The cast includes Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer,...

After A24 picked up The Brutalist from an amazing reception at the Toronto International Film Festival, the indie studio has also made a play for the Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd comedy Friendship. According to Deadline, sources have said the deal that A24 shelled out reached seven figures. The film also stars Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey, Jon Glaser, Eric Rahill, Conner O’Malley, Carmen Christopher, Craig Frank, Omar Torres, Jacob Ming-Trent, Daniel London, Whitmer Thomas and Raphael Sbarge.

The plot for the new comedy reads, “A suburban dad (Tim Robinson) becomes hellbent on being BFFs with his charismatic new neighbor (Paul Rudd).” Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed the film. The movie’s producers include Nick Weidenfeld, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, and John Holland. Paul Rudd, Tracy Rosenblum, Andrew DeYoung, and Alexis Garcia are on board as executive producers.

Our Eic, Chris Bumbray, got to...

A24 has found “Friendship.”

The indie powerhouse has acquired U.S. distribution for “Friendship,” the Andrew DeYoung film that stars Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, out of the Toronto International Film Festival. The deal is said to be in the low 7-figure range, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.

Robinson plays Craig Waterman, a suburban dad whose life takes an unexpected turn when he befriends his enigmatic new neighbor, Austin Carmichael, played by Rudd. Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey and Jon Glaser also star.

DeYoung also wrote the screenplay for the movie, which was one of the breakout titles at TIFF this year, with the film receiving raves for how hilarious and uncomfortable the movie made audiences. The movie played as part of the Midnight Madness program at the festival.

“Friendship” was produced by Nick Weidenfeld, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz and John Holland. Rudd,...

A24 has landed rights to “Friendship,” a comedy starring Tim Robinson of “I Think You Should Leave” fame and Paul Rudd. The movie had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival as part of the Midnight Madness program.

Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed “Friendship” in his feature debut. Channeling the cringe comedy of “I Think You Should Leave,” Robinson plays a suburban dad who obsessively pursues a bond with his charming neighbor (Rudd). Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra and Billy Bryk also appear in the film.

“Friendship” is Robinson’s first starring role in a movie. Rudd is known for comedies like “Anchorman,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Clueless” and “I Love You, Man.” DeYoung has directed episodes of “The Other Two,” “Pen15,” “High Fidelity” and “Our Flag Means Death.”

Daily Beast critic Nick Schager called “Friendship” the “funniest film of the year,” adding that “what truly elevates Robinson...

As a first time filmmaker, it takes a lot of courage to not follow the trends. The early ‘80s were flooded with slashers, and for good reason; they were, for the most part, instant ATMs to the studios. Thank God then (or Satan, your florist, a masseuse, whatever floats your boat) for Frank Laloggia, a New Yorker in his mid-20s who decided to go epic out of the gate with Fear No Evil (1981), a parable on Good Versus Evil, capital letters, with a strong Catholic bent filtered through Carrie’s prom dress.

Filmed in 1979 with initial funding coming from Laloggia and the rest from Avco Embassy (who ended up releasing it), this January release found little love from critics (except for Variety) but did pick up the Saturn Award for Best Low Budget Film – and well earned, indeed. Fear No Evil boasts high production values, (more or less) solid performances,...

Rex Harrison hat on TCM: ‘My Fair Lady,’ ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ Rex Harrison is Turner Classic Movies’ final "Summer Under the Stars" star today, August 31, 2013. TCM is currently showing George Cukor’s lavish My Fair Lady (1964), an Academy Award-winning musical that has (in my humble opinion) unfairly lost quite a bit of its prestige in the last several decades. Rex Harrison, invariably a major ham whether playing Saladin, the King of Siam, Julius Caesar, the ghost of a dead sea captain, or Richard Burton’s lover, is for once flawlessly cast as Professor Henry Higgins, who on stage transformed Julie Andrews from cockney duckling to diction-master swan and who in the movie version does the same for Audrey Hepburn. Harrison, by the way, was the year’s Best Actor Oscar winner. (See also: "Audrey Hepburn vs. Julie Andrews: Biggest Oscar Snubs.") Following My Fair Lady, Rex Harrison...

"My Fair Lady" is coming to DVD via Paramount Home Entertainment on October 6th. Now, see some wonderful clips including "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and Eliza singing "The Rain in Spain." The George Cukor-directed film is a multiple Academy Award winner and stars Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Gladys Cooper, Jeremy Brett, Theodore Bikel, Mona Washbourne, Isobel Elsom and John Holland. Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) bets he can refine cockney Eliza Doolittle...an absolute classic.

I met John McHugh in the autumn of 1966, when I was a cub reporter on the Sun-Times and he was a rewrite man, two years my senior, on the Chicago Daily News. We are still best friends. He worked the overnight shift, and among his duties was taking calls from readers. After midnight, they wanted to settle bets. "And what do you say?" McHugh would ask. He would listen, and then reply, "You're 100% correct. Put the other guy on." Pause. "And what do you say?" Pause. "You're 100% correct." If he was asked for his name, he said, "John T. Greatest, spelled with three Ts."

One night in autumn 1969 we found ourselves in the Old Town Gate, three blocks from our customary posts at O'Rourke's Pub. "I had my first job in Chicago here," he reminisced. "I invented the Roquefort Burger. Somebody ordered a cheeseburger and I, being a dumb Mick,...