The Friend

Iris is a New York City writer and teacher who leads a quiet, solitary existence. Her life changes when she inherits Apollo, a large Great Dane, from her late friend and mentor. The dog's presence creates immediate chaos in her small apartment, leading to destroyed furniture and the threat of eviction. Despite these practical struggles, Iris develops a deep bond with the animal. Together, they navigate their shared grief, helping Iris confront her past and her creative life.

The film was directed by David Siegel and Scott McGehee, who also wrote the screenplay and served as producers. This project follows their previous collaborations on Bee Season, What Maisie Knew, and Montana Story. The cast features Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Ann Dowd, Constance Wu, Sarah Pidgeon, and Carla Gugino.

Released in 2025, the movie earned 4 million USD at the worldwide box office. It holds a rating of 6.4/10 on IMDb based on 7,838 votes and 6.7/10 on TMDB from 125 votes. These audience scores are slightly lower than the rating from film critics, which stands at 6.9/10 from 147 reviews.