The Friend

The Friend is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and BINGE, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 121 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Naomi Watts's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason The Friend keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Friend from the crowd. New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. The huge dog immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2025. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Friend holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

The Friend is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Naomi Watts anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.