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Trailer

The Farewell

2019Movie1 h 40 minPG

ComedyDrama
86
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Letterboxd4.1/5Metacritic898.2Rotten Tomatoes97%86%

A moving, wholesome comedy movie about everyday modern life and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for scares, brutality or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Based on an actual lie.

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.

Feels like

  • Family Drama
  • Cultural Clash
  • Melancholy
  • Deception
  • Heartwarming
  • Chinese-American Experience
  • Grief and Loss
  • Intergenerational Relationships
  • Bittersweet

Cast

13 of 13

Crew

Directed by
Lulu Wang
Written by
Lulu Wang
Produced by
Chris Weitz, Lulu Wang, Daniele Tate Melia
Music by
Alex Weston

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 12, 2019 · 1 h 40 min · PG

Released
July 12, 2019
Runtime
1 h 40 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Chinese, Japanese
Made in
China, United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$23 million
Available in
42 countries

Tropes

Bittersweet Ending, Big, Screwed-Up Family, Locked Out of the Loop +9

  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Big, Screwed-Up Family
  • Locked Out of the Loop
  • Prone to Tears
  • Stepford Smiler
  • Funny Background Event
  • Skewed Priorities
  • Large Ham
  • Due to the Dead
  • Let Them Die Happy
  • Action Girl
  • The Alcoholic

12 of 44 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Farewell?"

Questions about The Farewell

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Farewell?

Cinemax

In the United States, The Farewell streams on Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 23 other countries.

Is The Farewell worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 7.5, Letterboxd 4.1 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 89). Critics rate it higher (93 out of 100) than audiences (81).

Is The Farewell okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will The Farewell make me laugh?

A touch

Not much for a comedy: the title analysis gives its humor 1 of 4.

Is The Farewell plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Farewell a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$23 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $3 million to make and earned $23 million worldwide, 7.7 times its budget.

What tropes does The Farewell use?

Bittersweet EndingBig, Screwed-Up FamilyLocked Out of the LoopProne to TearsStepford SmilerFunny Background EventSkewed PrioritiesLarge HamDue to the DeadLet Them Die HappyAction GirlThe Alcoholicand 32 more

TV Tropes lists 44 tropes for it, including Bittersweet Ending, Big, Screwed-Up Family, and Locked Out of the Loop.