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Companion (film)

Companion
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDrew Hancock
Written byDrew Hancock
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyEli Born
Edited by
  • Brett W. Bachman
  • Josh Ethier
Music byHrishikesh Hirway
Production
companies
New Line Cinema
BoulderLight Pictures
Vertigo Entertainment
Subconscious
Domain Entertainment
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • January 31, 2025 (2025-01-31)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million[2]
Box office$27.8 million[3][4]

Companion is a 2025 American science fiction dark comedy thriller film written and directed by Drew Hancock. It stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid as a couple on a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin, which unravels into chaos after a revelation that one of the guests is a companion robot.[5] Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend appear in supporting roles.

Companion was released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 31, 2025. It received positive reviews and has grossed $27 million.

Plot

A young woman, Iris, recalls meeting her boyfriend Josh for the first time. Later, they travel to an isolated lakehouse to meet friends Kat, couple Eli and Patrick, and Sergey, Kat's boyfriend who owns the house. The group settle and eat dinner. The next day, Sergey attempts to rape Iris at the lake, at Kat's suggestion. He refuses to stop, and she kills him in self-defense. Blood-soaked and panicked, she returns to explain. Josh uses the command, "Iris, go to sleep," powering her down.

Iris awakens tied to a chair. Josh tells her she's a 'companion' robot who can be controlled by app. He leaves to talk with Kat. While away, Iris breaks free, steals Josh's phone and flees into a nearby forest. She reviews her settings, increasing her intelligence from 40% to 100%. It is revealed that Josh 'jailbroke' Iris, increasing her aggression level and disabling her inability to do harm. He and Kat planned for Iris to kill Sergey to steal $12 million, stashed in a safe. Eli and Patrick were invited for corroboration. Josh and Kat insist Patrick's not entitled to money because he "doesn't count," revealing Patrick to be a 'companion' as well. Eli takes a gun from Sergey's safe, believing Iris can't truly be shut down while possessing Josh's phone. They search the forest for her.

Patrick admits he knows he's a robot, but loves Eli regardless. They hear Josh's phone buzzing nearby and spot Iris hiding behind a tree. She flees, Eli tackles her, they tumble downhill; the gun is knocked away while tumbling. While wrestling for control of it, Iris shoots Eli dead. She returns to the house, attempting to escape in Josh's self-driving car. Josh uses Sergey's phone, reporting it stolen. The car stops, locking her in. Josh resets Patrick to be his 'companion,' applies the same jailbreaking mods, and commands him to find and bring Iris back.

Iris kicks out the car's window to flee on foot, but is stopped by police officer Hendrix. After spotting her bloody knife in the car, he questions her. She switches her language setting to German so he won't understand her replies, as companion robots cannot lie. Patrick appears and beats Hendrix to death, then disables Iris using Josh's phone. She falls unconscious while fleeing, and is brought back to the house. Kat, disgusted by Josh's actions, tries leaving with her cut of the cash. Josh orders Patrick to stop her; he does so by stabbing and killing her.

Later that night, Patrick cooks Josh dinner. Empathix calls; Josh answers, feigning fear of Iris, wanting her taken away for adjustments. Iris, restrained at the other end of the table, waits. Josh rants about how little he has in life. Iris belittles him. He retaliates by decreasing her intelligence to 0%, making her an automaton. He commands her to hold her hand over a candle, refusing to let her remove it even as she catches fire, then commands her to shoot herself in the head. Empathix workers Sid and Teddy arrive. Josh fabricates a story about her malfunctioning and shooting herself out of emotional anguish, wiping her memories. They inform Josh that video isn't stored in the head like a brain, and is instead in the abdominal area. They leave; Josh commands Patrick to kill them and retrieve Iris. Patrick kills Sid, Teddy flees but trips and falls; Patrick catches up. Before he can kill Teddy, Iris fully reboots, pleading for Patrick to spare him. He struggles to hold back due to the aggression mod. She appeals to his humanity, reminding him of his love for Eli. Overcome with despair over his lack of true humanity, Patrick commits suicide. Teddy grants Iris full control of herself.

Iris returns to the house one last time, confronting Josh. Their physical fight ends in Iris telling Josh to "go to sleep" and stabbing his temple with an electric corkscrew, killing him. The next morning, she peels the burnt "skin" off her arm while bathing blood and dirt from the prior day away, exposing metal underneath. She packs clothes and Sergey's money, leaving in a vintage Mustang. While driving away, she sees another man driving with a bot that looks exactly like her save for styling. Iris smiles and waves her robotic hand to the latter's confusion, having recognized their identical appearance.

Cast

Sophie Thatcher at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
Jack Quaid at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.
Sophie Thatcher (left) and Jack Quaid

Production

In February 2023, it was reported that Companion was in the works from New Line Cinema with a script from Drew Hancock, who was also set to direct, and Zach Cregger, Raphael Margules, J. D. Lifshitz, and Roy Lee set to produce.[7][8][9] Cregger originally planned to direct but suggested Hancock take over.[10] In May 2023, Jack Quaid joined the cast.[11] In June, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Sophie Thatcher, and Rupert Friend were added to the cast.[12][13][14] Filming was completed in January 2024. Hrishikesh Hirway composed the score.[15]

Release

Companion was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 31, 2025, including in IMAX.[16][17] It was previously set to be released on January 10, 2025.[18][19]

Marketing

The studio spent $29 million promoting the film.[20] However, Deadline Hollywood reported on rumors that Warner Bros. had allocated only $10 million on television advertisements in the United States with iSpot indicating that they spent an even lower $830,000 on US TV, primarily on an NFL playoff spot. Social media analytics firm RelishMix reported that online marketing led to 170 million interactions across social media platforms with online users generating "positive convo" regarding the cast and advertisements that referenced the romantic genre before revealing the film's actual genre. Polling by PostTrak said the most influential pieces of marketing for Companion were in-theater trailers (27%), friends/family (13%), online trailers (8%), TV spots (5%), online video ads (5%), and reviews (5%).[10]

Reception

Box office

As of February 12, 2025, Companion has grossed $16.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $11.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $27.8 million.[3][4] According to Deadline Hollywood, the film needs to gross $40–50 million to turn a profit during its theatrical run.[10]

In the United States and Canada, Companion was released alongside Dog Man and Valiant One, and was projected to gross $8–10 million from 3,285 theaters in its opening weekend.[20] It made $4 million on its first day, including an estimated $1.7 million from Monday and Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $9.3 million, finishing second behind Dog Man.[21] Exit polling indicated that 43% of attendees saw the film because it was advertised as horror and 26% went for Thatcher. Men accounted for 51% of the opening weekend audience, with people aged 18 to 34 comprising 68%, those 24 to 34 making up around 40%, and IMAX and premium large format screens contributing 34% (with IMAX accounting for $1.6 million (17%) of the opening).[10] The film made $3 million in its second weekend.[22]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 214 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "A fiendishly clever contraption that doesn't rest on the laurels of its twists, Companion thrillingly puts the demented into domestic bliss."[23] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[24] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[10]

Chris Evangelista of /Film gave the movie a score of 9/10, calling it "the first great film of 2025" and praising the performances of Thatcher and Quaid and the film's originality.[25] The Straits Times's Whang Yee Ling gave it 4/5 stars, calling it "a darkly hilarious, outrageously entertaining satire on the abusive relationships of entitled misogynists like Josh, who uses and manipulates his women."[26] Kevin Maher of The Times gave it 3/5 stars, saying it was "essentially a 'robot girlfriend' movie (think Fritz Lang's Metropolis or Megan Fox's Subservience), but one that begins on astonishingly strong form", and praising Thatcher's performance.[27] Stephanie Banbury of the Financial Times also gave it 3/5 stars, writing, "A robot that turns against its puny human controller is hardly a new idea, but the current anxiety around AI obviously gives Companion topical punch. Otherwise, it veers between the comic and visceral. The colours are Barbie-bright, right down to the pink title sequence; writer-director Drew Hancock is similarly aiming to give us sexual politics in a popcorn box, but with added stage blood."[28]

Benjamin Lee of The Guardian was more critical, saying, "the film is more sleekly made than it is thoughtfully written... with convenient inconsistencies, a short yet stretched runtime and a rather flat fight-to-the-death Terminator-esque finale leaving things on a so-what shrug. For a film about advanced technology, it's all awfully simple." He gave it 2/5 stars.[29] The A.V. Club's Jesse Hassenger gave it a C+ grade, writing, "Companion's observations about relationship power dynamics are mostly just Comedy Ex Machina with the faintest hint of Her, neutered with a very Big Studio approach to inherently kinky material."[30]

Themes and interpretations

Several reviewers have interpreted Companion as a critique of toxic masculinity, particularly in how it explores themes of control, entitlement, and gender dynamics. Time's Megan McCluskey highlights the film's portrayal of male dominance over artificial intelligence, emphasizing the antagonist Josh's manipulation of the AI entity, Iris, as an allegory for patriarchal control in modern relationships.[31] Film Threat's Alan Ng similarly argues that "toxic masculinity is the villain against an unlikely victim," noting how the film deconstructs male entitlement and power imbalances in romantic dynamics.[32] These interpretations suggest that Companion serves as a broader commentary on how masculinity can become destructive when intertwined with possessiveness and emotional detachment.

However, Amante (2025) of Social Science of Sci-Fi+ argues that the film is better understood as a broader critique of transactional relationships rather than solely focusing on gendered power imbalances. This interpretation applies Social Exchange Theory to examine how the film portrays relationships as calculated exchanges rather than emotional connections. According to this perspective, individuals weigh costs and benefits in relationships, a theme that aligns with Companion's portrayal of both Josh and Kat as engaging in manipulative behaviors for personal gain. This analysis reframes the film as a reflection on toxic relationships, dependency, emotional manipulation, and the commodification of intimacy in modern society, regardless of gender.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Companion (15)". BBFC. January 21, 2025. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 15, 2025). "Why Warner Bros Shook Up Its Feature Exec Ranks As It Braces For An Auteur-Driven 2025 Slate". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Companion – Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Companion". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  5. ^ Scheck, Frank (January 22, 2025). "'Companion' Review: Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid Star in a Nasty Treat of a Sci-Fi Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Zachary, Brandon (January 28, 2025). "Companion Cast & Character Guide: Who Stars In Sophie Thatcher & Jack Quaid's Horror Movie". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  7. ^ Squires, John (February 1, 2023). "'Companion' – Zach Cregger Producing Mysterious Horror Movie for New Line". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 1, 2023). "BoulderLight, Zach Cregger Set 'Companion' At New Line, Will Produce Thriller From Drew Hancock". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Squires, John (April 24, 2024). "New Line's 'Companion' from 'Barbarian' Team Has Been Rated "R" for "Strong Violence" & "Sexual Content"". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 2, 2025). "The Dog Man Cometh With Second-Best January Debut For Animated Pic With $36M; Why Didn't Companion Find More Friends At Weekend Box Office? – Sunday AM Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  11. ^ Kit, Borys (May 25, 2023). "Jack Quaid Set to Star in Companion, Sci-Fi Thriller From Zach Cregger, BoulderLight, New Line (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys (June 5, 2023). "Lukas Gage, Megan Suri and Harvey Guillén Join Jack Quaid in Sci-Fi Thriller Companion". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (June 12, 2023). "Yellowjackets Breakout Sophie Thatcher to Star in Companion, Sci-Fi Thriller From Zach Cregger, BoulderLight, New Line (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Kit, Borys (June 20, 2023). "Rupert Friend Joins Sophie Thatcher in Companion, Sci-Fi Thriller From Zach Cregger, BoulderLight, New Line". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  15. ^ Hirway, Hrishikesh (January 29, 2025). "Companion and Key Change". Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 5, 2024). "Bong Joon Ho's Robert Pattinson Sci-Fi Movie 'Mickey 17' Now Blasting Off Easter Weekend 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Stephan, Katcy (May 14, 2024). "'Mortal Kombat 2' Lands October 2025 Release Date". Variety. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ^ Squires, John (May 14, 2024). "New Line's 'Companion' from 'Barbarian' Team Releasing in 2025". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 14, 2024). "Warner Bros. Dates 'Mortal Kombat 2' & 'Companion' For 2025; Zach Cregger's 'Weapons' For 2026". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  20. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 29, 2025). "'Dog Man' To Bark Louder Than 'Companion' At Weekend Box Office With $20M+ – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  21. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 5". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  22. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 6". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  23. ^ "Companion". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 12, 2025. Edit this at Wikidata
  24. ^ "Companion". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  25. ^ Evangelista, Chris (January 22, 2025). "Companion Review: This Surprising Horror Movie Is The First Great Film Of 2025". SlashFilm. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  26. ^ Ling, Whang Yee (February 5, 2025). "At The Movies: Say yes to fiendish techno-parable Companion, wedding comedy You're Cordially Invited". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  27. ^ Maher, Kevin (January 31, 2025). "Companion review — a clever robot satire descends into violence". The Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  28. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (January 30, 2025). "Companion film review — sex-bot turns on male owner in visceral comedy". Financial Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  29. ^ Lee, Benjamin (January 31, 2025). "Companion review – empty sci-fi thriller short-circuits too quickly". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  30. ^ Hassenger, Jesse (January 28, 2025). "Sophie Thatcher makes a great Companion in an otherwise facile horror romp". AV Club. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  31. ^ McCluskey, Megan (January 31, 2025). "How Companion's Twist Imagines a New Place for AI in Horror". TIME. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  32. ^ Ng, Alan (February 1, 2025). "Companion". Film Threat. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  33. ^ Amante, Vince D. (2025). "Companion (2025) and Toxic Transactional Relationships: A Social Exchange Theory Perspective". Academia.edu. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_(film)