Plot Summary and Key Story Beats
A Simple Favor is a 2018 American black comedy thriller directed by Paul Feig and written by Jessica Sharzer, based on Darcey Bell's 2017 novel of the same name. The film follows Stephanie Smothers, a widowed mommy vlogger, who becomes friends with Emily Nelson, a mysterious marketing PR director. After Emily suddenly disappears, Stephanie investigates and uncovers secrets involving Emily's husband Sean, a secret second husband, and a hidden son, ultimately revealing Emily faked her death to escape debt and a toxic marriage. The movie was produced by Amazon Studios and distributed by Lionsgate in the United States, with a runtime of 117 minutes and a PG-13 rating from the MPA for mature themes, drug use, sexuality, and language.
The narrative structure alternates between Stephanie's first-person vlog perspective and flashbacks, providing clues about Emily's double life. Key plot turns include Stephanie discovering Emily's secret marriage to a man named Darren, a confrontation at a charity gala, and a final twist revealing Emily's survival and her plan to frame Sean for her staged death. The film blends dark humor with thriller elements, drawing comparisons to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, and was shot primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional scenes filmed in Toronto, Canada.
Cast, Characters, and Principal Crew
Anna Kendrick stars as Stephanie Smothers, a widowed single mother who runs a popular vlog channel focused on recipes and crafts for children. Blake Lively portrays Emily Nelson, the charismatic and secretive PR director whose disappearance drives the central mystery. Henry Golding plays Sean Nelson, Emily's wealthy husband, while Andrew Rannells and Linda Cardellini appear as supporting characters Darren and Diana, respectively. The film's director Paul Feig is known for comedies such as Bridesmaids and Spy, and the screenplay was adapted by Jessica Sharzer from Darcey Bell's 2017 novel.
The supporting cast includes Jean Smart as the principal of Stephanie's son's school, and Melissa McCarthy in a cameo as a police detective. Cinematography was handled by John Schwartzman, editing by Brent White, and music by Theodore Shapiro. The film's production companies include Lionsgate, Feigco Entertainment, and Amazon Studios, with distribution handled by Lionsgate in North America and Netflix internationally in several territories.
Box Office, Streaming Availability, and Audience Reception
A Simple Favor grossed approximately $53.9 million worldwide against a production budget of $20 million, making it a financial success for its studios. In the United States and Canada, the film earned around $36.3 million, with international markets contributing the remainder. The movie received mixed critical reviews, holding a 66% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 200 reviews, and a 6.0/10 average rating on IMDb from more than 150,000 user votes. Audience reception was stronger among female viewers and fans of the thriller-comedy genre.
As of the latest available data, A Simple Favor is available for streaming on Netflix in multiple international markets and can be rented or purchased on digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. The film's distribution rights are managed by Lionsgate, and it remains a popular title in the thriller-comedy category on streaming services. For more details on the film's production and distribution, you can visit the official Lionsgate page for A Simple Favor and the IMDb page for A Simple Favor.