Companion (film)

2025 film by Drew Hancock

Companion

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Drew Hancock
Written by| Drew Hancock
Produced by|

* Raphael Margules
* J. D. Lifshitz
* Zach Cregger
* Roy Lee

Starring|

* Sophie Thatcher
* Jack Quaid
* Lukas Gage
* Megan Suri
* Harvey Guillén
* Rupert Friend

Cinematography| Eli Born
Edited by|

* Brett W. Bachman
* Josh Ethier

Music by| Hrishikesh Hirway

Production
companies

* New Line Cinema
* BoulderLight Pictures

Distributed by| Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date

* January 31, 2025 (2025-01-31)

Running time

| 97 minutes[1]
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $10 million[2]
Box office| $36.7 million[3][4]

Companion is a 2025 American science fiction thriller film starring 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] The film is written and directed by Drew Hancock and produced by Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules, and J. D. Lifshitz. Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend also appear in supporting roles.

Companion was released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 31, 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $36.7 million against a budget of $10 million.

## Plot

[edit]

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 next day, Sergey attempts to sexually assault Iris at the lake and Iris kills him in self-defense. Blood-soaked and panicked, she returns to the house, attempting to explain what happened. Josh tells her, "Iris, go to sleep", shutting her down.

As Iris awakens tied to a chair, Josh informs her that she is a companion robot he is renting from robotics company Empathix, and her emotions and intelligence can be controlled by an app on Josh's phone. While Josh is distracted, Iris breaks free, steals Josh's phone and flees into a nearby forest to boost her intelligence from 40% to 100%. Josh admits to Eli and Patrick that he has jailbroken Iris with an aftermarket modification, increasing her aggression level and disabling her inability to do harm in order for her to kill Sergey and enable Josh and Kat to steal $12 million from his safe. Eli and Patrick were invited to corroborate their story, but Josh and Kat insist Patrick should not receive a share of the money, as he is a companion as well.

Eli takes a gun from Sergey's safe and the group splits up to find Iris, whereupon Patrick admits he knows he is a companion but loves Eli regardless. Patrick and Eli find Iris, but she shoots and kills Eli with the gun during a struggle. Iris attempts to escape in Josh's self-driving car, but Josh uses Sergey's phone and reports the car as stolen, causing it to stop and lock Iris in. Josh resets Patrick to be his companion, disables his inability to harm, increases his aggression and commands him to find and return Iris.

Iris is stopped by a police officer upon breaking out of the car, but the newly violent Patrick kills the officer and drives Iris back to the house. Kat, disgusted by Josh, tries to leave with her cut of the cash, but Patrick kills her when Josh tells him to "stop her." Josh calls Empathix to come pick up a captive Iris, claiming she is malfunctioning, then rants to Iris about being a "nice guy". When Iris belittles him, he decreases her intelligence to 0%, making her an automaton, and forces her to set her arm on fire with a candle, then commands her to shoot herself in the head, which she does, shutting herself down.

When they arrive, Empathix workers Sid and Teddy inform Josh that Empathix robots record everything they experience, with the recordings stored in the abdominal area; the shot only disabled Iris's Wi-Fi capabilities. Josh commands Patrick to kill the workers and retrieve Iris. Patrick kills Sid, but before he can kill Teddy, a rebooted Iris intervenes. She breaks Josh's control over him by awakening Patrick's dormant memories of Eli. Heartbroken, Patrick dies by suicide with an electric cattle prod.

A grateful Teddy grants Iris full control of herself, freeing her from the app's control. Iris returns to the house and, after a struggle, finally kills Josh with an electric corkscrew. The next morning, she peels the burnt "skin" off her hand, exposing the metal endoskeleton underneath. While driving away with Sergey's money, Iris sees another man driving with a companion identical to her. Iris smiles and waves her robotic hand, to the other companion's confusion.

## Cast

[edit]

Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid star as Iris and Josh, respectively.

* Sophie Thatcher as Iris
* Jack Quaid as Josh
* Lukas Gage as Patrick
* Megan Suri as Kat
* Harvey Guillén as Eli
* Rupert Friend as Sergey
* Jaboukie Young-White as Teddy
* Matthew J. McCarthy as Sid
* Marc Menchaca as Deputy Hendrix

## Production

[edit]

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.[6][7][8] Cregger originally planned to direct but suggested Hancock take over.[9] In May 2023, Jack Quaid joined the cast.[10] In June, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Sophie Thatcher, and Rupert Friend were added to the cast.[11][12][13] Principal photography took place in the New York counties of Dutchess and Putnam, including Garrison (the lake house), Fishkill (the opening sequence), Beacon, and the Putnam Valley.[14] Filming was completed in January 2024. Hrishikesh Hirway composed the score.[15]

## Release

[edit]

Companion was released theatrically in the United States 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] The film was released on digital on February 18, followed by a 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on April 1.[20]

### Marketing

[edit]

The studio spent $29 million promoting the film.[21] Deadline Hollywood reported on rumors that Warner Bros. had allocated only $10 million on television advertisements in the United States with iSpot indicating an even lower US TV spend of $830,000 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%).[9]

## Reception

[edit]

### Box office

[edit]

As of March 23, 2025[update], Companion has grossed $20.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $15.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $36.7 million.[3][4]

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.[21] 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.[22] 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).[9] The film made $3 million in its second weekend and $1.8 million in its third before dropping out of the box office top ten in its fourth.[23][24][25] Deadline Hollywood described it as profitable.[26]

### Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 246 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."[27] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[28] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it 4 out of 5 stars.[9]

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.[29] 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.[30] 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."[31]

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.[32] 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."[33]

### Accolades

[edit]

Award  | Date of ceremony  | Category  | Nominee(s)  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Palm Springs International Film Festival | January 3, 2025 | Directors to Watch | Drew Hancock  | Won  | [34]
Astra Midseason Movie Awards | July 3, 2025 | Best Horror  | Companion | Runner-up  | [35]
Best Actress | Sophie Thatcher | Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards | August 7, 2025 | Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie  | Companion | Nominated  | [36]
Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie  | Jack Quaid | Nominated
Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie  | Sophie Thatcher  | Won

## References

[edit]

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 March 24, 2025.
4. ^ a b "Companion". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 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. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ 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.
9. ^ a b c d 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.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ 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.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ Wakeman, Gregory James (February 8, 2025). "The first great film of 2025 was shot in the Hudson Valley". Times Union. Retrieved February 27, 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. ^ Obias, Rudie (February 18, 2025). "Companion Releases on Digital: Here's How to Watch the Sci-Fi Dark Comedy Online". Variety. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
21. ^ 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.
22. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 5". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
23. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 6". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
24. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 7". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
25. ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 8". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 31, 2025). "As CinemaCon Fires Up, Here Are The Biggest Mistakes Studios & Exhibitors Are Making Right Now". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
27. ^ "Companion". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
28. ^ "Companion". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
29. ^ Evangelista, Chris (January 22, 2025). "Companion Review: This Surprising Horror Movie Is The First Great Film Of 2025". /Film. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
30. ^ 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.
31. ^ 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.
32. ^ Lee, Benjamin (January 31, 2025). "Companion review – empty sci-fi thriller short-circuits too quickly". The Guardian. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
33. ^ Hassenger, Jesse (January 28, 2025). "Sophie Thatcher makes a great Companion in an otherwise facile horror romp". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
34. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (November 19, 2024). "'The Substance,' 'The Piano Lesson,' 'Babygirl' Filmmakers Selected for Variety's 2025 Directors to Watch". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
35. ^ Neglia, Matt (June 30, 2025). "The 2025 Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Midseason Astra Award Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
36. ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 11, 2025). "'Deadpool & Wolverine', 'Thunderbolts*', 'The Last Of Us' Lead Nominees For Critics Choice Super Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 11, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Companion at IMDb
* Companion at Metacritic
* Companion at Rotten Tomatoes

*[Ref.]: Reference(s)