After the Sex and the City movie grossed a whopping 76,000 Louboutin slingbacks (translation: $55.7 mil) in its opening weekend, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood started rummaging through its closet of already-worn TV series for another potential hit. And lo and behold: rumors of a Friends movie popped up on the internet this week, with some sources claiming that all the main cast members are interested in reprising their roles (and wallpapering their summer homes with fresh $100 bills). Asked for comment, a Warner Bros publicist said the rumors were not true, but let’s speculate anyway!
It doesn’t take a box office guru to recognize the potential cash-nami that a big-screen adaptation of Friends could bring in. Think about it: if the 52.5 million people who tuned into the show’s 2004 finale all buy tickets, Warner Bros could be looking at a $360 million hit, a.k.a. the 12th highest-grossing movie of all time.
While this news might meet with groans from folks who thought 10 seasons of the series was enough, a Friends movie would have at least a few positive effects. I mean, Lord knows the lovely Lisa Kudrow needs some decent work (the fact that you’re reading this implies that your retinas haven’t already been scarred by the trailer for her next movie, Hotel for Dogs). And a movie would likely give us some closure on all the questions left unanswered at the end of the series: Will Ross and Rachel tie the knot? Will Monica and Chandler dress their twins in matching outfits? And will Joey move back from LA, or will he be seduced by an Adonis-like next door neighbor with a fondness for outdoor showers? Oh, wait…wrong movie.
Your turn PopWatchers. Does the thought of a Friends movie have you humming "I’ll Be There For You," or would you rather leave the show’s characters in that great coffee shop in the sky? All must be revealed!
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Meh.
It’s not surprising at all. I wouldn’t be surprised that the powers that be put that rumor out to see how much response they get. All they would look like is copycats waiting until after the success of SITC to try their hand at it. And I liked Friends but not enough to be bothered with a movie.
Honestly, it sound 50% scary and 50% exciting. A Friends movie wouldn’t be the biggest insult in the world, and having been a fan of the show, I’d consider seeing it – that is, if it proves its merit with the critics.
It seems every show that has a successful run decides to go the movie route, i.e., The X Files, SATC, etc., not to mention those oldies that are brought back to less than successful runs at the big screen (SWAT, Starsky & Hutch, The Flintstones, The Brady Bunch Movie, etc.). While I loved Friends and watch them in syndication or on dvd, they would have to have a really great story to make a movie successful – but even if they don’t, I’d probably be there. How could I not?
i’d see it. i think almost all of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. fans would do anything to see there beloved cast on screen together again.
I’m not sure how well the show would work in movie form. It seems pretty dependant on the “live studio audience” for a lot of its charm.
is the average movie ticket price really $6.25? because its almost $10 here and if 52.5 million people paid that much it would make $525 million and not $360 million
When Friends was ‘on’ – circa 1998 – it was hilarious. When it was strained – the last few seasons – it was BAD. I could baaaaarely squeak through the final season; the only reason I kept watching was because I knew it would soon be over. I loved the show at its best but please oh please don’t make a movie!
When I heard Sex and the City was being made into a movie I was beyond excited. Hearing this news is cool, I guess. If it is made into a movie I am sure I would see it.
I was the biggest Friends fan I knew when it was on the air, but I just don’t think it should be put on the big screen. Sex and the City worked because it wasn’t dated and because the series already employed so many cinematic elements. Friends is a multi-camera sitcom with a live studio audience and even though the series only went off the air four years ago, it feels more like 10. Too much would have to be changed in order to make the transition to the big screen.
I think it could work. As you said it has some plot lines left unexplored. Did Ross and Rachel ever get married? And a movie could bring about the wedding. How about Joey’s career. Chandler and Monica’s twins. And Phoebe’s marriage; is it working? Did she have children. I think it has a big enough cross over appeal to surpass Sex in the City since primarily woman went opening weekend to that movie. But the WHOLE cast would have to sign on. But I would definately see it opening weekend! And it would be watchable. I could see them thinking about it.
Although this seems like a pretty blatant reaction to “Sex and the City”s big opening and we really don’t need another movie based on a TV show, I actually think “Friends” lends itself more to a movie than SATC.
Unlike “Sex”, “Friends” didn’t exactly end with everything tied in a neat little bow, so the movie won’t have to work hard to manufacture conflict like the SATC movie did.
NO! Come on! Why can’t Hollywood think of any original ideas for movies anymore? Can’t they just choose one of the 40 billion comic books at random and make that into a movie? What’s next Everybody Loves Raymond : The movie?
I loved Friends. I would love to see what they’re all up to now. Great show.
This show is so overrated. Once it became popular it turned to crap. I hope this movie doesn’t get made and I hope that the show will die a fast death in syndication as fans realize how unfunny it became.
Of course I would go see it. It would be hilarious. And all of those actors deserve to be successful MOVIE actors too, and maybe it will remind the industry of this.
Plus, fans did not get a chance to see Ross and Rachel happy. That was cruel of the writers to make us wait until the last episode!!
Friends will always be my favorite show. And if it did turn into a movie of course I would see it at midnight but I hope it doesn’t just because a series finale is written for the fans to end the show the way the creators thought best…there is no need to make a movie and perhaps ruin a show loved by so many.
Could there BE a better idea?
I love “Friends” just as much as the next person — if not more — and I’d love to see the gang reunite, but I don’t want to see a big-screen movie. For one thing, the hour-long episodes were never as good as the half-hour ones, so I shudder to think what a 1.5- or 2-hour movie would be like.
I love the idea. With good writing, it could be great.
i love friends! my friend told me they were gunna film a movie because of the great ratings the “sex in the city” got. i was like “OMG!” but to hear its not true kinda sucks. it would be AMAZING! if they’d make a movie, im not gunna lie. i would totally get them some cash opening day!!! haha
i hope they make one…..the storyline can go something like ross and rachel get married and have their 2nd child together,chandler and monica adopt their third baby and joey is a big movie star and pheobe is still married with mike and pregnant with their 2nd baby when they hear that central perk is being demolished they all come together….pheobe chains herself to the front of the the store,chandler and ross attract customers,monica is in the kitchen and rachel gets her waitressing job back and joey uses his famous friends to help…in the end they decide to buy it and all move back to NYC and their kids start becoming best friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While I’d probably see it, it’s a lousy idea. Unlike Sex in the City, which was filmed for television largely on actual New York City locations, Friends was videotaped on a set that became a beloved part of the show. All of the apartments and the coffee house won’t look the same when filmed, and it’s not like this was a show that cried out to be opened up to a lot of exterior settings or blown up to a big screen. It was also a show where every character hit comedic beats that were perfect for television but would probably induce groans from a movie theatre audience. I say let it rest in peace.
Bring back Adam Goldberg as the deranged former roommate and have a put a few bullets in some of the friends.
Absolutely. One of my favorite shows, and I would kill to spend some more time with these characters. As long as there was a compelling storyline that made use of all the characters, I don’t see why not.
Leave “Friends,” “The Sopranos,” and yes, a second installment of “Sex and the City” in our imaginations. I enjoyed the current “SATC” flick, but I really hope they don’t do another one — too much of a good thing, IMO.
A tremendously annoying show that was shallow and stupid. One my former co-workers would watch it every night and then talk about it…frak it was awful.
Please, no.
I love Friends, but it totally depends on the premise and the writing. And I don’t think Schwimmer should direct.
I will wait for the DVD.