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‘Companion’ is smart, creepy, and totally buried in the algorithm.

There’s so much new stuff dropping on streamers every week, it’s easy to miss a great movie or TV show — especially when it’s not being promoted. HBO Max is packed with big-name movies and solid originals, but some of the best titles are buried so deep, you’d never stumble on them unless you were actively searching. That’s exactly what has happened with “Companion,” a seriously great sci-fi thriller that’s way better than most of what’s trending right now… and yet, you’d never know it unless you went digging. Here’s why “Companion” is the best under-the-radar thriller on HBO Max right now.

Best under-the-radar thriller movie on HBO Max

Why ‘Companion’ is the most underrated thriller on HBO Max

What is ‘Companion’ about?

Other underappreciated thriller movies on HBO Max

Why ‘Companion...

Julie Christeas’ Tandem Pictures is making its first move into the gaming space with a new project that will pull double duty as both a live-action video game and an indie film produced using the same footage.

Starring “Never Have I Ever” and “Companion” actress Megan Suri, “Great Northern” tells the “bold story of a young woman riding her motorcycle across the country to Alaska to scatter her father’s ashes, per the game’s description. With danger around every corner, players will make impactful decisions as a modern-day lone ranger facing the open road on the adventure of a lifetime.”

In its simplest description, “Great Northern” is a choose-your-own-adventure game, and the subsequent standalone film based on the title will be developed based on “the characters and plotlines that are most beloved by the community of people who play the game.”

Production is set to begin on “Great Northern...

What does it mean to be human? Does mortal existence mean inhabiting a body made from flesh and bone? Being born from the womb of another human being? The ability to experience complex emotions or an intangible state that’s impossible to describe? Like pornography, is the state of authentic humanity something we simply know when we see? Now that artificial intelligence seems to be invading every aspect of our lives, it’s worth considering what it actually means to become self-aware and if this enhanced state of being equates to authentic corporeality.

Drew Hancock grapples with these complex ideas in Companion, a story of artificial intelligence told through the lens of feminist empowerment. Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is an AI girlfriend (or companion) designed to serve the needs of her male owner via sexual acts and emotional support. Through her story, we can explore ideas of synthetic autonomy while questioning...

As X continues to die a slow and painful death, many of the site’s most prolific users have fled to competing platforms. Stephen King, one of X’s most visible users, has jumped ship to Threads, where he reliably shares a compelling mixture of dad jokes, political hot takes, and movie recommendations. The dad jokes and hot takes don’t usually fall under our purview. However, King’s streaming suggestions are very much within our wheelhouse. Speaking of which, I have one queued up for you right now.

King recently posted: “Companion: A totally fine horror/science fiction movie. (Also pretty funny.) I wish I’d seen it in the theaters, but watched it on Amazon Prime. Try it.”

The setup for Companion goes like this: A weekend getaway at a remote cabin turns to chaos when it’s revealed that one of the guests—a subservient android built...

Jack Quaid has become a fan-favorite following his role in the Prime Video satirical superhero series The Boys, and has starred in many critically acclaimed films since his career took off. 2025 has already been a Jack Quaid-filled year, with two lead roles, and he continues to be wildly popular.

Quaid starred in the sci-fi thriller Companion, which debuted in theaters in January, as well as the action comedy Novocaine, which was released in theaters in March. Both have been successful, yet the former was a smash hit. Companion was just released on Max, and immediately after became a huge hit globally, per FlixPatrol.

Following its release in theaters on Jan. 31, the movie, which Warner Bros. distributed, premiered on Max on Apr. 18, with a debut on HBO on Apr. 19. Companion immediately topped the charts globally. On Apr. 20, it was already the No. 1 film in 50 countries, including the U.S.

However, the...

“Companion”, the new live-action, ‘killer robot’ science fiction psychological thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock, stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend, now streaming on Max:

“…a billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for ‘Iris’ and her friends…

“…during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

“Companion”, the new live-action, ‘killer robot’ science fiction psychological thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock, stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend, streaming April 18, 2025 on Max:

“…a billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for ‘Iris’ and her friends…

“…during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Gold Derby's top news stories for April 11, 2025.

Ted Kotcheff, director of First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, North Dallas Forty, dies at 94

Canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, best known for directing such well-known movies as First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, and North Dallas Forty, has died at the age of 94, according to Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper. In addition to directing Sylvester Stallone in First Blood, Kotcheff worked with Academy Award winners Richard Dreyfuss (1974's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz), Jane Fonda (1977's Fun With Dick and Jane), and Gena Hackman (1983's Uncommon Valor), and also spent 13 seasons as an executive producer on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, starring Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.

The Pitt is a streaming hit

According to initial numbers from Max, The Pitt, the real-time hospital drama starring ER alum Noah Wyle, wrapped its final season on Thursday with 13 straight weeks of week over week growth...

Yellowjackets starSophie Thatcher and The Boys actor Jack Quaid's sci-fi thrillerCompanion, which earned almost universal praise from critics, has set its streaming release date. The New Line Cinema movie debuted in January, grossing just over $36 million against a budget of $10 million.

Per Deadline, Companion will start streaming globally on Max on April 18 and debut on HBO a day later at 8:00 p.m. Et. Written and directed by My Dead Ex helmer Drew Hancock, Companion stars Quaid and Thatcher as Josh and Iris, a couple on a weekend getaway with their friends in a remote cabin. While there, Iris discovers, to her dismay, that she is an AI companion rented from a tech company, and things turn ugly from there. The movie also stars Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), and Rupert Friend (Asteroid City). Zack Cregger,...

One of the best-reviewed movies of the year, Companion, finally has a streaming release date. Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, the AI thriller follows a couple on a weekend getaway with a group of friends that goes awry when it is revealed one of them is a companion robot. The film currently has a 94% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, one of the year's best thus far.

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Companion is getting a global streaming release on Max later this month on Apr. 18. Additionally, the film will premiere on HBO the following day on Apr. 19 at 8:00 Pm Et. Made with a $10 million production budget, Companion made a killing at the box office, grossing $36.7 million worldwide. While a sequel has not been officially greenlit, the director behind the film already has ideas for a follow-up. If Companion proves to be a streaming success, it would be shocking...

Experience a new kind of love story when Companion makes his global streaming debut on Friday, April 18, exclusively on Max, followed by HBO linear on April 19 at 8pm Et.

A weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin goes haywire after it’s revealed that one of the guests is not what they seem.

Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) star with Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”), and Rupert Friend (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”).

Produced by Zach Cregger and Boulderlight Pictures (Barbarian), the sci-fi horror thriller marks the directorial debut of Drew Hancock, who also penned the script.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Though familiar in many ways, Hancock’s confident direction and commitment to entertaining mayhem ensures a highly entertaining ride that builds to one of the most triumphant conclusions in recent memory.”

Companion is...

New Line Cinema announced today that Companion will make its global streaming debut on Friday, April 18, exclusively on Max. The film will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. Et.

From the studio that brought you The Notebook and the unhinged creators of Barbarian, the new kind of love story is rated R for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout.

Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the romantic sci-fi thriller to theaters on January 31, 2025. The film grossed $36.7 million at the global box office, with $20.8 million coming from North American theaters and $15.9 million from international markets.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend.

Companion was produced by the filmmakers behind Barbarian—Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger, and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

The cinematographer is Eli Born.

New Line’s sci-fi thriller Companion, starring Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Jack Quaid (The Boys), will begin streaming globally on Max on Friday, April 18, debuting on HBO linear on Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. Et.

In Companion, written and directed by Drew Hancock (My Dead Ex), Thatcher plays Iris, who joins her boyfriend Josh (Quaid) and friends at a remote lake house, only to discover that she’s actually an AI “companion” rented from a tech company. We won’t reveal more than that, except to say that Iris doesn’t take the revelation lightly.

The film also stars Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), and Rupert Friend (Asteroid City). From the producers of horror hit Barbarian — Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger and Roy Lee — its executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

Warner Bros...

The Boys star Jack Quaid is going to extremes to promote his new movie. The actor gets battered and bruised while sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Clippers game in a brilliant marketing stunt for Novocaine.

In the short clip shared by Pop Crave on X, Quaid can be seen watching the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Sacremento Kings alongside his Novocaine co-star Amber Midthunder. The actor, who is wearing a cast on his arm, seemingly gets more injured throughout the night. He eventually conducts an interview in the arena wearing a neck brace, with cuts and bruises on his face.

Jack Quaid promoted his new movie ‘Novocaine’ at the Kings versus Clippers game by getting more and more beaten up as the game progressed on. pic.twitter.com/ZWav0EQFUj— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 11, 2025

Novocaine sees Jack Quaid starring as Nathan, a bank executive who has a...

Cape, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, is returning with their third annual Radiance gala for Women’s History Month, which celebrates women and non-binary trailblazers in Hollywood.

Actor and comedian Kiran Deol is hosting with a featured musical performance by Luna Li.

The celebratory gala honors Asian and Pacific Islander women and non-binary artists, cultural creators, and decision-making power brokers, from the highest levels of achievement in Hollywood to burgeoning talent. Previous honorees have included actors Sandra Oh (Quiz Lady), Ming-Na Wen (Karate Kids: Legends), Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), poet and comedian Alok Vaid-Menon, Nickelodeon/Paramount Animation executive Ramsey Naito, director and writer Dana Ledoux Miller (Moana 2), and more.

“Cape is thrilled to return for a third year of Radiance as a precursor to our upcoming 35th Anniversary next year,” said Michelle K. Sugihara, Cape Executive Director. “Radiance is one of our biggest initiatives alongside the Julia S.

After its Season 2 renewal in February 2023, Rian Johnson’s and Natasha Lyonne’s Poker Face, the case-of-the-week mystery series, will be back for more sleuthing this year.

Season 1 of the Peacock show featured 10 episodes of Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, a Vegas casino worker whose keen sense of honesty leads to a Columbo-style show and reverse detective format. Johnson, who also has Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery in the works with a stacked cast, describes the show as a “howcatchem” versus a “whodunit” which is the format of the Knives Out and Glass Onion films.

Read on for everything we know about Poker Face Season 2:

Is Poker Face Season 2 in production?

Yes, Rian Johnson posted on his Instagram when production on Season 2 began. The photo contained a clapboard that featured Lyonne as episode two’s director.

How many episodes will be in Poker Face Season 2?

A...

Exclusive: Sophie Telegadis (One Stupid Thing), Mohana Krishnan (It Lives Inside), Aidan Laprete (The Wilds) and Lilah Pate (Outer Banks) are set to star alongside Sam Nivola, Kumail Nanjiani and Molly Shannon in Driver’s Ed, Bobby Farrelly’s new comedy for AGC Studios, which enters production in North Carolina today.

Written by Thomas Moffett, Driver’s Ed is about teens who steal their school’s driver’s ed car to go on a road trip to help a high school senior (Nivola) track down his college-freshman girlfriend and win her back.

Telegadis plays Evie, an art-school-bound student who recently dropped her friend group, dyed some of hair blue and gave up on love. Krishnan plays Aparna, a hardworking and anxious high school senior who wants to go to MIT to subsequently save the world. Laprete portrays Yoshi, the resident high school dealer who buries his feelings in drugs and sarcasm. Pate will play Samantha,...

After hitting theaters near the end of 2024, A24's horror film, Heretic, is heading to its new streaming home in March.

The Hugh Grant-led horror flick, Heretic, officially lands on Max on March 7. The official synopsis for the film reads: "Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse." In addition to Grant, Heretic stars Sophie Thatcher (Companion), Chloe East (The Fabelmans), Topher Grace (Spider-Man 3), and Elle Young (Little Fish). Heretic was written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, best known for the Adam Driver-led film, 65, and as screenwriters of A Quiet Place.

RelatedHeretic's Ending, Explained

A24's Heretic finale is filled with bloodshed, provocative messages about religion, and an existential deep-dive into toxic masculinity.

After landing in theaters on Nov.

A vengeful sex bot, a murderous monkey toy, and a blood-sucking icon lead this week’s lineup of new horror movie releases, and they’re joined by a twisted perversion of a pop culture icon.

Here’s all the new horror that released February 17 – February 21, 2025!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Prepare for a sea of blood, because the public domain slasher Popeye’s Revenge sailed onto VOD exclusively on Amazon via ITN Distribution this past Tuesday, February 18.

The indie horror film turns the classic character into a slasher villain when the legend of Popeye haunts a group of counselors as they intend to open a summer camp.

William Stead directs from a script by Harry Boxley (Cinderella’s Curse).

Steven Murphy stars as Popeye alongside Poohniverse alumni Kelly Rian Sanson, Danielle Scott, Danielle Ronald, and Amanda Jane York.

Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye the Sailor...

The less you know about Drew Hancock’s “Companion” the bigger chance you have of enjoying it. The film which stars the Heretic (2024) breakout Sophie Thatcher has a wild twist pretty early into the film. For someone who has seen the trailer for “Companion,” everything, including the ending and the twist, might not feel like they come off as a surprise in any way. So, if you are the select few who went into the film blind and were confused by how the movie pans out, here is a detailed breakdown.

Companion (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

The opening monologue by Iris sort of gives away the “Companion” ending by directly telling you Josh’s eventual fate, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

The story kicks off with Josh (Jack Quaid) and Iris (Sophie Thatcher) driving to a lake house that is secluded and away from any kind of civilization.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

2024 is over, and while it had some great movies like Dune: Part Two and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, they are nothing compared to what we have coming in 2025. From the first DC Studios film, Superman, to maybe the final Mission: Impossible film in which Tom Cruise will once again put his life in danger to entertain the heck out of us. So, let’s find out which of the movies that are coming in 2025 are the most anticipated.

Companion (In Theaters) Credit – Warner Bros. Pictures

Companion is an upcoming horror thriller drama film written and directed by Drew Hancock. The upcoming film is set during a weekend getaway that turns extremely bloody and violent when a human companion android malfunctions and begins killing people. Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillen, and Rupert Friend.

Love Hurts...

The first great horror movie of 2025,Companion, is surprisingly releasing soon on digital. The Warner Bros. AI horror movie will premiere tomorrow, Feb. 18, on digital platforms. It will also be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on Apr.11, 2025.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion follows a young couple who have planned a weekend getaway with friends. Iris feels a bit awkward around Josh's old friends, but she tries her best to have fun in the idyllic mansion owned by Sergey, Kat's millionaire boyfriend. What seems like an ideal escape from the city turns into a nightmare for Iris. Sergey assaults her, and in self-defense, she kills him. Everyone's reaction is odd, especially Josh's, who eventually tells Iris to "go to sleep" when she begins asking questions. Iris eventually wakes up and finds out the truth about herself: she's a companion android, designed to do what her owner says.

Find someone made just for you when Companion debuts on Digital tomorrow, February 18 — a mere 18 days after its theatrical release.

The sci-fi horror thriller will be avaialble on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on April 11 via Warner Bros.

Produced by Zach Cregger and Boulderlight Pictures (Barbarian), Companion marks the directorial debut of Drew Hancock, who also penned the script.

Special Features:

I Feel, Therefore I Am – Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher delve into the complex relationships at the heart of Companion Love, Eli – Harvey Guillén and Lukas Gage explore the fun relationship of Patrick and Eli AI Horror – Director Drew Hancock breaks down the fusion of slasher and sci-fi elements in Companion

Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) star with Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”), and Rupert Friend (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”).

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review,...

Warner Bros’ sci-fi thriller Companion is set to make its digital debut this month following its theatrical release on January 31, 2025. With a gripping story and a star-studded cast, the film has already generated buzz among genre enthusiasts. Here’s everything you need to know about when and where you can stream Companion online.

What is Companion About?

Directed and written by Drew Hancock, Companion follows a group of friends on a weekend getaway at a secluded lakeside estate. What begins as a relaxing retreat quickly takes a sinister turn as they become entangled in a web of secrets, deception, and advanced technology beyond their comprehension. As tensions escalate and trust is put to the test, they uncover unsettling truths about themselves—and the world around them.

The film boasts an impressive cast, featuring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend.

Where to Watch Companion Online?...

Companion is a 2025 sci-fi thriller starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quiad with major contributions from Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, and Rupert Friend. Initially focused on a couple enjoying a weekend retreat, Companion soon morphs into a chillingly poignant examination of technology, gender, and the illusion of domestic bliss.

The filmhas earned strongly positive reviews, with the leads being praised for their captivating performances. Moreover, Companion has been embraced in large part due to its refreshing contribution to the discussion surrounding artificial intelligence, leaving audiences with a story that hits close to home.

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CompanionRThriller Sci-Fi4.5/5Release DateJanuary 31, 2025Runtime97 MinutesDirectorDrew HancockWritersDrew HancockCast

Sophie Thatcher

Jack Quaid

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Films such as M3GAN and Ex Machina offer entertaining and nuanced glances at the inner workings of their android characters, especially...

Sony's Spider-Man Villain's Universe wasn't just the worst-named cinematic franchise of the 21st century; it was also one of the worst reviewed. The franchise includes Tom Hardy's Venom trilogy, as well as Morbius, the recently released Kraven the Hunter, and the infamous Madame Web. The franchise has received its fair share of hate online, with everyone from esteemed journalists to your grandpa asking what went wrong with Madame Web. Now, The Boys star Jack Quaid is piling onto the discourse in a hilarious new skit.

Most cinephiles know the Criterion Closet, the online video series where filmmakers and actors pick their favorite movies from the Criterion's esteemed Blu-ray and 4k collection. But have you heard of The Movie Cabinet? Jack Quaid was the first guest in the new, totally not a knock-off interview series by Josh Horowitz, and his time in the cabinet just got weirder and weirder.

Companion Worldwide Box Office: First Tuesday Update( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Jack Quaid starrer R-rated horror flick Companion is defying all odds and earning great numbers at the box office as it has not only recovered its budget but is now very close to its break-even point. The film is fighting PG movies and biggies, including Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King and Dog Man. Keep scrolling for more.

According to reports, it has been compared to the popular and critically acclaimed Netflix series Black Mirror. It features Sophie Thatcher in a leading role, who was also a part of Hugh Grant’s horror flick Heretic, which was also a box office success. The Boys star Jack Quaid appears opposite her, along with Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend in supporting roles.

Companion was reportedly poised to earn between $8 million and $10 million in the United States on its opening weekend.

It has often been said that cinema reflects our collective anxieties, and in Companion, writer-director Drew Hancock zeroes in on one of our most persistent modern fears: the encroachment of artificial intelligence into the deeply human realm of intimacy.

At once a darkly comic sci-fi thriller and a razor-sharp satire on misogyny in the digital age, Companion takes well-worn genre tropes and injects them with a pulpy, anarchic energy. But while it boasts a game cast, a thrillingly unhinged lead performance from Sophie Thatcher, and some wickedly effective tonal shifts, the film ultimately struggles to distinguish itself from the weighty lineage of AI-fixated thrillers that precede it.

Thatcher plays Iris, a seemingly ideal girlfriend, meticulously dressed in 1950s technicolor housewife garb as she wanders through an eerily vacant supermarket in the film’s opening moments. This Stepford Wives-esque introduction sets the stage for the film’s biting critique of patriarchal fantasy—because,...

Jack Quaid bounds up the stairs of Manhattan’s Midtown Comics like a Golden Retriever on a long-promised walk, his plaid winter jacket fluttering behind him in the January chill. Sandwiched between a 99-cent pizza joint and a smoke shop, the Times Square institution is one of the largest stores of its kind in the world — which makes it all the more surprising that the 32-year-old self-professed comic-book geek has never paid a visit before. “Every time I’m on location somewhere, I always Google the nearest comic book store,...

Lukas Gage is ready to tell on himself. The 29-year-old actor will make his writing debut with a memoir, “I Wrote This for Attention,” out in October.

He says the book shines a light on what he’s learned from his past mistakes. “I was a wild kid,” Gage tells me on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “I partied too much. But I’m so proud of that boy, especially looking back on him, all that he experienced, all the experiences he had, all the mistakes he made.”

“For a while I was really hard on myself and I was really disappointed and felt like a failure,” he continues. “I felt like I had fucked up so much. But then looking back, a meeker and more obedient kid would not have been able to pull off what I pulled off and would not have been...

Quick LinksPatrick Is Also a Companion RobotWhich Was Only the First of Many Twists and TurnsIris Gains Full Control Over HerselfDespite Josh’s Efforts to Make it Look Like She Killed Herself

Warning: Spoilers for Companion.

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion is a wild science fiction horror comedy that follows a couple, Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid), who visit an acquaintance’s remote lake house for a quiet weekend gateway. What begins as a rather innocuous holiday quickly devolves into something much more sinister when the host and lake house owner, Sergey (Rupert Friend), is killed by Iris in self-defense after he attacks her on the lakeshore. When she returns to the house covered in his blood and shocked by her own actions, Josh and her friends Eli (Harvey Guillén), Patrick (Lukas Gage), and Kat (Megan Suri) are stunned.

As she begins to panic along with the others,...

Sophie Thatcher may not quite be a household name, at least not yet, anyway. For horror lovers of the world, however, she has quickly ascended the Hollywood ranks to become one of our modern go-to stars for high-profile genre fare. To that end, Thatcher is now headlining director Drew Hancock's "Companion," which /Film's Chris Evangelista hailed as the first great movie of 2025. Not only is the movie damn good, but it also had a damn fine opening weekend at the box office.

"Companion" opened to an estimated $9.5 million, debuting in second domestically behind the unexpectedly big animated hit "Dog Man" ($36 million), which hails from DreamWorks. Coming in second was by no means a bad thing, though, as Hancock's twisty sci-fi thriller cost a mere $10 million to make (before marketing). Considering it also pulled in $5.5 million overseas, it's well on its way to becoming profitable for Warner Bros. It might not be a massive hit,...

Jack Quaid stars in Companion and is opening up about his experience filming the Drew Hancock-written and directed thriller.

The actor said in a recent interview that a stunt in the movie gave him the “heebie-jeebies,” and he had to have a stunt double help him with the scene.

“There was this one stunt that is small in the grand history of things I’ve done on screen, but I don’t know why; it just gave me the heebie-jeebies,” Quaid told Entertainment Weekly.

Quaid continued, “She closes a car door on my hand, and it was the one stunt where I was like, ‘I don’t know… It was perfectly safe — they had a stopper there in case anything went wrong. But it was the one time I was like, ‘Can we please just have a stunt double do it?'”

Companion follows Quaid’s Josh and girlfriend Iris,...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Companion is a sci-fi thriller film written and directed by Drew Hancock. The 2025 film follows a young couple going on a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin. Their fun getaway soon turns bloody when it is revealed that one of them is a companion robot. Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillen, and Rupert Friend. So, if you loved the thrilling story, sci-fi elements, and compelling characters in Companion, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

M3GAN (Starz & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

M3GAN is a sci-fi horror thriller film directed by Gerard Johnstone from a screenplay by Akela Cooper. The 2022 film follows Gemma, a brilliant roboticist who takes in her niece, Cady, after she lost her parents in an accident. Gemma designed a lifelike doll known as M3GAN,...

Companion North America Box Office: Opening Day Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Companion is a sci-fi horror comedy by Drew Hancock starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher. It opened in the theatres this Friday. The film has received positive reviews and is set to make a favorable debut at the North American box office. It has collected more than The Menu but stayed below Heretic and Speak No Evil. Scroll below for the deets.

The movie has received outstanding ratings from both the critics and the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics gave it 94% and stated, “A fiendishly clever contraption that doesn’t rest on the laurels of its twists, Companion thrillingly puts the demented into domestic bliss.” The audience rating is not so far behind as they gave it 90%. Besides Quaid and Thatcher, the movie also features Lukas Cage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillen, Rupert Friend, and Jaboukie Young-White in supporting roles.

Closing out January, Warner Bros. Pictures has brought the horror film Companion to theaters. Early reviews have been positive, with many critics praising the movie for its unexpected twists, dark humor, and strong performances, especially from Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid.

If you're a horror fan, this is definitely one to see on the big screen. However, there's no need to panic if you miss it in theaters. You’ll still have a chance to catch it when it hits digital platforms. It is also expected to make its way to a streaming platform eventually. So, whether you prefer the theater or watching from home, Companion will soon be accessible for horror fans everywhere.

Jack Quaid as Josh in Companion | Warner Bros. Pictures

That being said, you're probably wondering when exactly it will be available on digital. Unfortunately, an official digital release date hasn't been announced yet, which isn’t...

Ready to meet your “Companion?”

The twisty techno thriller-slash-romantic comedy-slash-horror movie just hit theaters. And this is the type of movie that begs to be discussed afterwards – especially following the movie’s shocking ending.

“Companion” starts off innocently enough, as we follow three couples as they spend a weekend together – Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid), Patrick (Lukas Gage) and Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Kat (Megan Suri) and her bizarro Russian boyfriend Sergey (Rupert Friend), whose lush house they are visiting. But soon enough, it’s revealed that Iris is actually Josh’s robot girlfriend. And things only get more bizarre and unhinged from there.

Honestly, if you have not seen the movie, we can not spoil anything else for you. All of the above has been covered in the trailer, so we’re safe.

But if you have seen the movie, well, we might as well talk about the ending,...

Last Updated on February 3, 2025

Marketing a movie is very difficult, especially in this day and age. So many streaming services and other elements are always vying for your attention. So, I’m trying not to hold it against Companion that the marketing spoils a massive element in the trailer. As someone who has seen the film (and absolutely loved it), it’s definitely something you should avoid, but not something that entirely ruins the film if you know it. Even still, I’m a movie lover first, so I refuse to elaborate for those lucky enough to avoid plot points. The interview gets into the spoiler-filled marketing, so check back after you’ve seen the film if you’ve avoided the trailer so far.

As a massive fan of all involved, I was absolutely honored to sit down with stars Jack Quaid, Sophie Thatcher, Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillen, Megan Suri,...

Major spoilers for "Companion" follow.

In October for last year, the first teaser trailer for "Companion" arrived and immediately caught the attention of genre fans. With the risk of dipping into hyperbole, I want to say it's one of the best teaser trailers in recent memory. It hints at something interesting while not giving too much away. As the teaser begins, we see a man, played by "The Boys" star Jack Quaid, and a woman, played by "Yellowjackets" actor Sophie Thatcher, sitting at a dining room table while The Flamingos sing "I Only Have Eyes for You" on the soundtrack. It looks like a romantic evening — a fact underlined by the text-on-screen telling us this is a new movie from "The studio that brought you 'The Notebook.'"

Ah, but then there's a twist! We suddenly see that Thatcher's character is handcuffed to the chair she's sitting in, and she looks disturbed.

Think back to The Stepford Wives (both versions). Add a layer of killer doll movie M3GAN. Throw in a bit of the whimsical 2013 Oscar-winning Her. Season with a bit of the brilliant German robot perfect-man comedy I’m Your Man. Sprinkle a bit of Pygmalion. Then add the unexpected horror turns of 2022’s sleeper Barbarian and voila! you have the recipe for the deliciously fun new AI flick Companion.

In fact this film comes from the BoulderLight production company responsible for Barbarian, one of the most satisfying films in recent years in the overall horror genre. But don’t let that label fool you: Companion is also a movie that defies mere labeling and it is all the better for it.

The plot revolves around a weekend getaway at a picturesque cabin in the woods. Three couples gather, most notably Josh (Jack Quaid) and his girlfriend Iris (Sophie Thatcher), whom...

Stars: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend | Written and Directed by Drew Hancock

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, this deliciously dark horror is produced by the team behind Barbarian, which should tell you something about the number of twists to expect. In fact, on that note, if you have somehow made it this far without actually knowing what Companion is about, then you should definitely stop reading now and go in as cold as you can, for maximum enjoyment.

Still here? Okay then, but be warned that the main twist occurs around 24 minutes into the movie and is essentially the basis of the plot from that point on. It’s clear that the filmmakers intended that reveal to be a surprise to the audience, but clearly the marketing department had other ideas, much like the publicity for Terminator 2: Judgement Day completely...

You do not want to read this review of Companion. Trust us.

We only say this because writer-director Drew Hancock’s movie relies on more than a few secrets, and even though the film’s trailer more or less gives away a big one, we’re not keen on spoiling them just yeat. (It’s perfectly safe to watch the teaser below, however.) What we can say, without fear of enraging folks keen on experiencing the film as it unfolds one “whoa!” at a time, is that everything starts with...

The following contains mild spoilers for "Companion."

"Companion" is the first big surprise of the movie year, a funny, thrilling film with a great cast and an even better twist. As Chris Evangelista wrote in his review for /Film, "'Companion' is the first great film of 2025 — a funny, fast-moving, meticulously crafted horror-thriller with a killer performance from lead Sophie Thatcher."

The film follows Iris (Thatcher), who goes on a weekend getaway trip with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) to visit a group of his friends at a remote cabin that quickly turns into a chaotic bloodbath. The film also stars Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén, Megan Suri, and Ruper Friend.

This is a notoriously hard movie to talk about without talking about its premise and the first-act twist, which the second trailer already openly revealed. Still, if you don't want to know anything about what "Companion" is actually about,...

The sci-fi horror outingCompanionhas now been unleashed, and audiences are loving the feature film directorial debut from Drew Hancock. After getting a lot of love from critics, and landing a "certified fresh" score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, verified users have now had their say, with Companion now boasting an equally impressive 94% on the Popcornmeter. Written and directed by Drew Hancock,Companion follows a group of friends on a weekend getaway at a remote mansion owned by a billionaire. Iris, Josh's new girlfriend, feels a bit awkward in the group, and it gets worse when the host, Sergey, attacks her. Iris shows up drenched in blood and in absolute shock. But no worries, Josh can tell Iris to shut herself down at any time. Wait, what?

That's right, Iris is a companion robot. And you would imagine that Companion follows this tried-and-tested sci-fi plot in ways we've seen before. But Hancock,...

Watch out, “Wolf Man” and “Better Man,” because the box office is about to be taken over by “Dog Man.”

Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s new movie has made $1.36 million at the box office in Thursday previews. It’s expected to make between $25 million to $30 million, though some predictions are as high as $40 million due to the demand for family fare.

Set in the kid-friendly world of “Captain Underpants,” “Dog Man” is written and directed by Peter Hastings and follows the adventures of the titular half dog, half police officer who fights crime. While Dog Man himself doesn’t speak, the voice cast is made up of Pete Davidson as Petey the cat, Dog Man’s feline nemesis; Lucas Hopkins as Li’l Petey, Dog Man’s sidekick; Lil Rel Howery as the police chief named Chief; Isla Fisher; Billy Boyd; Ricky Gervais; Stephen Root; Poppy Liu; Laraine Newman; Cheri Oteri; Melissa Villaseñor and more.

This article contains major spoilers for "Companion."

Gender-based conflict, violence, and terror are embedded into the fabric of horror. Vampires searching for brides, damsels in distress needing to be saved, "Hitchcock blondes," and masked slashers hacking up scantily clad babysitters and camp counselors are mainstays of the genre, and the overwhelming majority of horror stories are either exploiting, examining, or subverting the expectations of gender-based violence. However, as film theorist Carol J. Clover so perfectly explained in her essay "Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film," when it comes to horror, "gender is less a wall than a permeable membrane."

Horror movies are rich with cross-gender identification, and it's been psychologically theorized that horror fans have a greater capacity for empathy. It's why cis men watch a film like "Aliens" and easily identify Ellen Ripley as the coolest character without ever believing she's "lesser-than" for being a woman, and...

Plot: A billionaire’s death sets off a chain of events for Iris and her friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate.

Review: There are two different types of people I’m speaking to with this review. The first are those that either haven’t seen anything or just viewed the teaser trailer for the film. The second are those that watched the second trailer that released on January 8th and even Jack Quaid warned against watching. Now to that first set of people, Companion is a great thriller about relationships, power dynamics, and morality. Please stop reading here as you were fortunate enough to have a very clean experience with this movie. Go watch Jack Quaid, Sophie Thatcher and Lukas Gage kick some performance ass and give us one of the greatest horror films of the year.

To the second people, you’ve already had a large...

There’s a reason why the name plastered all over the marketing material for “Companion” (2025) is that of Zack Creggar’s previous runaway hit “Barbarian” rather than that of its own novice director Drew Hancock. Much like Creggar’s (who here serves as producer) 2022 horror thrill-ride, “Companion” has built up, in the brief period of time between its premiere and its wider release, the aura of a film best experienced with absolutely zero pre-existing context.

Certainly, as with virtually all films, going into this one with as little detail spoiled as possible reads as the most ideal viewing scenario, but while Creggar’s flawed feature had the gonzo energy to back up its reputation of “watch this in a packed house before Twitter ruins the twists,” “Companion,” after its initial reveal, doesn’t traffic in the sort of giddy secrecy that would make its own narrative swerves quite as tantalizing.

“Companion” is a new live-action ‘killer robot’ science fiction thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock, starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend, releasing January 31, 2025 in theaters:

“…a billionaire's death sets off a chain of events for ‘Iris’ and her friends…

“…during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Sophie Thatcher’s weekend getaway turns sour in writer-director Drew Hancock’s comedic horror film. Here’s our Companion review.

Companion, writer-director Drew Hancock’s feature debut, is a tough nut to crack, or at least review. It’s a film that works best without knowing anything about it, but also, the trailers have ruined almost all of its surprises. If you haven’t watched the trailer, we would discourage you from watching it before seeing the film.

We’ll tread carefully with the story. Sophie Thatcher’s Iris heads off for a relaxing weekend getaway with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid). Their friends Eli (Harvey Guillén), Patrick (Lukas Gage), Kat (Megan Suri) and Kat’s boyfriend Sergey await them. Then the weekend quickly takes a dark turn and Iris finds herself on the run.

Ultimately, Companion is – or at least wants to be – a story about a woman violently...