My Brilliant Friend

Name: My Brilliant Friend
Genre: Drama
Released: 2018-11-27
Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Irene Maiorino, Fabrizio Gifuni, Filippo Beltrami

2018 | 4 seasons | 57 min | Drama

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it drew serious awards attention. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who loves a strong character drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace: 4 seasons: a few months of evenings, hour-long episodes, about 32 hours in all.
What might put you off: Rated TV-MA: meant for adults.
It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, Elena Greco, a now-elderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
8.1 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Nominated for 2 Critics' Choice Awards and 1 Peabody Award.
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Ran for 4 seasons and reached a modest audience
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 151K people sought it out in the past year

Season by season

The show overall is a Friday Night Flick. Here's how each season stacks up; The Story of the Lost Child is the high point.

Season 12018 · 8 episodes · 7.4 out of 10
Sunday
The Story of a New Name2020 · 8 episodes · 6.9 out of 10
Weeknight
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay2022 · 8 episodes · 6.9 out of 10
Weeknight
The Story of the Lost Child2024 · 10 episodes · 8.0 out of 10
Saturday