Based on an actual lie.
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
The Farewell (2019) is a comedy and drama film directed by Lulu Wang, released on July 12, 2019 with a runtime of 1h 40m. It stars Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Hong Lu and Hong Lin. Viewers rate it 7.4 out of 10 across 1,582 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for The Farewell before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for The Farewell.
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Awkwafina
as Billi
Zhao Shuzhen
as Nai Nai
Hong Lu
as Little Nai Nai
Hong Lin
as Doctor Wu
Tzi Ma
as Haiyan
Lin Xiao Jie
as Lu Jian
Yang Xuejian
as Mr. Li
Becca Khalil
as Shirley
Jiang Yongbo
as Uncle Haibin
Chen Han
as Hao Hao
Aoi Mizuhara
as Aiko
Li Xiang
as Aunty Ling
Directed by Lulu Wang, written by Lulu Wang, produced by Marc Turtletaub, Lulu Wang and Peter Saraf.
Average viewer score of 7.4/10 from 1,582 ratings.
When a Chinese family finds out that the family’s matriarch is dying of lung cancer, complications arise. In Chinese culture, there is a saying that when you get cancer, you die. This actually boils down to the belief that it’s not the cancer that leads to the person’s death, but rather the fear of dying. As such, the family orchestrates an elaborate ruse to get everyone together for a wedding, but in reality the…
Reviewed on November 13, 2019
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com Lulu Wang shares an emotional part of her personal life by delivering a beautiful, heartfelt story about her grandmother. Even though The Farewell sticks the landing perfectly, not all of the second act’s storylines captivated me, especially the whole wedding narrative. However, Awkwafina offers a fantastic performance,…
Reviewed on February 5, 2020
This movie is described as a comedy-drama and it is. But I didn’t have many laugh out loud moments. The humor is situational mainly: the writers work up to those moments that make you smile, either because you remember a similar moment in your life, or else because you can’t imagine a similar moment. As happens so often, the story is based on real events. I saw where one review title said it is heartbreaking, but I…
Reviewed on May 12, 2021
The Farewell (2019) Directed by Lulu Wang Lulu Wang's The Farewell begins with a title card: "Based on an actual lie." The lie in question is both simple and profound: when Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen) is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, her family decides not to tell her. Instead, they stage a wedding as an excuse to gather from around the world to say goodbye without her knowing it's goodbye. Billi (Awkwafina),…
Reviewed on February 1, 2026
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The Farewell (2019) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of The Farewell (2019) includes Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Hong Lu, Hong Lin and Tzi Ma. The film was directed by Lulu Wang. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
The Farewell was released on July 12, 2019 and runs for 1h 40m.
The Farewell (2019) holds an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from 1,582 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy comedy and drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official The Farewell trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
