

The Farewell
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.
TMDB
7.4/10
1,598 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $3M
- Box office
- $23.1M
- Language
- Mandarin
- grandparent grandchild relationship
- family relationships
- wedding
- relationship
- east asian lead
- family reunion
- grandmother
- chinese american
- family gathering
- ethical dilemma
- woman director
- lung cancer
Top billed cast







Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereSundance Film Festival25 Jan 2019
- Theatrical (limited)PG12 Jul 2019
- Digital / OTT29 Oct 2019
- Physical12 Nov 2019
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG20 Sept 2019
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalPG5 Sept 2019
- Digital / OTTPG1 Dec 2019
AustriaAT
- Digital / OTT1219 Dec 2019
ChinaCN
- Theatrical22 Nov 2019
CzechiaCZ
- Theatrical21 May 2020
DenmarkDK
- TheatricalA20 Aug 2020
FinlandFI
- TheatricalS24 Jan 2020
FranceFR
- Theatrical8 Jan 2020
- PhysicalDVD17 Jun 2020
GermanyDE
- Theatrical019 Dec 2019
Hong KongHK
- TheatricalI30 Jan 2020
HungaryHU
- Digital / OTT126 Feb 2020
Frequently asked questions
The Farewell was released on 12 July 2019.
Audience reviews
4- S8/10
Sheldon Nylander
11/13/2019
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 gat…
- M8/10
Manuel São Bento
2/5/2020
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 performanc…
- P8/10
Peter McGinn
5/12/2021
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 …
- B8/10
badelf
2/1/2026
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),…
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