No Hard Feelings

“No Hard Feelings”an American sex comedy movie released in 2023, graced screens with Jennifer Lawrence leading the cast as a woman tasked with initiating a romantically and sexually inexperienced son of a wealthy couple, portrayed by Andrew Barth Feldman. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, who co-wrote the screenplay with John Phillips, the film also features Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, and Matthew Broderick.

This project made headlines in October 2021, as Sony Pictures Releasing and Columbia Pictures triumphed in a bidding war against Apple Original Films, Netflix, and Universal Pictures. Lawrence not only starred in the film but also took on a role as one of its producers, with Stupnitsky helming the directorial duties. The ensemble cast came together between September and October 2022. Filming commenced in late September across various locations in Nassau County within the New York City metropolitan area, concluding the following November.

Plot

In Montauk, New York, 32-year-old Maddie Barker finds herself in a tight spot, working as both an Uber driver and bartender to make ends meet. However, her financial woes escalate when she faces the threat of bankruptcy due to unpaid property taxes on her inherited home, leading to the repossession of her car. Desperate to hold onto her cherished home, Maddie takes a leap of faith and responds to an intriguing Craigslist ad. The offer comes from wealthy couple Alison and Laird Becker, who propose an unusual arrangement: Maddie will date their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, in exchange for a Buick Regal. Percy, sheltered and inexperienced in matters of socializing, relationships, and revelry, prompts his parents’ hope to instill confidence in him before his upcoming enrollment at Princeton University.

Maddie’s initial attempt to woo Percy takes place at the animal shelter where he volunteers. However, when she offers him a ride home, he misinterprets her intentions and peppers sprays her, mistaking her for a potential kidnapper. Despite this rocky start, they agree to give things another shot and plan a date for the following day.

Their date takes them to a bar, followed by an adventurous skinny-dipping session at the beach. However, their romantic escapade is interrupted when a group of drunken teenagers steals their clothes. In a bold move, Maddie confronts the thieves in the nude, startling Percy, who recoils from the situation, refusing to proceed with their intimate plans.

As tensions rise, Percy’s discomfort peaks, leading to a daring escape from the authorities as they chase Maddie and Percy, who is now stark naked, in her car. Back at home, they attempt to reconnect intimately, but Percy’s anxiety manifests physically, resulting in a rash. Maddie shifts gears, taking care of Percy and comforting him through his distress.

As Maddie and Percy’s relationship blossoms, they deepen their connection, gradually opening up and forging a genuine friendship. They embark on various outings, including a charming prom night simulation complete with a fancy dinner where Percy showcases his musical talent by playing the piano.

During one of their outings, Percy unexpectedly encounters an old schoolmate, Natalie, who extends an invitation to a party at a nearby restaurant. Tensions arise between Maddie and Percy when they clash over their differing visions for the future. In the midst of their disagreement, Percy decides to attend the party solo, leaving Maddie behind.

Concerned for Percy’s well-being, Maddie sets out to find him at the party. Upon locating him in a room with Natalie, Maddie experiences a moment of doubt, though she soon realizes nothing untoward has occurred between them. Emotions run high as Percy later expresses his love for Maddie, affirming the depth of his feelings for her.

The following day, Percy drops a bombshell on his parents, expressing his desire to remain in Montauk with Maddie rather than pursue Princeton. Frantic to change his mind, Percy’s father offers Maddie the car as an incentive to convince Percy to reconsider his decision.

Unbeknownst to his parents, Percy overhears their conversation with Maddie regarding the deal. Seeking to confront the situation head-on, Percy invites Maddie to join him for dinner with his parents, subtly hinting at his awareness of their arrangement. Tensions mount as Maddie, Percy, and his parents dance around the topic, each silently questioning the other’s knowledge of the deal.

However, the evening takes a dramatic turn when Percy, overwhelmed by emotions, crashes the Buick into a tree, causing significant damage. The accident serves as a catalyst for a series of revelations and confrontations.

Later, in a moment of intimacy, Percy experiences premature ejaculation during foreplay, feeling deeply betrayed by Maddie’s involvement in the deal. With emotions running high and trust shattered, Percy decides to end their relationship.

Determined to turn her fortunes around, Maddie takes charge of the damaged car and resolves to settle her debts. Through hard work over the remainder of the summer, she accumulates enough funds to rescue her home from financial turmoil and restore her car to its former glory.

Amidst her triumph, Maddie receives bittersweet news from her close friends, Jim and Sara, who announce their decision to relocate from Montauk to Florida due to rising housing expenses. Sara’s probing question prompts Maddie to reassess her motivations for staying in Montauk, igniting a journey of self-discovery.

After soul-searching, Maddie crosses paths with Percy at a Princeton mixer, extending a heartfelt apology. However, Percy remains skeptical, prompting a dramatic moment where Maddie leaps onto the hood of his car as he drives away, resulting in an accidental plunge into the ocean. As their car is salvaged from the water, Maddie and Percy mend their fractured bond, pledging to preserve their friendship.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Maddie makes the decision to sell her home to Jim and Sara, opting to pursue her passion for surfing in California. During their journey to Princeton, Maddie surprises Percy with the revelation that she has adopted Milo, a former police dog with a troubled past from the shelter where Percy once volunteered. Promising to stay in touch throughout her coastal voyage, Maddie and Percy bid farewell, embarking on new chapters in their lives.

Cast Of No Hard Feelings

Production

In October 2021, Sony Pictures emerged victorious in a fierce bidding war, securing the rights to a highly sought-after R-rated comedy package. Spearheaded by producer-star Jennifer Lawrence through her production company, Excellent Cadaver, and director Gene Stupnitsky, the project outshone competitors Apple, Netflix, and Universal Pictures for an exclusive theatrical release.

Joining Lawrence in the production are Alex Saks, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk, and Justine Polsky as producers, with Stupnitsky collaborating on the screenplay alongside John Phillips. The inspiration for the film’s storyline stemmed from a genuine Craigslist ad, shared with Stupnitsky by producers Provissiero and Odenkirk, who later pitched the idea to Lawrence during a dinner, envisioning her in the lead role. Fast forward to July 2022, and reports surfaced confirming Sony’s commitment to the project, solidifying plans for a theatrical debut scheduled for June 16, 2023.

• Casting: In September 2022, Andrew Barth Feldman was announced to join the ensemble as the male lead, accompanied by Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick, who portray his character’s parents. Additionally, Ebon Moss-Bachrach was confirmed to join the cast, further enriching the lineup.The subsequent month saw the addition of Natalie Morales and Scott MacArthur to the growing cast, adding depth and diversity to the ensemble.
• Filming: 

  Principal photography commenced in late September 2022, spanning across diverse locations in Nassau County, New York, including Hempstead, Point Lookout, Lawrence, and Uniondale. Notably, Ted’s Fishing Station in Point Lookout underwent a transformation to represent “Montauk Dock East” for the film’s setting.

  A month later, production shifted to the North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington to capture essential scenes. The filming process for “No Hard Feelings” wrapped up in November, marking the completion of the project.

Box Office

“No Hard Feelings” achieved a significant box office success, grossing $50.5 million in the United States and Canada, and an additional $36.8 million in other territories, accumulating a worldwide total of $87.3 million.

In its domestic market, the film debuted alongside the wide expansion of “Asteroid City,” projecting an opening weekend box office of around $12 million from 3,208 theaters. Surpassing expectations, the film garnered $6.25 million on its first day, inclusive of $2.15 million from Thursday night previews. Ultimately, it exceeded predictions, launching with $15 million and securing the fourth position at the box office. Its performance remained robust in subsequent weekends, with a 48% drop in its second weekend, earning $7.9 million, and accumulating a total of $11.3 million over the five-day Independence Day weekend. The film’s consistent performance was hailed as a commendable achievement in a post-COVID marketplace. Subsequently, in its third weekend, the film continued its steady run, grossing $5.4 million and claiming the fifth position.

Transitioning to the streaming platform, Netflix, on October 22, 2023, “No Hard Feelings” found further success. Nielsen reported that upon its release. The film instantly secured the top spot as the most-streamed title of the week, spanning from October 23 to October 29. With an impressive 1.1 billion minutes viewed, it emerged as the sole title to surpass 1 billion minutes streamed on the Nielsen charts for that week. Notably, the viewership demographics reflected a broad spectrum, with equal distribution across age groups ranging from 18 to 64. While Hispanic or African American viewers accounted for 30% of the viewership, showcasing its widespread appeal.