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Little Brother poster
5.5
Middle Child Pictures

Little Brother

John Cena and Eric André's Netflix buddy comedy — a No. 1 US debut with 14 million viewers in week one despite a mixed 55% Rotten Tomatoes score; the chemistry is there but the script doesn't trust it.

2026 102 min R
Critic5.5
Comedy
Netflix
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

Rudd Landy (John Cena), a successful real estate agent with a picture-perfect life and a shot at TV fame, has his world derailed when Marcus Pinchel (Eric André) — the eccentric, psychiatric-hospital-adjacent little brother from his teenage Big Brothers program — unexpectedly reappears and takes their bond very, very seriously.
Story 4.5
Acting 6.5
Direction 5.5
Cinematography 5.5
Music 5.5
Pacing 5.5
Originality 4.5
Emotional Impact 5.5
Overall 5.5

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Cinema Desk

5.5 /10

Chemistry squandered

When Cena and André are actually on screen together, the film crackles — Cena's wide-eyed sincerity and André's manic unpredictability should be a volatile, hilarious pairing, and occasionally are. The tragedy is that the script keeps pulling them apart.

Formula over fire

Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel's script works too hard to hit familiar buddy-comedy beats — the third-act reality TV subplot lands some satirical swipes, but the film never fully commits to the chaos Eric André would clearly prefer to deliver.

Pros

  • Cena and André's genuine on-screen chemistry
  • No. 1 Netflix US debut — clear audience appeal
  • Dan Deacon's distinct score adds personality
  • Reality TV subplot has some sharp satirical moments

Cons

  • Script underuses the leads' chemistry
  • Familiar buddy-comedy formula over bold originality
  • Mixed Rotten Tomatoes reception (55% critics, ~46% audience)
Verdict A frustratingly wasted premise — John Cena and Eric André have genuine chemistry that the film doesn't trust enough to showcase, burying its best instincts beneath familiar buddy-comedy scaffolding and broad slapstick.

AI Review

John Cena and Eric André's Netflix buddy comedy — a No. 1 US debut with 14 million viewers in week one despite a mixed 55% Rotten Tomatoes score; the chemistry is there but the script doesn't trust it.

A frustratingly wasted premise — John Cena and Eric André have genuine chemistry that the film doesn't trust enough to showcase, burying its best instincts beneath familiar buddy-comedy scaffolding and broad slapstick.

Stream on Netflix as an easy Friday night watch — best when Cena and André are on screen together, which isn't as often as it should be.

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Premiere
Festival
Status
Development

Netflix commissioned the buddy comedy from writers Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel (Yes Man, The Grinder) with Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West) attached to direct, and producers David Bernad and Ruben Fleischer bringing the project to Middle Child Pictures.

Principal photography

Filmed in New York City and New Jersey in July 2025 under the working title Untitled Roommates Project. Brandon Trost served as cinematographer.

Release

World premiere at the Paris Theater, Manhattan, on June 18, 2026. Global Netflix streaming debut June 26, 2026. Reached No. 1 in the US and No. 2 worldwide on Netflix in its first week.

Production

Development

Netflix commissioned the buddy comedy from writers Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel (Yes Man, The Grinder) with Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West) attached to direct, and producers David Bernad and Ruben Fleischer bringing the project to Middle Child Pictures.

Principal photography

Filmed in New York City and New Jersey in July 2025 under the working title Untitled Roommates Project. Brandon Trost served as cinematographer.

Release

World premiere at the Paris Theater, Manhattan, on June 18, 2026. Global Netflix streaming debut June 26, 2026. Reached No. 1 in the US and No. 2 worldwide on Netflix in its first week.

Streaming

Netflix

Cast

John Cena Rudd Landy (the big brother / realtor)
Eric André Marcus Pinchel (the little brother)
Michelle Monaghan Deirdre
Christopher Meloni Josh
Ego Nwodim Leonore
Sherry Cola Mia
Caleb Hearon Olly
Pilot Bunch Supporting role
Bryce Gheisar Supporting role
Ben Ahlers Supporting role

Characters

Rudd Landy (the big brother / realtor) John Cena
Marcus Pinchel (the little brother) Eric André
Deirdre Michelle Monaghan
Josh Christopher Meloni
Leonore Ego Nwodim
Mia Sherry Cola
Olly Caleb Hearon
Supporting role Pilot Bunch
Supporting role Bryce Gheisar
Supporting role Ben Ahlers

Crew

Matt Spicer Director
Jarrad Paul Writer
Andrew Mogel Writer
David Bernad Producer
Ruben Fleischer Producer
Dan Deacon Composer
Brandon Trost Cinematographer
Sara Shaw Editor

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. Original Score — Dan Deacon

Trivia

  • Little Brother debuted at No. 1 in the US and No. 2 worldwide on Netflix in its opening week (June 21–28, 2026), generating 23.4 million hours viewed across approximately 14 million viewers.
  • The film was shot under the working title Untitled Roommates Project in New York City and New Jersey in July 2025.
  • Director Matt Spicer previously directed Ingrid Goes West (2017), a dark social media satire starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen that earned significant critical acclaim — Little Brother represents a lighter, more mainstream shift in his career.
  • Ruben Fleischer, one of the producers, is best known as the director of Zombieland (2009), Venom (2018) and Uncharted (2022).
  • Little Brother marks John Cena's first major Netflix original film — he had previously appeared in Amazon Prime Video comedies including Jackpot! and Ricky Stanicky.
  • The film's premise draws comparisons to comedy classics including Twins (1988), What About Bob? (1991) and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) — all mentioned in critics' reviews.
  • The world premiere was held at the Paris Theater in Manhattan on June 18, 2026, attended by John Cena, Eric André, director Matt Spicer and much of the cast.
  • Critics were divided — the consensus from Rotten Tomatoes noted the film 'squanders the strong comic chemistry between John Cena and Eric André on a tonally unfocused script that settles for broad, low-hanging gags.'

Quotes

"We're brothers. That doesn't just go away."

"You were my big brother. I never forgot that."

Goofs

  • The New York City street continuity changes between shots in several of the outdoor chase sequences.

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AI Recommendation Insight

John Cena and Eric André's Netflix buddy comedy — a No. 1 US debut with 14 million viewers in week one despite a mixed 55% Rotten Tomatoes score; the chemistry is there but the script doesn't trust it. Similar picks: Shared Cast, Highly Rated Comedy

Little Brother