a family affair movie review

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A Family Affair

An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity. An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity. An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity.

• Richard LaGravenese
• Carrie Solomon
• Nicole Kidman
• 4 Critic reviews

• Brooke Harwood

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• Trivia Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron previously starred together in The Paperboy (2012) .

June 2024 TV and Streaming Premiere Dates

• When was A Family Affair released? Powered by Alexa
• June 28, 2024 (United States)
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• Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• Roth/Kirschenbaum Films
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• Runtime 1 hour 51 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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A Family Affair Trailer: Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron's Surprising Fling Drives Joey King Crazy

The rom-com is on Netflix June 28

Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron are bringing the heat in their latest rom-com.

Netflix debuted the first trailer for A Family Affair on May 29. The film stars Joey King as Zara, a young woman working as an assistant for movie star Chris Cole (Efron, 36), who becomes romantically entangled with Zara’s mother (Kidman, 56).

Zara quits working for Chris because of his demanding nature, narcissistic qualities and womanizing behavior, which only adds to her shock and disgust when she finds out her widowed mother is having an affair with her former boss.

The rom-com’s trailer puts the hilarious awkwardness of this unusual circumstance on full display, with one notable scene from the trailer showing Zara walking in on an intimate moment between Kidman and Efron's characters.

Zara screams at the sight of her mother and her boss kissing — and then, as she tries to make her escape, she accidentally slams into the doorframe.

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Tina Rowden/Netflix

PEOPLE shared exclusive first-look photos from A Family Affair back in April, with Efron calling the upcoming flick "funny, romantic and entertaining."

The Iron Claw actor also told PEOPLE he was nervous as an actor in his 20s working with Kidman, and experienced similar jitters on the set of  A Family Affair .

"I was still a bit apprehensive but reuniting with Nicole is always so great and as talented as she as an actress, she is equally kind, caring and wonderful to spend time with," Efron said, promising that their characters' chemistry in the film is "seamless, natural and fun."

The project marks the second romantic affair between characters of Kidman and Efron, with their 2012 movie The Paperboy featuring the pair as lovers, as well.

A Family Affair also stars Liza Koshy and Kathy Bates , from a screenplay by Carrie Solomon.

Aaron Epstein/Netflix

Director Richard LaGravenese ( P.S. I Love You ) told PEOPLE in April that the spark between Efron and Kidman in A Family Affair was "an answered prayer — something you hope for but can't plan."

"The interplay between Joey and Zac's characters as an assistant and star is so much fun," added LaGravenese, 64. "I also love the mother-daughter role reversal where the daughter becomes the disapproving, judgmental, suspicious parent and the mother is sneaking around her back having a love affair that makes her feel like she’s come back to life."

King, 24, told PEOPLE that being able to call Kidman — who was recently honored with the American Film Institute's  Lifetime Achievement Award  — her onscreen mom is "iconic."

"It’s truly one of those moments where you have to remind yourself that it’s actually your life and you’re getting to work with this person, and somehow they’re even more wonderful than you could imagine," she explained.

A Family Affair is on Netflix June 28.

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A Family Affair

By Jordan Bond | May 22, 2024

I’ve always had a soft spot for British comedy. At an early age, I was exposed to shows like  Mr. Bean ,  Are You Being Served? , and  Keeping Up Appearances . British comedy has a level of self-deprecation and absurdity that you often don’t see in its American counterpart. Writer/director Warren Fischer aims to tap into that tradition of humour with  A Family Affair .

Edward (Joe Wilkinson) and his wife Helen (Laura Aikman) run their estate in the English countryside as a bed and breakfast that functions as a spiritual retreat for its residents. Sadly, the lack of guests and a slew of negative online reviews have put the place in bad financial shape, meaning Edward is forced to put the property up for auction. Still, Helen’s parents, Margaret (Jane Asher) and Walter, are visiting the retreat to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Edward’s father, Albert (David Sherwood), is also visiting while still mourning the death of his wife.

Also tagging along for the weekend is Albert’s friend, Jessica (Jazzara Jaslyn), who is much younger and seems to be something of a gold digger. Jessica shows interest in Walter, forcing him into a compromising position as she sniffs out which of the other guests have deeper pockets. Holding this mix of misfit characters together is Rhys (Colin Hoult), the resident spiritual guru. He concocts a tea that carries a calming effect, very calming… to the point of sedation. Edward and Helen must juggle family tensions, potential buyers of the property, the loss of their business, and guests who may or may not be under the influence of the guru’s powerful drink.

“… concocts a tea that carries a calming effect, very calming… to the point of sedation. “

To address the obvious,  A Family Affair  feels like a modern version of  Fawlty Towers, a  British sitcom in which an accident-prone John Cleese ran a hotel in Torquay. Wilkinson’s character, however, is not quite the walking disaster that the  Monty Python  alum portrayed. There is a recurring joke of dripping water periodically falling from the ceiling onto the front desk. And while that is very akin to something that might have happened in that sitcom, this isn’t just full of wacky gags. Fischer delivers a message about the complications family can bring and the difficulties in holding together a rocky relationship.

Wilkinson is a great comedic actor and has gained some popularity across the pond in recent years thanks to appearances in  Sex Education  and Ricky Gervais’  Afterlife.  He is at his best telling absurd jokes with a deadpan delivery. There aren’t as many opportunities for his comedic talents to shine as I had hoped for here, but Joe still had some funny moments. However, the actor felt restricted in being a more serious than comical role. Hoult, who was also in  Afterlife , is great. The character’s subplot of tainted tea is the catalyst of many shenanigans. The actor projects a spirit of mischief, lightening the tensions between the two families and guests.

The written jokes are dated and might bring a chuckle here and there. A lot of scenes felt improvised and sometimes passed by without a good laugh. British comedies appeal to me because they often have heart in combination with good laughs.  A Family Affair  has the heart but could do with a few more laughs though what humour is here is funny.

A Family Affair (2024)

Directed and Written: Warren Fischer

Starring: Rory Acton Burnell, Joe Wilkinson, Laura Aikman, Jane Asher, Jazzara Jaslyn, Colin Hoult, etc.

Movie score: 6.5/10

"…has the heart..."

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‘A Family Affair’ Movie Starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron: Everything You Need To Know

The long-awaited rom-com is coming to Netflix on June 28th, 2024.

Picture: Netflix

Kissing Booth actress Joey King will star alongside Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman in the upcoming romantic comedy A  Family Affair . Originally scheduled for release on Netflix globally in November 2023, the movie was eventually delayed, had some reshoots but is now set for a late June 2024 release. Here’s everything we know, including the trailer, all the first looks, what to expect, and more.

Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Alyssa Altman are producing for Roth/Kirschenbaum Films. Tara Feldstein, Chase Paris, and Rich Delia serve as casting directors on the project. Andrea Wertheim and Joe Roth are also listed as producers.

A Family Affair is directed by Oscar nominee Richard LaGravenese , whose credits include P. S. I Love You, Paris je t’aime, Freedom Writers, and more. LaGravenese co-wrote the script with Carrie Solomon .

“I saw in it a coming-of-age story for three different characters at three different stages of their lives,” said Lagravenese in an exclusive statement to TUDUM.

Picture: Getty Images

Netflix bought the rights to the script in early 2022, with Netflix announcing the project in June 2022.

Let’s kick off our preview of the new movie with the trailer:

What’s the Netflix release date for A Family Affair ?

Announced in January as part of Netflix’s 2023 film slate reveal , it was announced that A Family Affair will be released worldwide on Netflix on Friday, November 17th, 2023. According to one crew member , the movie was initially due to be released in early 2023.

In July 2023, we learned that the movie may have been pushed from its November release date. Netflix confirmed to What’s on Netflix that the release date is in flux but did not state when the movie would be released.

We can confirm that the movie will finally be available on Netflix globally on June 28th, 2024. 

A Family Affair. (L-R) Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Cr. Aaron Epstein/Netflix © 2024

A Family Affair. (L-R) Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Cr. Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

What’s the plot of A Family Affair ?

Previously, not a whole lot was known about the plot, but we had a brief logline:

“The story is set following a surprising romance which kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.”

A further synopsis adds a bit more flesh to the story:

“Work as the assistant to super mega movie star, Chris Cole, a demanding and womanizing narcissist, is beginning to take its toll on Zara. On an impulse she quits her job, only to soon discover that her widowed mother has begun a romance with the famous playboy.”

A Family Affair. (L-R) Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, Joey King as Zara Ford and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Cr. Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

A Family Affair. (L-R) Joey King as Zara Ford and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in A Family Affair. Cr. Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

A Family Affair. (L-R) Joey King as Zara Ford, Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood and Kathy Bates as Leila Ford in A Family Affair. Cr. Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

A Family Affair. (L-R) Liza Koshy as Eugenie and Joey King as Zara Ford in A Family Affair. Cr. Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

Who is in the cast for Netflix’s A Family Affair?

The movie’s main star will be the iconic actress Nicole Kidman , whose recent credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Being Ricardos, and Aquaman . Kidman has also worked with Netflix before on Ryan Murphy’s The Prom . Kidman plays Brooke Harwood, Zara’s writer mother who falls into bed with movie star Chris Cole.

She will be joined by Zac Efron ( Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile , Baywatch ) as Chris Cole and Joey King ( Uglies, The Kissing Booth ) as Zara Ford. Efron has worked with Netflix on the reality series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, which returned for a second season .

In August 2022, the cast was expanded to include Kathy Bates as Leila and Liza Koshy as Eugenie.

Rounding out the cast are:

• Sherry Cola ( Joy Ride )
• Gissette Valentin ( Will Trent )
• Olivia Macklin (Psychopomp) as Ashley

When and where did A Family Affair film?

Filming began on August 2nd, 2022, and lasted for a few months before ending on October 18th, 2022. The film has been in post-production since October 2022. Filming took place entirely in Atlanta, Georgia.

On August 9th, the DailyMail snapped King and Efron on set in Georgia.

On September 26th, Kidman herself took to Instagram to state filming was still ongoing and that she was currently enjoying a nap.

As we covered in early 2024, some additional filming/reshoots involving all the principal actors in the project took place in early March 2024.

RMBI / BACKGRID

For more on Netflix’s upcoming slate of rom-coms – keep it locked here on What’s on Netflix.

Are you looking forward to the release of A Family Affair ? Let us know in the comments below.

Tigran is our resident previews writer. He works on collecting everything known about upcoming Netflix Original projects and also is editor-in-chief of Redanian Intelligence. Resides in France.

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• A Family Affair trailer showcases Joey King's shift from rom-com love interest to a daughter grappling with her mom's unexpected romance.
• Kidman and Efron's age-gap romance adds a twist to the film, promising a mix of comedy and emotional evolution for the characters.
• The star power in A Family Affair sets the stage for a promising release, with viewers trusting the leads to deliver laughs and swoons.

Netflix has released a trailer for their upcoming film A Family Affair . Directed by Richard LaGravenese, A Family Affair tells the story of a young woman, Zara, whose life balance is disrupted when the movie star that she works for falls in love with her mother. A few months ago, Netflix released the first images from the movie, which gave a look at Nicole Kidman, Joey King, and Zac Efron in their roles as the mother, daughter, and daughter’s boss-turned-mother's lover.

A Family Affair hits Netflix on June 28.

Now, Netflix has released the first full trailer for A Family Affair .

The trailer begins with King’s character seeking solace in her friend, who assures her how crazy the love story situation is. The scene quickly shifts to a scene wherein King accidentally walks in on her mom and her boss in the act. Upon seeing this, Zara promptly faints. As the trailer progresses, the main tensions in A Family Affair begin to show, as Zara experiences tension at work with movie star boss Chris Cole, and her mom falls deeper in love.

A Family Affair’s Unlikely Pairings Just Might Work

Nicole kidman and zac efron have an age-gap romance.

A Family Affair represents a departure for King in what made her most famous on Netflix: The Kissing Booth series . King plays a major love interest in those films, and while A Family Affair is also a romance movie, she is not the subject of that romance. Rather, her character Zara is initially repulsed and burdened by the relationship between her mom, Brooke, and Chris are going through, and must come to terms with it as the movie progresses. This will be an interesting perspective shift in comparison to her previous characters.

The star power behind A Family Affair is part of what will bring the film strength as it prepares for its release next month. King's co-stars are well-versed in both comedy and romance, and though Efron's age-gap romance with Kidman may be a different dynamic from his High School Musical or Greatest Showman days, he should be well-positioned to take full advantage of the premise. Whether a scene goes for laughs or swoons, prospective viewers will trust the two leads to deliver.

From Marriage Story to Glass and They Cloned Tyrone, here are our picks for the best movies on Netflix for everyone to enjoy this month.

The trailer for A Family Affair is a promising first sign for the film and its performances. While it seems that a lot of the comedy will start from the rift between Zara and the romance at the fore, the trailer also suggests the characters will go through a massive emotional evolution over the course of the film. This will take place as Zara comes to terms with her mom’s new relationship, and as Brooke works through her flood of emotions towards Chris.

Source: Netflix

A Family Affair (2024)

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Zac efron, nicole kidman have a surprise romance in ‘a family affair’ trailer.

In the Netflix film, out June 28, Efron is a movie star who grows smitten with Kidman, the mother of his former young assistant (Joey King).

By Lexy Perez

Associate Editor

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What starts as a surprise romance turns into a nightmare for one in the trailer for A Family Affair .

In the two-minute look at the upcoming Netflix film, Zac Efron stars as movie star Chris Cole who begins a romance with Nicole Kidman ‘s Brooke. However, Kidman just happens to be the widowed mother to Zara ( Joey King ), Chris’ young assistant who quit working for Chris and hates him.

“I know him very well. He’s self-absorbed and selfish,” King’s Zara says. “He’s going to hurt her, and I will have to kill him.”

“I love being your mother more than anything in this world. But I’m starting to feel things I never thought I would feel again. Not since your father,” Kidman says. “No! You did not just say that,” King yells in response.

A Family Affair is directed by Richard Lagravenese and written by Carrie Solomon. Kathy Bates and Liza Koshy round out the cast.

The film marks a reunion for Efron and Kidman, who previously starred in the 2012 film  The Paperboy  together.

A Family Affair premieres on Netflix on June 28.

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'A Family Affair' trailer teases Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman's steamy romance

The year of the age-gap romantic comedy is about to continue on Netflix.

The streaming service has debuted the first trailer for " A Family Affair ," the new rom-com in which Nicole Kidman , 56, and Zac Efron , 36, play romantic partners.

In the film, Joey King stars as a young woman who works as an assistant for a movie star, played by Efron, and discovers he has become romantically involved with her mom, played by Kidman. The trailer begins with King walking in on them in bed together before screaming, running into a wall and passing out.

The footage then cuts to a passionate love scene between Efron and Kidman. "I went a little crazy," Kidman's character says. "I'm allowed, right?" Later, the two are seen sharing a romantic dinner in a completely empty restaurant before King's character bemoans their "gross sexcapade thing" and declares that they're "not Jack and Rose" from "Titanic."

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The trailer advertises "A Family Affair" as "a love story for everyone and their mother" and notes it comes from the producers of " Anyone but You ," the hit romantic comedy starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney .

Watch 'A Family Affair' trailer with Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman

'a family affair' cast.

"A Family Affair" was directed by Richard LaGravenese, whose previous movies include "The Last Five Years" and "P.S. I Love You." It also stars Kathy Bates and Liza Koshy . Efron and Kidman previously played lovers in 2012's "The Paperboy," directed by Lee Daniels.

The 15 new movies you'll want to stream this summer, from 'Atlas' to 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'

'A Family Affair' release date

"A Family Affair" will hit Netflix on June 28.

The film will arrive on Netflix this summer on the heels of the Prime Video romantic comedy " The Idea of You ," which similarly depicted the relationship between a woman, in that case Anne Hathaway , and a famous younger man, played by Nicholas Galitzine.

Speaking to USA TODAY , Hathaway said she loved that the central relationship in "The Idea of You" provided "hope and this exploration that your life is yours and it's to be enjoyed by you, and only you know how it's going." She added, "Perhaps one of the signs of maturity is being able to define your life for yourself."

Looking for reliable options to stream "A Family Affair" on Netflix? Check out USA TODAY Home Internet for  broadband service plans  in your area.

Contributing: Anika Reed and Brian Truitt , USA TODAY

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Review: ‘A Family Affair,’ or Airing Dirty Laundry

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By Glenn Kenny

• Sept. 15, 2016

The Dutch documentarian Tom Fassaert (“ An Angel in Doel ”) delves into his own painful family history in the peculiar “ A Family Affair .” The film begins with Mr. Fassaert’s 95-year-old grandmother, Marianne Cilliers, summoning the filmmaker to her home in South Africa. Marianne, who pursued a modeling career in the 1950s, intermittently relegated her two sons, Rob (Mr. Fassaert’s father) and his older brother, Rene, to orphanages. In later years, she invited Rob, his wife and children to live near her in South Africa, then reneged on certain pledges, and left them more or less stranded. Now, in the new century, she decides to entrust her story to her filmmaker grandson.

Marianne has her own idea of how she wants it told. But Mr. Fassaert is invested in unearthing the secrets behind Marianne’s past behavior (which she’s coyly reluctant about divulging), and why she now wants to reclaim her family.

Marianne’s self-absorption and her demand for the adoration and fealty of the still-suffering family she abandoned, come off as monstrous. The film also depicts her disinclination or inability to adhere to a conventional matriarchal mode as something to shudder at. In the context of a private family history this may well be the case. In the context of a film in the theatrical market, the condemnation can’t help but carry reactionary implications.

Mr. Fassaert’s resolute focus on Marianne’s determined acts of rudeness make the picture’s narrative sluggish in sections. By the jaw-dropping climax (an argument over a family portrait), and the film’s not-entirely unpredictable denouement, you aren’t sure whether you are witnessing an investigative family chronicle or an act of revenge.

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• What is the release date of 'A Family Affair'? Release date of Joey King and Nicole Kidman starrer 'A Family Affair' is 2023-11-17.
• Who are the actors in 'A Family Affair'? 'A Family Affair' star cast includes Joey King, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Liza Koshy.
• Who is the director of 'A Family Affair'? 'A Family Affair' is directed by Richard LaGravenese.
• What is Genre of 'A Family Affair'? 'A Family Affair' belongs to 'Comedy,Romance' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'A Family Affair' releasing? 'A Family Affair' is releasing in English.

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A Family Affair

A Family Affair: Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast

• Release Date 28 June 2024
• Language English
• Genre Comedy, Romance
• Cast Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Liza Koshy, Kathy Bates
• Director Richard LaGravenese
• Writer Richard LaGravenese, Carrie Solomon
• Cinematography Don Burgess
• Producer Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Alyssa Altman
• Production Roth/Kirschenbaum Films
• Certificate 13+

About A Family Affair Movie (2024)

An unlikely romance triggers comical consequences for Zara (Joey King), a young woman grappling with the complexities of love, sex, and identity, when her mother (Nicole Kidman) and her boss who is a movie star (Zac Efron) fall in love.

A Family Affair Movie Cast, Release Date, Trailer, Songs and Ratings

A Family Affair Movie Trailer

A family affair photos.

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Nicole Kidman plays Zac Efron's love interest in upcoming 'A Family Affair': Watch trailer

Efron and Kidman star alongside Joey King in the trailer.

Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman are teaming up in an upcoming film titled "A Family Affair."

In a trailer for the flick released on Wednesday, Efron plays a high-flying superstar actor who becomes romantically involved with Kidman, the mother of his personal assistant played by Joey King.

Zac Efron, John Cena star in trailer for new film, 'Ricky Stanicky'

The trailer shows Efron and Kidman getting intimate, much to the chagrin of King.

"After two years of being his assistant, I know him very well, he is self absorbed and selfish," said King in the trailer.

"He's going to hurt her," King further warns in the trailer.

"I'm starting to feel things that I never thought I would feel again, not since your father," Kidman tells King in the trailer.

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A description of the film, slated to release on Netflix on June 28, describes "comic consequences for a young woman (Joey King), her mother (Nicole Kidman) and her movie star boss (Zac Efron) as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity."

The film is directed by "P.S. I Love You's" Richard Lagravenese and written by Carrie Solomon. The trailer also notes the film comes courtesy of the same producers as "Anyone But You," which came out in December.

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"The only thing worse than being the assistant to a high-maintence movie star who doesn't take you seriously? Finding out he's smitten with your mom," reads a description on Netflix.

Efron recently starred in 2023's "The Iron Claw." King played Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in "The Act."

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

New Netflix film with A-list cast slammed for ‘copying’ rival’s recent hit

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Netflix has released the trailer for its latest original film, stuffed full with A-list actors, but it’s attracted the ire of fans who claim it’s suspiciously similar to another recent movie on streaming rival Amazon Prime.

A Family Affair stars Zac Efron , Nicole Kidman and Kathy Bates, and promises a steamy age-gap romance with plenty of laughs.

The official synopsis reads: ‘A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.’

The Iron Claw star Efron , 36, plays obnoxious movie star Chris Cole, who gets involved with his put-upon assistant Zara’s mother, played by 56-year-old Nicole Kidman.

Obviously, Zara (Joey King) is less than impressed at this turn of events, fuming in the trailer: ‘After two years of being his assistant, I know him very well. He’s self-absorbed and selfish.’

While the film’s spicy scenes between its two stars are sure to make headlines, it’s been accused of being just another version of Prime Video’s The Idea of You .

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That recently released film on Netflix’s rival focused on the affair between a 24-year-old boyband singer (Nicholas Galitzine) and a 40-year-old single mother (Anne Hathaway), which she puts on hold for the sake of her daughter – who was also a big fan of his group when she was younger.

‘Wasn’t Anne Hathaway just in this movie?’ asked fan Kel as they reacted to the first look at A Family Affair.

‘The Idea of You and A Family Affair both [are] coming out this year,’ observed Courtney Myrden A the trailer released, adding: ‘I just find myself suspicious of Hollywood giving us two older woman/younger man romcoms at the same time.

‘I’m ALWAYS suspicious when it looks like they’re suddenly subverting old and baked-in formulas.’

Rick G. Rosner then tweeted: ‘Hey ChatGPT – I need 800 words on how A Family Affair is the same dang movie as The Idea of You. Not that that’s a bad thing.’

However, others rubbished the claims that the films were too similar, just because they featured age gap romances with an older woman.

‘Bro there is no way they knew about each other’s movies and it’s a completely different premise,’ insisted @elithebomberx3798 on YouTube.

‘Nobody copied but it has similar vibes,’ observed @kincyy, while @delrey wasn’t a fan of the competition anyway.

‘Well, this looks a little better than The Idea of You. That movie was a cringe fest,’ they commented.

Others also pointed out that A Family Affair had its release delayed to after The Idea of You’s May 2 streaming release due to the 2023 Sag-Aftra actors’ strike, which pushed it from the original planned date of November 17, 2023.

‘They started filming this movie BEFORE the idea of you and it was supposed to be released in late 2023,’ posted @dashithedoberman.

It’s also worth pointing out that the tone of both films is different, with The Idea of You leaning more towards a sweet and yearning romance with the odd laugh, while the trailer for A Family Affair suggests a much broader comedy take.

From King’s slapstick hitting her head on the doorframe in disgust over discovering her mother and boss in bed together to Efron complaining about only having two of his ‘one of a kind’ shahtoosh (wool from a rare Tibetan antelope) and referring to his Teen Choice Award, it’s not quite the same vibe.

Efron previously opened up about the movie’s racy scenes, admitting that he was rather nervous to star opposite Hollywood heavyweight Kidman once again.

The pair previously shared the screen in 2012’s The Paperboy – where their characters were also intimate and Kidman memorably urinates on him – but that was a gritty drama, about a reporter who returns to his Florida hometown to investigate the case of a death row inmate.

Speaking to People Magazine , the actor described their chemistry onscreen as ‘seamless, natural and fun’.

‘I was still a bit apprehensive but reuniting with Nicole is always so great and as talented as she is an actress, she is equally kind, caring and wonderful to spend time with,’ he praised.

A Family Affair releases on Netflix on June 28. The Idea of You is streaming on Prime now.

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Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman's x-rated scene in new Netflix movie is sparking controversy

Some people have expressed their discomfort seeing zac efron and nicole kidman take part in an intimate scene in their upcoming movie.

Dylan Murray

Age-gap relationships are a hot topic as of late, with many viewing them quite unfavorably both in real life and on the movie screen.

We saw this generally unfavorable opinion of these sorts of relationships through the public response to Jenna Ortega’s film, Miller’s Girl , earlier this year.

In the film, Ortega plays an 18-year-old girl engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her creative writing teacher 30 years her senior, a fact that drew plenty of criticism from the general public .

However, another example of this comes even more recently, and this time, the genders are reversed.

Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman are set to star in the upcoming movie A Family Affair as love interests, an idea that some people are highly uncomfortable with.

This is because Efron, who is 36, is twenty years younger than the 56-year-old Kidman, who will be making her first appearance as the star of a romantic comedy in several years.

The film sees an actor in his mid-30s pursue a relationship with the mother of his assistant, with the tumultuous relationship between the pair affecting the two’s relationship.

The trailer for the Netflix film , which features a very intimate scene between Kidman and the Iron Claw actor, has gotten some hefty pushback from fans online who feel uncomfortable about the age gap.

“What is up with the resurgence of so many ‘romance’ movies with a weird a** age gap?” asked one commenter, while another said: “Geez, they just keep making movies lately about older women going for men that are half their age.”

While these criticisms have been seen across the internet, they have frequently been paired with defenders of the film’s subject matter.

One user on social media questioned why people were so alarmed, stating: “It's only 20 years and they are both middle-aged.”

“I'm honestly not sure why so many people are so nonplussed over this.”

Keen movie fans will notice that both the plot of this movie and its signature pairing are a bit familiar.

For starters, Efron and Kidman have shared the silver screen once before, as they both starred in the film Paper Boy as love interests, though their relationship in the 2012 thriller was vastly different compared to their upcoming performance.

Alternatively, people have also been quick to criticize the film for its similarities to The Idea of You , a movie recently released on Amazon Prime that similarly features a famous younger man pursuing an older woman, with some questioning the originality of the Netflix film.

“Why does this feel it's kinda like The Idea Of You, but a comedic version?” questioned one commenter underneath the Netflix film’s trailer.

A Family Affair will be available to stream on Netflix on June 28.

Topics:  Netflix , Film and TV , Zac Efron

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20 Best Movies New to Streaming in June: ‘Hit Man,’ ‘Origin,’ ‘I Am: Celine Dion’ and More

Summer movie season is off to a slow start, as Memorial Day weekend hit a three-decade low at the box office. But at least there are some good movies coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix’s “Hit Man,” starring Glen Powell as an undercover cop who pretends to be a professional assassin. The Richard Linklater film will stream June 7, joining other titles coming to Netflix including “Aftersun” with Paul Mescal and “La La Land” starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

Chris Pine’s Los Angeles-set noir “Poolman” is landing on Amazon Prime Video on June 7, too, as well as “Mothers’ Instinct,” starring Anne Hathaway and Julianne Moore as housewives whose lives are shattered after a tragic accident. Sydney Sweeney and Powell’s hit rom-com “Anyone but You” also joins Prime Video on June 21, as well as the new documentary “I Am: Celine Dion,” in which the iconic singer navigates her stiff person syndrome diagnosis as she returns to the stage.

On Hulu, watch Oscar nominee “Perfect Days” or Ava DuVernay’s latest film “Origin,” or head over to Apple TV+ to watch Lily Gladstone shine in “Fancy Dance,” which premiered at Sundance ahead of her star turn in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Below, check out a full rundown below of the biggest movies new to streaming in June.

Hit Man (June 7 on Netflix) 

The Glenaissance is here. After earning buzz in major hits like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Anyone but You,” Glen Powell is the main star in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man.” Inspired by a true story, Powell plays an undercover New Orleans police officer who pretends to be a contract killer in order to arrest his clients. However, his latest case goes awry when he falls for the woman who hired him, played by Adria Arjona. Netflix bought the film out of the Toronto Film Festival for $20 million, and with “Twisters” coming up this summer, Powell’s star continues to grow.

A Family Affair (June 29 on Netflix) 

Just a couple months after Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine stole hearts in Prime Video’s “The Idea of You,” Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman are going at it in Netflix’s “A Family Affair.” Efron plays Chris Cole, an arrogant movie star, who falls for Nicole Kidman’s Brooke Harwood. The catch? Brooke’s daughter Zara (Joey King) is Chris’ assistant. A complicated, steamy love affair follows as Zara is caught between her mother and her annoying boss.

Aftersun (June 21 on Netflix)

Paul Mescal broke into Hollywood and earned his first best actor Oscar nomination with the poignant, coming-of-age film by first-time director Charlotte Wells. He plays a young father on vacation with his 11-year-old daughter, and they both struggle to come to terms with themselves and their place in the world. “For a depressive young dad at a Turkish resort with his pre-teen daughter, the pressure to maximize that time out of reality only draws the reality nearer; Charlotte Wells‘ sensuous, sharply moving debut shows that no amount of pool time and fruity drinks and Macarena dance-alongs can keep either the past or future at bay,” wrote Variety critic Guy Lodge. Check out this emotionally devastating movie before Mescal further blows up in this fall’s “Gladiator II.”

Am I OK? (June 6 on Max) 

Comedian Tig Notaro directs this coming-out story starring Dakota Johnson as Lucy, a woman who realizes she’s a lesbian after all her dates with men fail miserably. “Emotionally, she’s as awkward as a freshman with her first pimple. Lucy has never been in love, never had a real relationship, and never ends her dates with anything more than a handshake,” wrote Variety critic Amy Nicholson. Johnson and co-star Sonoya Mizuno earned positive reviews after the film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and now more people have the chance to check it out.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (June 1 on Netflix) 

Thanks to Warner Bros. Discovery’s new cross-platform deal, some of the movies previously only found on Max are now coming to Netflix, including the most recent entry in the terrifying “Conjuring” universe. “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they help a young man accused of murder who claims he was possessed by a demon. The real story went down in history as the first time demonic possession was used as a defense. Watch this movie ahead of the upcoming “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” which brings the Warrens’ story to a conclusion.

I.S.S. (June 3 on Paramount+)

Ariana DeBose stars in this outer space thriller that follows two diplomatic crews of scientists aboard the International Space Station who are each ordered to take control of the vessel at all costs. As geopolitical tensions ignite on the surface below, the astronauts, adrift from national identity and their fellow man, quickly begin to unravel. Gabriela Cowperthwaite directs.

Mothers' Instinct (June 7 on Prime Video)

This directorial debut by French cinematographer Benoît Delhomme stars Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway as a pair of housewives whose sisterly bond begins to crack after tragedy strikes their neighborhood. Part melodrama, part noir, the feature promises two transformational roles for its two leads.

Dumb Money (June 10 on Prime Video)

This ripped-from-the-headlines ensemble comedy retells the GameStop meme stock phenomenon that put Wall Street in a noogie during the COVID pandemic — less than three years after it all went down. Paul Dano, America Ferrera, Pete Davidson and many more stars feature as the online investors hoping to pump up the retail brand’s value so they can cash out against the rich suits that bet against the company. Craig Gillespie directs.

La La Land (June 1 on Netflix)

Damien Chazelle’s bittersweet ode to Los Angeles arrived on Netflix June 1. The movie musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone won six Oscars, including best director for Chazelle, best actress for Stone, best original score and best original song. It follows struggling artists Seb (Gosling) and Mia (Stone), a jazz musician and actress, who fall in love and must juggle their relationship while chasing their dreams in Hollywood. The film was a hit with critics and audiences, raking in $447 million worldwide. Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman loved the film, calling it in his review “the most audacious big-screen musical in a long time.”

Poolman (June 7 on Prime Video)

Who is Poolman? Why, it’s Darren Barrenman, the L.A aficionado and all-time chiller played by Chris Pine, who is pulled into a web of urban planning conspiracies that endangers the wellness of himself, his friends and his beloved pool. Helmed by Pine in his feature directorial debut and shot in sumptuous 35mm photography, “Poolman” has style and vision. It most closely resembles Pine’s goofball turn as an over-the-hill rocker in Netflix’s comedy series “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.” In a phrase: it has the funny.

I Am: Celine Dion (June 25 on Prime Video)

Celine Dion gets personal documenting her struggles with stiff-person syndrome in this new documentary. Helmed by Irene Taylor, the feature promises an intimate look at the world-famous singer’s recent health troubles and her wishes to return to performing live.

Anyone but You (June 21 on Prime Video)

She’s Sydney Sweeney. He’s Glen Powell. Can it all work out? You’d be surprised how many speed bumps there are in this romantic comedy, which sees the two stars play spurned lovers forced to reunite and play the happy couple to make their exes envious — all of this while everyone absconds to a destination wedding in Australia, which is really asking a lot of people. Will Gluck directs, bringing his signature touch.

The Old Oak (June 24 on Prime Video)

The final feature from esteemed British director Ken Loach, this drama continues the filmmaker’s decades-long project of combining sociological realism and fierce dramatic storytelling. The film follows a pub owner in a mining town struggling to keep his business afloat and the relationship he forms with a Syrian refugee to help steady its operations. Selected to play in competition at the Cannes Film Festival last summer, the feature provides a fitting capstone to Loach’s celebrated career.

Trigger Warning (June 21 on Netflix) 

Jessica Alba makes her return to the big screen in Netflix’s cleverly named “Trigger Warning,” her first film since 2019. She plays a Special Forces commando who takes ownership of her father’s bar after his death, but must contend with the dangerous gang causing trouble in her hometown. In the trailer, Alba shows off some “John Wick”-style action and must get to the bottom of her father’s mysterious death.

Perfect Days (June 6 on Hulu)

Wim Wenders received rave reviews — and an Oscar nomination — for his 2023 drama about a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Sharing its name with a Lou Reed song, “Perfect Days” premiered at Cannes Film Festival, where lead actor Kōji Yakusho won the best actor award. In his review for Variety , Guy Lodge called “Perfect Days” Wenders’ best narrative film in decades, praising its “humane, hopeful embrace of everyday blessings.”

Origin (June 10 on Hulu)

Ava DuVernay’s latest film is an ambitious and untraditional adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s nonfiction book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson herself, the movie follows the author as she travels through Germany, India and the United States, researching the deep-rooted social hierarchies in each country’s history. The film faltered at the box office but wowed critics, including Variety ‘s Peter Debruge, who wrote in his review : “The film will get people thinking and talking. The way DuVernay directs it, ‘Origin’ is a swirling tornado of ideas.”

Tangerine (June 1 on Netflix) 

Right after winning the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or for his latest film “Anora,” director Sean Baker’s acclaimed film “Tangerine” is coming to Netflix. Shot entirely on three iPhones, the film is an exuberantly raw and up-close portrait of one of Los Angeles’ more distinctive sex-trade subcultures,” wrote Variety critic Justin Chang. “Centered around two sharply drawn transgender women who find the resilience of their friendship tested and affirmed over the course of one busy Christmas Eve, writer-director Sean Baker’s sun-scorched, street-level snapshot is a work of rueful, matter-of-fact insight and unapologetically wild humor that draws a motley collection of funny, sad and desperate individuals into its protagonists’ orbit.”

Bread & Roses (June 21 on Apple TV+)

From Sarah Mani, “Bread and Roses” is a documentary that follows the effects of the 2021 Taliban offensive on women living in Afghanistan. As U.S. troops pulled out of the country and the Taliban strengthened its control, women lost the rights to work, go to school past sixth grade and walk unaccompanied. With Jennifer Lawrence boarding the film as a producer, the film premiered at Cannes in 2023 and was bought by Apple. In her review for Variety , Catherine Bray wrote, “This film is a necessary howl of rage, one that argues cogently — via the simple expedient of capturing life as it is lived — that to ignore what it happening in Afghanistan is to condemn half the population of the country to oppression under a dictatorship that is both political and personal.”

Of an Age (June 7 on Peacock)

Australian writer-director Goran Stolevski crafts a whirlwind romance drama in “Of an Age,” which centers on a young man who develops an intimate relationship with the brother of his ballroom dance partner over the course of 24 hours. The disorienting and swoon-worthy pull of first love overflows in Stolevski’s handheld direction, while his script embraces the warmth of finding your person with the heartbreak of not having enough time to make it endure. While the film’s central character learns to embrace his sexuality over the course of the film, Stolevski refuses to let his romance drama become a derivative look at queer self-acceptance. It’s all the more refreshing for that. “Of an Age” is a warm-hearted gem tinged with beautiful melancholy.

Fancy Dance (June 28 on Apple TV+)

Lily Gladstone is best known for her mesmerizing performance as Mollie Kyle in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress. But before that movie premiered in theaters, Gladstone starred alongside Isabel Deroy-Olson in Erica Tremblay’s directorial debut “Fancy Dance,” which bowed at Sundance in 2023. Apple picked up the distribution rights to the film more than a year later, giving it a limited theatrical window on June 21 before it streams on Apple TV+ later in the month. Variety chief film critic Peter Debruge called the film “engaging” and “a rare glimpse into Native culture” that both educates and entertains.

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How 'A Gentleman in Moscow' Became a Family Affair for Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead

W riter-producer Ben Vanstone's "A Gentleman in Moscow" covers decades but takes place in a single location: A grand hotel in Moscow where Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to spend his life under relatively comfortable house arrest after the Russian Revolution in 1917. Inside that hotel, the Count creates an unexpected family of sorts in the Paramount+ limited series based on Amor Towles 2016 novel. And in the role of the title gentleman, Ewan McGregor got to experience his own sense of family because his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, plays Anna Urbanova, a Russian actress whose relationship with the Count deepens over the years.

The Paramount+ limited series marks the third collaboration between McGregor and Winstead, who first met when they were cast in the third season of "Fargo." They also appeared in the 2020 film "Birds of Prey" but didn't have any scenes together.

Do the two of you look for projects to do together?

EWAN McGREGOR Yes. Do you have one? ( Laughs ) We're definitely on the lookout.

When you first got the script, did you think about Mary right away?

McGREGOR First I read the script and was very intrigued. I really liked Ben and I was very excited about (director) Sam Miller coming on because I loved "I May Destroy You." So I was on board. When we started talking about casting, I was very keen to have them think about Mary for the role of Anna. But at first, we didn't know how much of her story would be in the show. In the book, you turn the page and seven years have gone by and you learn that things have happened between the Count and Anna, but you didn't see them or read them. So I wanted to know that the part was going to be big enough for Mary to play.

Mary, how much of a part did you see on the page?

MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD Very little. I think I had the first two episodes and obviously I had the novel, so I knew that their relationship was going to blossom over the course of 30 years. But I didn't know whether they would focus on that. I was given a bit of confidence that it was going to be a great role, even though we didn't have the scripts yet. And so that was enough for me to jump on board and say yes. And then as the episodes were starting to roll in, I was floored by how beautiful our scenes were and how much the story started to focus on our relationship. 

You go into this series thinking it's going to be a historical drama with politics and intrigue. And slowly, it becomes a very emotional story about parenting.

McGREGOR Right. It's a real drama of the heart dealing with the idea of loss. It reminded me of old movies I used to love watching when I was a kid. There is something nostalgic about the playing of it, in a way. It felt like we were in an old movie, but the way we captured the story was very modern.

Speaking of the modern sensibility, Mary, you're playing a woman who's trying to establish her own agency in an environment where she's surrounded by powerful men that she's expected to please. I imagine that you probably didn't need to turn to history books for your research.

WINSTEAD ( Laughs ) I know! Absolutely. Obviously so much of our story is taken from the novel, which is brilliant. But also, Ben wrote these incredible scenes that were informed by the characters and what he imagined them to be going through. I thought it was so astute and true to the experience of so many women--of that time, and now, and of all time. I just was amazed by how much it resonated with me personally. When you get to be the age I'm at now (39), I can look back and see how I was navigating so much of my career trying to please everyone and not to make anyone unhappy, but I was not able to see it for what it was at the time. That comes much later. All of that felt very true.

At first the relationship between the Count and Anna is charged and sexy and she has the upper hand, but it becomes much more tender. Did playing it change when you found yourselves with your spouse in a story about family?

McGREGOR Yeah. It's difficult to describe, really. I've had people saying, "Oh, you've got to work with your wife" with horror, but it's such a pleasure to do. When the camera's rolling, I'm not looking across at my wife. I'm the Count looking at Anna. But we have such an instinct with each other when we're working, it's as good as it can get.

WINSTEAD Obviously, it's amazing to work with someone that you love and also that you respect and admire as an actor. And to me, there was an added benefit of the ease that we have with one another. When you're starting to work with someone, you don't know what you're going to get. ( Laughs ) And sometimes it can be difficult to go to an emotional place with someone that you maybe have trouble connecting with. That's obviously not the case with us.

Ewan, you also did a movie with your daughter Clara recently, "Bleeding Love," and your daughter Esther has acted in your series "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Is working with your family a particular pleasure for you these days?

McGREGOR Yeah. The more you do of this, the more you want to do it with the people you love. In a broader sense, I suppose you want to be working with people that are able to challenge you or stretch you. And after doing it for 30 years, that becomes harder and harder to find, I think. So working with people that you love and respect makes it all the more worthwhile.

This story first appeared in the Limited Series issue of TheWrap's awards magazine. Read more from the issue here .

The post How 'A Gentleman in Moscow' Became a Family Affair for Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead appeared first on TheWrap .