Movie
The Next Best Thing
Best friends make the best mistakes
A comedy-drama about best friends - one a straight woman, Abbie, the other a gay man, Robert - who decide to have a child together. Five years later, Abbie falls in love with a straight man and wants to move away with her and Robert's little boy Sam, and a nasty custody battle ensues.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Next Best Thing opened in theaters March 3, 2000. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
A comedy-drama about best friends - one a straight woman, Abbie, the other a gay man, Robert - who decide to have a child together. Five years later, Abbie falls in love with a straight man and wants to move away with her and Robert's little boy Sam, and a nasty custody battle ensues.
Available now in United States
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More about The Next Best Thing
Cast
MadonnaAbbie Reynolds
Rupert EverettRobert Whittaker
Benjamin BrattBen Cooper
Malcolm StumpfSam
Josef SommerRichard Whittaker
Suzanne KrullAnnabel
Linda LarkinKelly
Illeana DouglasElizabeth RyderCredits
- Directed by
- John Schlesinger
- Written by
- Tom Ropelewski
Production details
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $25M
- Box office
- $24.4M
Production
Paramount PicturesUnited States
Lakeshore EntertainmentUnited States