'Friends: The Reunion': Air time, how to live stream and all you need to know about sitcom's special episode

The famous cast will not be playing Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross but themselves
The entire cast of 'Friends' will reunite for a special episode (Instagram@jenniferaniston)
The entire cast of 'Friends' will reunite for a special episode (Instagram@jenniferaniston)

They'll be there for you, come May 27 on Warner Media’s streaming service HBO Max. Yes the gang is back together, with several famous friends in tow as 'Friends' finally returns. After years of discussions, fans are finally getting what they have waited for, with a special episode appropriately titled 'The One Where They Get Back Together' to honor the sitcom's 25th anniversary.

The episode was initially slated to film on March 23 and 24, 2020. However it was delayed due to the pandemic. Jennifer Aniston chose to see the positive in the postponement and said, "You know what? This has also given us more time to make it even more exciting and more fun than it would have been. So I choose to see it as the glass is half-full that it got postponed. Look, we’re not going anywhere. You’re never going to get rid of Friends, sorry. You’re stuck with us for life guys."

RELATED ARTICLES

'Friends' Reunion Special: Release date, plot, cast and all you need to know about the NBC comedy's comeback on HBO Max

'Friends' reunion: Social media critics hope fans finally 'realize how unfunny the show is'



 

Air time and how to live stream

The episode begins streaming on HBO Max on May 27. You can subscribe to HBO Max by visiting HBOMax.com to sign up. Those who had HBO before HBO Max launched, possibly already have access. HBO Max is currently available only in the US and Puerto Rico. So far, there is no word on the episode's availability in markets that do not have HBO Max. Zack Snyder’s 'Justice League', however, another HBO Max production, was released in other countries on other streaming platforms such as Sky Cinema in the UK and in Australia on streaming service Binge. Similar arrangements may be made for 'Friends: The Reunion'.

In case you need to catch up on your 'Friends' watching before the reunion, all 236 episodes of 'Friends' are now available on HBO. 

Cast

While the entire cast will be a part of the special episode, HBO Max has made it very clear that they will not be playing the characters that made them famous but rather will be playing themselves. HBO Max in a statement said, "In order to avoid any misunderstanding about what this special is, we want to make it very clear that this is not a new, original episode of the series. The cast will be appearing as themselves, not as their beloved characters."

The cast members have reportedly been paid between $2.5 million to $3 million for the episode, significantly more than their $1 million per episode rates when 'Friends' was still on the air. The episode will show the cast revisiting the set and reminiscing along with some other surprises. Lady Gaga, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Malala Yusafzai, Kit Harrington and K-Pop sensation BTS are expected to be some of the special guests to make an appearance on the special episode.

Trailer

To get a sneak peek of what's in store come May 27, here's a look the teaser below. While it doesn't show us too much, the cast walking with their arms around each other, hearing the theme song did give us goosebumps. 



 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

ABC’s 2026 schedule moved 'High Potential' while renewing all scripted shows and adding 'The Rookie: North.'
45 minutes ago
Diane Sawyer’s ABC special explores Richard Simmons' mysterious disappearance, planned comeback, and hidden final years.
4 hours ago
Bernthal penned the script for 'The Punisher: One Last Kill' himself, working alongside Reinaldo Marcus Green, who also directed the special.
5 hours ago
'NCIS' Season 23 finale revisits a deadly bombing as Kayla Vance returns and McGee bonds with his newly revealed son, Mateo.
6 hours ago
'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' has been a staple of late-night television on CBS since September 2015.
9 hours ago
Prime Video dropped an explosive promo of 'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 7 ahead of its May 13 premiere
13 hours ago
Season 2 was titled 'Jury Duty Presents Company Retreat,' and it followed Anthony Norman, who was hired as a temp
13 hours ago
The gritty spy thriller premiered in 2022, was one of Prime Video's bona fide hits, and will return this fall.
14 hours ago
The standalone special closes out the second season of 'Daredevil: Born Again,' which aired its finale last week on May 5
14 hours ago
The show ends with Calvin and Tina bidding an emotional farewell to the Johnsons
15 hours ago