In an era of movies so long they require a literal intermission, a brisk 90-minute dramedy is a breath of fresh air. Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain strikes a delicate balance between the various highs and lows of the story and allows each of the main characters to fully develop, all while clocking in under two hours. It stars Eisenberg himself alongside Kieran Culkin, who has already won a Golden Globe for his performance and is now nominated for a SAG award.
A Real Pain dives into family relationships, cultural heritage, trauma, and purpose while set against a gorgeous backdrop of a trip to Poland. And as our reviewer put it, "Honesty and healing are both the journey and the destination."
Searchlight Pictures released the family dramedy on digital platforms at the end of 2024 just shy of two months after its theatrical debut. Now, it's officially coming to streaming. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch A Real Pain at home (and maybe even for free).
What is A Real Pain about?
The Sundance hit A Real Pain follows estranged cousins Benji (Culkin) and David Kaplan (Eisenberg) who travel to Poland to learn more about their late grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. The perfect odd couple pairing, detail-oriented and professional David and charismatic slacker Benji have drifted apart after an inseparable childhood. The trip, which was written in their grandmother's will, has potential to bring them closer to each other as well as their family history. "Yes, A Real Pain is a movie about remembering the Holocaust, but it’s funny and heartwarming, a rare combination when considering the subject matter," Mashable Contributor Monica Castillo writes in her review.
Check out the official trailer for a sneak peek:
Is A Real Pain worth watching?
It may not have the Hollywood hype of some other awards contenders, but A Real Pain shines where it counts — critics and audiences both love it. Currently sitting with a 96 percent critic rating and 81 percent audience rating at Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is being praised for its balance of humor and emotional depth. Not to mention, Culkin has already won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Male Actor and is nominated for the same category at the SAG Awards.
Our reviewer writes, "It’s short and sweet, striking a delicate balance between the heaviness of the cousins’ trip and the pair’s mismatched dynamic. And like many vacations, A Real Pain feels like it’s over too soon, but it lasts just long enough to avoid overstaying its welcome. It’s a bittersweet tribute to the journeys our ancestors took to bring us to where we are today and coping with the troubled relationships we may share with our present-day relatives. "
Check out our full review of A Real Pain.
How to watch A Real Pain at home
A Real Pain made its at-home debut on Dec. 31 on digital retailers like Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, and other on-demand services. You can purchase it for your digital collection for $19.99. It will also be available to rent at a later date. If you'd rather stream the film, keep reading for more information.
Here are some of the platforms where you can purchase the film online:
Prime Video — $19.99
Apple TV+ — $19.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $19.99
YouTube — $19.99
Google Play — $19.99
When is A Real Pain streaming?
A Real Pain is already set to make its streaming debut on Hulu on Jan. 16. That's quicker than we were expecting, but a welcome surprise. It will join other Searchlight Pictures films and fellow Golden Globe nominees Nightbitch and Kinds of Kindness, as well as 2024 Oscar winner Poor Things on the streaming service.
Hulu is surprisingly one of the most generous streamers for newbies, as it offers a free 30-day trial. Subscriptions then start at $9.99 per month. Don't want to pay full price? We've also rounded up a few different ways you can save on your subscription below.
The best Hulu streaming deals
Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription
The best way to cut back on costs for a Hulu subscription is to sign up for an annual plan. A yearly subscription, paid upfront, costs just $99.99 ($8.33 broken down monthly), while a $9.99 monthly plan would add up to $119.88 in a year. That means you'll save about 16% or just shy of $20 in the long run.
Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 45% off
Opt for a bundle plan and get more bang for your buck. The Disney Duo Basic bundle, which gets you both Disney+ and Hulu (with ads), is only $10.99 per month. That's just $1 more than paying for Hulu alone, or a savings of 45%. Sports fans can also throw ESPN+ into the mix for only $16.99 per month total. That's 47% in savings on all three services.
Best for students: Hulu Student
Students can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month and stream A Real Pain and other Searchlight Pictures hits. That's 80% off the usual cost of a Hulu with ads plan. The only requirement is that you can verify your college email address using SheerID.
Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for Go5G Next customers
The only way to get Hulu for free in 2025, aside from a 30-day free trial, is to switch your phone plan to T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan can enjoy Hulu with ads for free, as well as Netflix and Apple TV+. For those already on the Go5G Next plan, just head on over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. You'll need to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu. You can read more terms and details on the promo page as well.
Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.
Topics Film Hulu Streaming How to Watch
