Here's How To Watch Every Season Of Friends
If you are a sitcom fan, chances are you have seen quite a few episodes of "Friends." The show was not only immensely popular when it first aired, but it has also remained a perennial touchstone, even for viewers who didn't watch the series during its initial run in the '90s and early '00s. There is good reason why the sitcom has endured for so long. Over its ten seasons, its cast of characters goes through as many changes as you'd expect actual people to experience over the course of a decade. That not only helps the humor feel hilariously specific, but it also strengthens the emotional connection between the characters and the fans. Now, if you want to revisit some of the funniest and most heartfelt moments, where should you go to watch every episode of the series?
Thankfully, "Friends" fans and those looking to watch for the first time have an easy solution: all ten seasons of "Friends" are available to stream on MAX. That's right, you can revisit the ever-changing, often frustrating relationship between Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer), the surprising romance between type-A Monica (Courteney Cox) and laid-back Chandler (Matthew Perry), and the antics of the awesomely ditzy Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the even ditzier Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) all in one place.
That being said, MAX technically isn't the only place where you can watch "Friends" online. But it is the only option for watching a very special installment of the beloved sitcom.
Friends: The Reunion is exclusive to MAX
Max is the go-to home for all things "Friends," but it's not the only place where fans can watch the series. A handful of episodes from the sitcom's 3rd and 4th seasons are available on TBS. Of course, the full "Friends" saga can be binge-watched with a MAX subscription. Don't have a MAX subscription? All 10 seasons of the show are available for purchase on the usual digital storefronts like Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and more. Single episodes will run fans $2.99, while individual seasons cost $19.99. Considering there are over 230 episodes and 10 seasons, it's fair to say that your wallet will thank you if you decide to take the plunge on a MAX subscription.
Beyond that, MAX is the only way to watch "Friends: The Reunion," the near-two-hour-special that brought the show's cast and crew together over a decade later. The one where they got back together debuted in 2021 on the Warner Bros.-backed platform and was an immediate hit with fans of the series. It boasts a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a solid 8/10 rating on IMDb, signaling positive fan reception.
In the reunion episode, the core cast members revisit some of the show's most iconic sets, including Central Perk, and reflect on the legacy that "Friends" has managed to cultivate over the last three decades. Hosted by James Corden, "Friends: The Reunion" features several appearances from former guest stars like Reese Witherspoon, Tom Selleck, and more. For hardcore fans of the series, the reunion episode is a must-watch, as it's filled with memorable callbacks and heartfelt moments of rumination, and serves as a reminder as to how "Friends" continues to be relevant to this day.
Why Friends is still so iconic
The success of "Friends: The Reunion" reconfirmed that the series is one of the most beloved pop culture products from the '90s. Nearly three decades after its debut, "Friends" continues to be a persistent part of our lives, consistently referenced and mentioned. The proof is in the pudding: the reunion episode emerged as one of MAX's most-watched programs when it debuted, topping the platform's charts. That pent-up demand for the reunion, over a decade in the making, made sense considering the show's original finale managed to bring in over 50 million viewers in 2004.
While modern-day streaming data isn't as transparent as television ratings, it's obvious that "Friends" is one of MAX's most popular offerings. When the streaming service — then known as HBO Max — launched in 2020, it quickly became the platform's most-watched show. Nostalgia certainly plays a part in the show's contemporary popularity, but it should be acknowledged that the series is simply timeless. The series effortlessly highlights the issues that plague twentysomethings, reminding viewers that the problems that existed in the '90s continue to persist today.
Beyond that, it's pure comfort. It's a series of familiarity and set expectations. While other sitcoms come and go, "Friends" will likely remain a fixture in our television diet for generations to come. For prospective viewers who haven't jumped aboard the hype train, the entire "Friends" series, including "The Reunion," is available on MAX.