Watch with Bundle+
Sign in
My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend

Pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante has written four mega-popular Neopolitan novels that explore the complicated intensity of female friendship. "My Brilliant Friend" is the first in the series, and also the first to be adapted for television. Filmed in Italian, the eight-episode drama centers on elderly author Elena Greco, who learns that the most important friend in her life, Lila Cerullo, has disappeared without a trace. It causes Elena to reflect on the early days of their friendship in dangerous but fascinating Naples, Italy, in the 1950s, when Elena and Lila are two very different girls at the top of their class. The story goes on to cover more than 60 years of their lives as Elena tries to describe the mystery of Lila.
4 seasonsDrama, RomanceTV-MAAdult Situations, Adult Language
Essential planBundle+ plan
Watch with Bundle+
Compare plans
HBO Max channel logo
$33 + tax per month. with access to HBO Max, discovery+, AMC+, and All Reality. Cancel anytime. See terms.

Watch Now with Bundle+

Season 18 of 8 Episodes

  • The disappearance of her old friend, Lila Cerrullo, causes 60-year-old author Elena Greco to reflect on the early days of their friendship in the 1950s Naples, when Elena and Lila are two very different girls at the top of their class.

  • As fourth grade draws to an end, Elena and Lila fight with their families for the chance to continue their education; a trip out of town becomes a day Elena will never forget; a death changes things in the neighborhood forever.

  • Elena grapples with the onset of puberty, her studies and her friendship with Lila, who now works in her family's shoe-repair store; as the girls' encounters with the opposite sex become more frequent, Lila takes a stand against the Solara brothers.

  • Entering high school, Elena vows to stay ahead of Lila, academically and romantically; promising a better future for the neighborhood, Stefano Carracci invites Elena, Lila and their families over for New Year's Eve.

  • Elena grows tired of Gino, while Lila rejects two potential suitors at a cost; a rare outing into the city turns violent; Elena worries about not being there for Lila after accepting an invitation to spend the summer away from the neighborhood.

  • On the island of Ischia, Elena runs into the Sarratore family, reigniting her childhood crush on Nino; Lila's resistance to Marcello's pressing courtship reaches a breaking point; an unexpected encounter leaves Elena shaken on her 15th birthday.

  • Elena returns to Naples to find Lila has made a romantic connection with Stefano, despite the looming presence of Marcello.

  • With sales of Cerullo shoes lagging, Stefano cuts a business deal with the Solaras; after Elena gets kicked out of a class for voicing her opinion, Nino encourages her to write an article about her experience for his magazine.

Record to Watch Later

8 episodes will be broadcast over the next two weeks

    Le Bambole (The Dolls)
    I Soldi (The Money)
    Le Metamorfosi (The Metamorphoses)
    Le Smarginatura (Dissolving Margins)
    Le Scarpe (The Shoes)
    L'isola (The Island)
    I Fidanzati (The Fiancés)
    La Promessa (The Promise)
  • Le Bambole (The Dolls)

    The disappearance of her old friend, Lila Cerrullo, causes 60-year-old author Elena Greco to reflect on the early days of their friendship in the 1950s Naples, when Elena and Lila are two very different girls at the top of their class.
    Upcoming
  • I Soldi (The Money)

    As fourth grade draws to an end, Elena and Lila fight with their families for the chance to continue their education; a trip out of town becomes a day Elena will never forget; a death changes things in the neighborhood forever.
    Upcoming
  • Le Metamorfosi (The Metamorphoses)

    Elena grapples with the onset of puberty, her studies and her friendship with Lila, who now works in her family's shoe-repair store; as the girls' encounters with the opposite sex become more frequent, Lila takes a stand against the Solara brothers.
    Upcoming
  • Le Smarginatura (Dissolving Margins)

    Entering high school, Elena vows to stay ahead of Lila, academically and romantically; promising a better future for the neighborhood, Stefano Carracci invites Elena, Lila and their families over for New Year's Eve.
    Upcoming
  • Le Scarpe (The Shoes)

    Elena grows tired of Gino, while Lila rejects two potential suitors at a cost; a rare outing into the city turns violent; Elena worries about not being there for Lila after accepting an invitation to spend the summer away from the neighborhood.
    Upcoming
  • L'isola (The Island)

    On the island of Ischia, Elena runs into the Sarratore family, reigniting her childhood crush on Nino; Lila's resistance to Marcello's pressing courtship reaches a breaking point; an unexpected encounter leaves Elena shaken on her 15th birthday.
    Upcoming
My Brilliant Friend

More about My Brilliant Friend

Pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante has written four mega-popular Neopolitan novels that explore the complicated intensity of female friendship. "My Brilliant Friend" is the first in the series, and also the first to be adapted for television. Filmed in Italian, the eight-episode drama centers on elderly author Elena Greco, who learns that the most important friend in her life, Lila Cerullo, has disappeared without a trace. It causes Elena to reflect on the early days of their friendship in dangerous but fascinating Naples, Italy, in the 1950s, when Elena and Lila are two very different girls at the top of their class. The story goes on to cover more than 60 years of their lives as Elena tries to describe the mystery of Lila.

Starring

Margherita Mazzucco, Gaia Girace, Elisa del Genio, Ludovica Nasti, Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Gennaro Canonico, Pina Di Gennaro, Antonio Milo, Sarah Falanga

Subscribe to Enjoy 70+ Channels

Watch and record live TV with a Philo subscription

One Subscription.
Endless Entertainment.
Unlock live TV, binge-worthy shows, hit movies, and more. Starting at $25/month.
View plans

More like My Brilliant Friend

  • Tenebrae
  • A Burning Hot Summer
  • Deep Red
  • Gilmore Girls
  • Close To Me
  • Suspiria
  • Queen of Earth
  • Inferno
  • The Little Hours
  • Cracks

Popular on Philo

  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Caught in the Act: Unfaithful
  • The Golden Girls
  • 90 Day Fiancé
  • Fatal Attraction
  • Tyler Perry's House of Payne
  • The First 48
  • 90 Day: The Last Resort
  • Love and Marriage: Huntsville
  • 1000-lb Sisters

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Philo is a live TV streaming service that offers two plans to fit your entertainment needs:

    Essential ($25/month): 70+ live channels and over 75,000 movies and shows on-demand. New users get a 7-day free trial!

    Bundle+ ($33/month): Includes all the channels and entire streaming library available in the Essential plan, the entire AMC+ library, and access to HBO Max Basic with Ads plan and discovery+ included.

    Both plans: offer 1-year unlimited cloud DVR, let you stream on up to 3 devices at once, create up to 10 profiles, and cancel anytime with no contract.

    Free Channels: Not ready to subscribe? You can also enjoy Free Channels with no credit card required—simply create your account and start watching.

  • Yes! New users that sign up for the Essential plan can try it free for 7 days. You can explore our channels, features, and content before your subscription begins. No contract required—cancel anytime before your trial ends with no charges.

    • An email address
    • A future payment method
    • A broadband internet connection
    • A supported device
    Philo devices
    Web, iPhone & iPad, Android phones & tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV, VIZIO TV, LG TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Chromecast via Android
  • Yes! You can record an unlimited amount of live or upcoming content to your cloud DVR and save them for up to a year. No equipment needed!
    Save
  • Nope! No hardware is required, ever. Philo's DVR is already built into the app, so there's nothing to plug in, set up, or pay extra for.

    With an Essential or Bundle+ subscription, you get unlimited DVR storage included, and your recordings are saved for a full year. If you're watching with the Free Channels, recordings are saved for 30 days.

  • Yes! You can enjoy tons of premium television and movies by upgrading your Philo subscription plan with add-ons.

    Here is a list of our available add-ons:

    • HBO Max Standard (ad-free): Watch HBO Originals and hit movies ad-free for $13 more per month. Live sports included (in HBO Max app).
    • discovery+ (ad-free): Stream hit reality shows, documentaries, and more without the ads - all for $8 more per month.
    • Movies & More: Watch award-winning films, cult classics, celebrity stories, documentaries, and more - for $3 more per month.
    • AMC+ (ad-free): Enjoy ad-free access to the entire AMC+ library for $4 more per month.
    • MGM+ (ad-free): Stream thousands of the latest hits, fan favorites, original series, documentaries, and comedy specials for an additional $8/month.
    • ALLBLK (ad-free): Stream original series, independent films, nostalgic Black cinema, reality, and lively stage plays for $7 more per month.
    • Hallmark+ (ad-free): Watch exclusive originals, reality shows, rom-coms, cozy mysteries, heartfelt dramas, and beloved holiday movies for an additional $9/month.
    • STARZ (ad-free): Enjoy today’s hits, classic movies, and bold original series for an additional $12/month.
  • HBO Max:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your HBO Max Basic with Ads plan account.

    discovery+: Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.