The happy and sad moments of six friends in “Friends” have bonded many generations of audiences, since it first aired in 1994.
On September 22, 1994, the first episode of Friends premiered, depicting the scene of six friends chatting in the Central Perk coffee shop in New York (USA). Monica (played by Courteney Cox) talks about a meeting with a guy who calls himself a wine expert. Monica’s brother Ross (David Schwimmer) wife – left him for another woman. Meanwhile, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) appears in a wedding dress, after breaking up with her fiancé.
Thirty years later, many viewers still refer to Friends as the symbol of the sitcom genre. On social networks, fans call the work “the best TV show of all time”. On September 24, an account named Lydia Giannaki wrote: “The only series I ever wanted on DVD. I haven’t watched it since Matthew Perry died because it was so sad. But I think I’ll watch it again now.”
Netflix Tumdum statistics show that the series is always in the top 10 most watched English-language series in countries such as Australia, UK, Egypt, India, Bangladesh. According to JustWatch , the work is currently in 148th place on the streaming film chart.
After star Matthew Perry died on October 28, 2023, Friends was the most-streamed show on US platforms for a week afterwards. In 2019, the project was the most-watched show among British teenagers, according to a survey of 2,000 people by Childwise.
Cinema sites say the term “global phenomenon” is not enough to describe Friends. The series changed the face of television comedy, setting new standards for content, storytelling style and audience reception. Previously, comedies often focused on single humorous situations and typical characters. The series brought a new approach, complex plots and multi-dimensional characters, with advantages but also many bad habits and hidden personal aspects.
In an era when television focused on family, peer relationships, and romantic love, a series centered on friendship like Friends stood out. Television executives believed that the young cast and urban setting would be unfamiliar to many viewers. However, this opened up a new direction for the sitcom genre, orienting viewers’ attention to stories about friendship, career, and youthful experiences.
The work also changed the way people talked to each other. The humorous, typical sayings of the character Chandler Bing became popular and were used by many people every day, proving the influence of the language in the film on real-life communication. Set in the 1990s, Friends evoked a cheerful atmosphere, becoming a beautiful image in the memories of many viewers. The project created trends in dressing style and hairstyle. The songs Smelly Cat and I’ll Be There for You became popular.
According to the Guardian , the popularity of Friends is also due to the quality of the script and the acting talent of the cast. The plots in the film are close, can happen to anyone, creating comfort when problems and conflicts are always resolved in a positive and humorous way. In addition, viewers experience profound moments about love and family.
Each actor brings their own style, creating harmony for the film. Jennifer Aniston shows strength, from an innocent girl to an independent woman. Courteney Cox is charming as Rachel’s best friend. Matthew Perry (Chandler) stands out with his humorous energy, Matt LeBlanc (Joey) shows his silliness through his expressions and voice. David Schwimmer (Ross) plays a sensitive and conflicted person in love, while Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) brings a strong personality and counter-prejudice thinking.
The show is loved by Gen Z (born 1997-2012) and Millennials (1981-1996). They look to Friends as a program to learn English and learn about American popular culture. The inclusion of many slang words and everyday communication situations helps young audiences improve their vocabulary and understand the Western lifestyle.
The project lasted for a decade, with 10 seasons, generating millions of dollars through streaming services and television in the years that followed. According to Forbes , the series earned an estimated $4.8 billion for Warner Bros. In 2004, the final episode attracted 52.5 million viewers.
The show has been nominated for more than 60 Emmy Awards and has been listed among the best TV shows of all time by Time , Empire , and TV Guide . Forbes believes that the show will live on for generations. Meanwhile, the Guardian writes: “Young audiences will enjoy it for many reasons, but for older viewers, Friends was one of the great shows that came before mobile phones and streaming services.”
