50/50

Adam Lerner is a 27 year old writer who discovers he has cancer. Instead of retreating from life, he leans on a quick witted best friend, Kyle, and a circle of family and colleagues who keep him moving forward. Katherine, a medical student he meets, becomes a quiet anchor as treatment begins and the days grow crowded with tests, side effects, and small, stubborn acts of normalcy. The film follows Adam as he negotiates doctors advice, relationships, and the fear that tomorrow might change everything. Through humor and candid conversations, it portrays a young man learning to accept uncertainty while clinging to hope, friends, and love. It keeps a spare, honest tone through hospital visits and late night talks, quietly.

Directed by Jonathan Levine, 50/50 draws on Will Reiser's real life experience. The 2011 dramedy stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anna Kendrick with Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston in supporting roles, and helped launch thoughtful cancer comedies worldwide.

The film grossed about 39.2 million worldwide on an 8 million budget, a solid return that underscored its mainstream appeal. It performed well worldwide, resonating with critics and audiences and helping prove that thoughtful cancer dramas could find broad appeal.

50/50 is often cited for its frank blend of humor and mortality, showing illness as part daily life rather than a distant crisis. Gordon-Levitt plays a vulnerable character with honesty, while Rogen provides blunt support that foregrounds friendship. The film helped broaden the tonal range of cancer cinema and culture.

Critics praised its balance of laughs and heartbreak, noting a refreshingly candid take on mortality, the strength of relationships, and the search for hope in tough times. Reiser's screenplay and the central performances anchor a story that treats illness as a life challenge rather than a punchline for audiences everywhere.