| The Next Best Thing | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Schlesinger |
| Written by | Tom Ropelewski |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Elliot Davis |
| Edited by | Peter Honess |
| Music by | Gabriel Yared |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (United States and Canada) Lakeshore International (International) |
Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million |
| Box office | $24.3 million[1] |
The Next Best Thing is a 2000 American comedy drama film directed by John Schlesinger (his final feature film before his death in 2003) about two best friends who have a child together and a custody battle years after. Starring Madonna, Rupert Everett, and Benjamin Bratt, it opened to the number-two position in the North American box office and poor critical reviews. The accompanying soundtrack album was appreciated by music critics. Its lead single, "American Pie" topped the charts in various countries, including Everett's native United Kingdom, and helped to introduce Don McLean's song to newer audiences.