| The Next Best Thing | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Schlesinger |
| Written by | Tom Ropelewski |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Elliot Davis |
| Edited by | Peter Honess |
| Music by | Gabriel Yared |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (North America) Lakeshore International (Internationally) |
Release date |
|
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" reached the number-one in various countries and helped to introduce Don McLean's song to newer audiences.