Rose Byrne shares the chaos
Kelly drives the strategy alongside Mac, giving the married couple equal responsibility for their victories and disasters.
Neighbors follows new parents Mac and Kelly Radner as their uneasy truce with fraternity leaders Teddy Sanders and Pete Regazolli collapses into a vicious campaign of parties, pranks, and retaliation.
At a Glance
Full titleNeighbors
DirectorNicholas Stoller
CountryUS
LanguageEnglish
Release date2014-05-08
GenreComedy
Runtime1h 37m
Why Neighbors stands out
The comedy works because neither side is simply young or old: both households are anxious about the identity they are about to lose.
Mac and Kelly are allowed to be active comic partners rather than a sensible spouse and a reckless spouse. Their plans often become as elaborate and irresponsible as the fraternity's retaliation.
Teddy's charisma makes him more than a noisy obstacle. His investment in Delta Psi history hides real fear that Pete and the others have futures for which he is unprepared.
The suburban setting gives every prank a domestic consequence. Noise, lawns, plumbing, and property values become weapons because the opposing houses are only a few steps apart.
The ending gains warmth by letting time change the rivalry. Parenthood and graduation are transitions neither side can stop, even if they spend the movie trying to defend the identities that came before.
Mac wants to prove he is still fun; Teddy wants to prove college will never end—and their shared insecurity makes peace impossible.
A sympathetic comic opponent
Teddy's fear of the future gives emotional logic to his obsession with fraternity legacy.
Escalation with geography
Two neighboring houses create a clear battlefield where every party and prank affects both sides.
Adulthood without moral superiority
The parents are older, but the movie never assumes that makes their behavior wiser.
Story
Neighbors finds its central conflict between adults who miss being young and students terrified that college is the only identity they will ever master.
01
The fraternity moves in
Mac and Kelly worry about noise and safety when Delta Psi buys the neighboring house, but they want to appear relaxed rather than immediately become hostile parents.
02
A fragile agreement
Teddy promises to lower the volume if the Radners call him first, and an unexpectedly friendly party makes coexistence seem possible.
03
The police call changes everything
Exhausted by another loud night, Mac and Kelly anonymously contact the police, but Teddy discovers the betrayal and turns the neighborhood into a battleground.
04
Pranks cross property lines
Airbags, plumbing sabotage, surveillance, and public embarrassment replace conversation as each side tries to make the other surrender.
05
Teddy and Pete divide
Pete begins planning for life after graduation, while Teddy treats the fraternity's reputation and party history as proof that his own life matters.
06
The final party
Mac and Kelly need one documented violation to trigger the fraternity's remaining strike, leading both sides into their largest and riskiest confrontation.
Cast
Main characters and performers
Behind the Scenes
Runtime: 1h 37m.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller.
Genres include Comedy.
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FAQ
What is Neighbors about?
A couple raising a newborn enters a destructive prank war with the fraternity that moves into the house next door.
Who stars in Neighbors?
Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play Mac and Kelly Radner, while Zac Efron and Dave Franco play fraternity leaders Teddy and Pete.
Is Neighbors connected to a sequel?
Yes. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising continues the Radners' story.
Who directed Neighbors?
Nicholas Stoller directed the film.
How long is Neighbors?
The listed runtime is 1 hour 37 minutes.
Where can I watch Neighbors?
Availability varies by country. Use MovieLinks to compare current legal streaming and rental options.
