The Next Best Thing

The Next Best Thing is a 2000 American comedy drama film directed by John Schlesinger and starring Madonna, Rupert Everett and Benjamin Bratt. It follows a woman who has a one-night stand with her gay best friend, which results in her giving birth to a son that the two attempt to co-parent over the ensuing years amidst a custody battle. It features supporting performances from Michael Vartan, Josef Sommer, Lynn Redgrave, Neil Patrick Harris, and Illeana Douglas. It was Schlesinger's final feature film before his death in 2003. The Next Best Thing was released by Paramount Pictures on March 3, 2000. The film was a box-office bomb as it grossed $24.3 million against a $25 million budget and received overwhelmingly negative reviews from film critics, with the screenplay and performances receiving criticism. 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, where Madonna extended her record as the female artist with most number-one songs in the country.