The team behind Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s film Together has rejected a copyright lawsuit claiming their movie copied the 2023 film Better Half.
Together premiered at Sundance in January and was sold to Neon for $17 million. It will be released in theaters on July 30. The lawsuit, filed in May by Better Half’s producers, alleges that Together is a “blatant ripoff” and that the Better Half script was previously offered to Brie and Franco in 2020.
Attorney Nicolas Jampol, representing Together, argued in a May 21 letter that the films are “not remotely similar.” He said the concept of a couple stuck together is an unprotectable idea explored in many works. He added that Better Half is a light comedy, while Together is a supernatural thriller.
Jampol also noted that Together’s script was written and registered with the Writers Guild of America in 2019, before Better Half’s script was offered to Brie and Franco’s agent.
The Better Half lawsuit claims Together copied many unique elements and includes similar references to the Spice Girls and Plato’s Symposium. Plaintiffs’ attorney Daniel Miller described some shared scenes—such as the couples being attached at the genitals and hiding from a romantic interest—as clear copies.
Miller has requested evidence of Together’s independent creation and criticized the defendants for not sharing the original script drafts. Jampol urged the plaintiffs to drop the suit, warning of potential legal fees if it proceeds.
Representatives for Neon, WME, Brie, Franco, and the filmmakers declined to comment.
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