Hal & Harper Trailer Review:
The first trailer is here for Cooper Raiff’s new series Hal & Harper, starring Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, and Betty Gilpin – and it teases a story that mixes heartache, nostalgia, and the messy pull of family ties. The series will begin streaming October 19 on MUBI, with the first two episodes dropping together and weekly episodes to follow.
What the Trailer Reveals
We meet Hal (played by Raiff) and Harper (Reinhart), now adults, who remain emotionally intertwined and deeply tied to their shared past.
Their father (Ruffalo), to their surprise, announces he’s having a baby with his girlfriend Kate (Gilpin), a revelation that rocks their world and forces them to reexamine their relationship.
Complicating matters further: their childhood home is up for sale, dredging up memories, loss, and regret.
Through a mix of humor and painful honesty, the trailer shows Hal’s impulsive, late-night calls to Harper, her resentment and confusion, and both of them struggling with how to grow up while clinging to what they once had.
Story & Themes
Hal & Harper is billed as a dramedy about two siblings whose closeness is both comfort and burden. Their father’s sudden new chapter triggers a reckoning of past trauma, identity, and how we carry childhood into the present.
Raiff’s approach is bold: he and Reinhart portray their characters at multiple ages, including school-age versions of Hal and Harper. This layering of past and present blurs the lines between memory and reality, forcing characters and viewers alike to question which selves are real.
The show also explores grief, boundaries, emotional codependency, and the idea that home isn’t just a place — it’s a collection of wounds and loves you can’t easily leave behind.
Cast & Creative Team
Cooper Raiff — Creator, director, and actor (as Hal)
Lili Reinhart — Harper, Hal’s older sister
Mark Ruffalo — Their father, wrestling with guilt, hope, and new life
Betty Gilpin — Kate, the new partner expecting a child with the father
Raiff’s previous films (like Cha Cha Real Smooth) brought him attention for raw, character-driven storytelling. With Hal & Harper, he moves into episodic territory — but with the same emotional precision.
Where & When to Watch
Streaming begins October 19 on MUBI, with Episodes 1 & 2 available immediately.
Subsequent episodes will roll out weekly.
