50/50 (2011) is a heartfelt dramedy based on a true story, blending humor and heartbreak as it follows a young man’s fight against cancer. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen as unlikely emotional anchors, the film navigates illness, friendship, and survival with raw honesty and unexpected warmth.
Think you remember who stayed, who bailed, and who found hope in the darkest places? Take this 10-question trivia challenge and find out if you’ve got what it takes to beat the odds — 50/50 style
50/50 Trivia Questions & Answers
Here are the correct answers and detailed explanations for 50/50 (2011) — a film that walks the fine line between laughter and heartbreak, based on real-life resilience.
1) Who plays the main character, Adam Lerner, in 50/50 (2011)?
Correct Answer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Adam, a 27-year-old who receives a life-changing cancer diagnosis. His performance is nuanced, portraying vulnerability, frustration, and quiet strength in a role inspired by screenwriter Will Reiser’s real-life experience.
2) What serious diagnosis does Adam receive in the film?
Correct Answer: Spinal cancer
Adam is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer called schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma. The diagnosis sends shockwaves through his relationships and forces him to reevaluate what really matters in life.
3) Who plays Adam’s best friend, Kyle?
Correct Answer: Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen plays Kyle, Adam’s loud, inappropriate, but loyal best friend. Rogen also co-produced the film, drawing from his own friendship with Will Reiser, who inspired the character of Adam.
4) What is Adam’s profession?
Correct Answer: Radio journalist
Adam works at a public radio station, helping produce stories — a quiet, structured life that gets upended by his diagnosis. His work environment contrasts sharply with the emotional chaos that follows.
5) Who is Adam’s inexperienced therapist?
Correct Answer: Katherine
Katherine, played by Anna Kendrick, is a young, compassionate therapist still in training. Though awkward at first, she becomes a crucial emotional anchor for Adam — and their bond grows into something deeper by the film’s end.
6) What is the relationship between Adam and his girlfriend Rachael?
Correct Answer: It falls apart due to her lack of support
Rachael tries to be there for Adam but struggles with the reality of his illness. Her dishonesty and emotional distance — including cheating on him — eventually lead Adam to break off the relationship.
7) What hobby does Kyle use to help Adam cope with treatment?
Correct Answer: Picking up women
Kyle uses Adam’s illness — and the sympathy it elicits — as a way to meet women. While it seems superficial, it also reflects Kyle’s flawed but genuine attempt to keep Adam social and distracted from the pain.
8) What book does Kyle pretend to read to impress others?
Correct Answer: “Facing Cancer Together”
Kyle buys a book titled Facing Cancer Together, claiming he’s reading it to support Adam. Later, Adam finds it stuffed in the bathroom, barely touched — revealing Kyle’s comedic but caring way of “helping.”
9) What major procedure does Adam undergo near the end of the film?
Correct Answer: Surgery to remove the tumor
After chemotherapy fails, Adam has to undergo a high-risk surgery to remove the tumor. The lead-up to the operation is one of the film’s most emotionally raw sequences, showing Adam finally breaking down in fear and exhaustion.
10) How does the film end for Adam?
Correct Answer: He survives and starts a new relationship with his therapist
The film ends on a hopeful note — Adam survives the surgery and begins to heal, both physically and emotionally. He and Katherine take the first steps toward a romantic relationship, symbolizing new beginnings after trauma.
