Anna Kendrick cried watching Rebel Wilson's Girl Group movie

Rebel Wilson knew she had “something special” when Anna Kendrick cried while watching her movie Girl Group.

The Australian actress wrote and directed the film and also stars in it, as a pop-diva who has been kicked out of her own girl group’s reunion tour.

The movie is having its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with Rebel saying during a press conference that she screened it for her Pitch Perfect castmates - known as the Bellas in the film - to get their reaction.

She explained: “I had the Bellas - I love how it just seeps into our real lives - but the Bellas all came to a mini test [screening] that I put on in LA.

“I really wanted their feedback because we worked together for seven years doing these movies. And even though we had the Pitch Perfect music team also on Girl Group, I really wanted their input, because one half of them are directors now as well, with Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow. They’re all crushing it.

“And so, they know musicals, like me, inside and out, and because I had such a wealth of material, I just wanted their opinions and their input.”

When it came to their reactions, it was the finale that had the most impact on Anna.

Rebel continued: “Anna Kendrick, who’s probably the hardest one to crack, cried during the finale number Ride-or-Die, and I was like, ‘Yes!’

“If I could get Anna Kendrick to cry, whose been in the musical theatre world since she was like that big, I knew I had something special.”

Speaking previously about the bold new comedy - which features an ensemble cast including Spice Girls star Melanie Chisholm and Pussycat Dolls’ Ashley Roberts - Rebel explained: “Ever since being a part of the Pitch Perfect franchise, I’ve always wanted to create something similar.

“Girl Group is just so fun and full of spirit that’s ready to have you singing and dancing out of the cinema.

"We have such an amazing team working on this - from Chris Scott, who choreographed Wicked most recently, to the music team that brought you A Star Is Born and Pitch Perfect.

"The cast is jam-packed with triple threats - or maybe I should say quadruple threats because they’re funny as well… This is the ultimate girl power movie!”