TL;DR: The Half of It is the rare "teen movie" that actually treats teenagers like complex humans instead of marketing demographics. It’s a beautifully shot, quiet, and deeply intellectual story that tackles LGBTQ+ identity, the weight of the immigrant experience, and the friction of faith in a small town. If your teen is tired of "brain rot" content and wants something that feels real, this is a top-tier pick for ages 13+.
Quick Recommendations for the "Coming-of-Age" Vibe:
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before (The more "pop" cousin of this movie)
- Lady Bird (For the parent-child tension)
- Heartstopper (For a more optimistic take on queer identity)
- Everything Everywhere All At Once (For a deeper dive into the immigrant parent-child dynamic)
Released on Netflix in 2020 and directed by Alice Wu, this isn’t your typical high school rom-com where the nerd gets a makeover and wins the prom king. It’s a loose, modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac.
The story follows Ellie Chu, a straight-A Chinese-American student who runs a side hustle writing essays for her classmates in the dreary town of Squahamish. Paul Munsky, a sweet but inarticulate football player, hires her to write love letters to Aster Flores, the popular (and seemingly perfect) daughter of the local deacon. The twist? Ellie is also secretly in love with Aster.
What follows isn't a wacky comedy of errors, but a slow-burn exploration of what it means to love someone, the loneliness of being "the only one" (the only Asian family in town, the only queer person in a religious circle), and the realization that love is "messy and horrible and selfish and bold."
In a world of 15-second TikToks and "Ohio" memes, The Half of It demands a longer attention span. It’s "prestige" teen media. It matters because it doesn't offer easy answers.
According to recent community data, about 65% of high school students feel that media portrayals of high school are "unrealistic." This movie is the antidote to that. It captures the specific boredom of a small town and the way teens use media (texting, old movies, art) to find their own voices.
It also hits on three major pillars of identity that are often simplified in other shows:
1. The Immigrant Experience
Ellie lives with her father, a highly educated engineer who is stuck in a low-level job at the train station because his English isn't "perfect." The movie shows the quiet, heavy burden of the first-gen child: being the translator, the bill-payer, and the emotional anchor for a parent who has sacrificed everything.
2. Faith and Deconstruction
Aster Flores isn't just a "pretty girl." She’s a girl struggling with the expectations of her religious community. The movie treats faith with a surprising amount of respect while still acknowledging how suffocating it can be when you don't fit the mold. It’s a great entry point for talking about "deconstruction"—a term your teen has definitely seen on social media.
3. LGBTQ+ Identity Without the "Glee" Treatment
There are no glittery coming-out montages here. Ellie’s journey is internal, hesitant, and complicated by her surroundings. It feels authentic to the experience of a kid in a conservative town who is just trying to figure out if they can even exist as themselves.
Ask our chatbot about other movies with strong Asian-American leads
Netflix tags this as PG-13, and for once, the rating is actually helpful.
- Language: There’s some "teen talk"—a few S-words, some "hells" and "damns." Nothing that will shock a middle schooler, but it’s there.
- Drinking/Smoking: There’s a scene involving some teenage drinking (and the subsequent hangover), but it’s not glamorized. It’s mostly just sad and messy.
- Themes: This is the big one. The movie deals with intense loneliness, the death of a parent (Ellie’s mother), and the fear of social rejection.
- Romance: It’s mostly pining and letters. There’s a brief, somewhat awkward kiss between two girls, and a few scenes of "making out" (clothed) between the heterosexual characters.
Recommended Age: 13+. A mature 12-year-old could handle it, but the philosophical themes (Sartre, Camus, the nature of the soul) might fly over their heads. This is a "sweet spot" movie for 10th and 11th graders.
If you’re watching this with your teen (or just discussing it after), here are a few "no-BS" takeaways:
- It’s not a "happily ever after" movie. If your kid wants a movie where the guy gets the girl and they dance at prom, watch The Kissing Booth (actually, don't, it's terrible). The Half of It ends on a note of growth, not necessarily romantic victory.
- The "Cyrano" connection. If you want to be the "cool, smart parent," mention that this is based on a play from 1897. If they’re into theater or literature, they might appreciate the Cyrano de Bergerac parallels.
- Roblox and the "Entrepreneur" Mindset. You might notice Ellie’s side hustle of writing papers for money. While Screenwise doesn't condone academic dishonesty, it’s a great moment to talk about the "hustle culture" teens are immersed in. Whether it's selling skins in Roblox or doing homework for cash, kids are feeling the pressure to monetize their skills earlier than ever.
Don't make it a lecture. Just ask a few open-ended questions:
- "Who do you think was the most 'trapped' in that town? Ellie, Paul, or Aster?"
- "What did you think about Ellie's dad? Do you think she felt like she could ever leave him to go to college?"
- "The movie says love is 'messy and horrible and selfish.' Do you agree, or is that just teen angst?"
- "How do you think the church community would have actually reacted if Ellie and Aster came out?"
The Half of It is a rare 10/10 in the teen movie genre. It avoids the "brain rot" tropes of viral challenges and shallow influencers, opting instead for a story about art, language, and the difficulty of being known. It’s a great "bridge" movie—something that bridges the gap between the stuff they watch because it’s trending and the stuff they’ll remember when they’re 30.
If your teen loved the vibe of this movie, they might be looking for more "low-fi," thoughtful content. Check out these resources:
Check out our full guide on navigating LGBTQ+ themes in media