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The Half of It

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for The Half of It PG-13 2020 1h 45m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 103 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.
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The Half of It

The Half of It

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Critics Consensus

For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.

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Critics Reviews

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Drew Gregory Autostraddle 09/10/2021
Funny and charming and lovely and real. Go to Full Review
Christina Newland Empire Magazine 02/20/2021
3/5
The Half Of It is a likeable if not especially memorable entry into the teen romantic-comedy genre - but it gains most of its merit through its sensitive depiction of outsiderdom and self-acceptance. Go to Full Review
Karen Han Polygon 02/20/2021
The idea of a teenage version of Cyrano de Bergerac seems to lend itself to pure romantic fluff, but Wu imbues it with incredible depth and consideration. Go to Full Review
Michael Cuby them. 10/03/2022
The Half of It brilliantly capitalizes on the everlasting appeal of an easy-to-swallow romcom by disrupting the very same tropes it inevitably clings to, resulting in a film that feels comfortably familiar but still entirely fresh. Go to Full Review
Rahul Desai The Hindu 07/20/2022
That rare film in which words marry technology. It puts the text back in texting. Go to Full Review
Ben Turner The Pink Lens 09/01/2021
4/5
Narratively this doesn't reinvent the wheel with this umpteenth retelling of the Cyrano de Bergerac story, but this is also absolutely one of the strongest teen movies released in recent years. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Blake- N @PBSAniDom 3d The Half of It stands out as one of the strongest coming-of-age films available on Netflix because it approaches teenage life with honesty, subtlety, and emotional intelligence. It avoids exaggerated drama and instead focuses on quiet, relatable moments that feel grounded and real. The performances are understated but powerful, especially in how the characters express uncertainty, identity, and connection. The film takes its time with relationships and personal growth, which makes everything feel more meaningful rather than rushed or artificial. Overall, it’s a beautifully written and thoughtful coming-of-age story that respects its characters and audience. It’s easily one of the best in its genre on Netflix, and I rate it a 10/10 for its sincerity, emotional depth, and refreshing storytelling. See more . .. @Br0wni3e Apr 13 LOVED IT, me and my sister watched it recently and she thought it was going to be a boring "straight" movie.... And then BOOM, so yeah I loved it! See more G M. @RT80338991 Apr 5 The movie started out okay. The female characters were intelligent and strong. The Caucasian male character was pitiful. He could hardly speak and he chased along behind vehicles. See more Rosie D. @Rosieeeee Feb 25 A really sweet and wholesome movie. I actually thought the friendship was the standout part of the whole thing. The way their bond developed felt way more touching anythingbelse. See more Hayes W. @Hayes532 Feb 16 It was so good I was great I like it a lot especially the ending when he chaises the train See more Brian B @BrianBRP Feb 14 Part Rom-com, Part coming of age story this is a delightful film. With a Cyrano de Bergerac plotline the script is sharp, witty, thoughtful and reflective by turn. It's slightly oddball progress is a welcome feature and although the film does not move quickly it moves at just the right speed for its subject matter. The cast are charming, the acting good and there is a real chemistry which gives the 3 main characters a believability that is lacking in many films of this genre. I enjoyed this film which is a bit more thoughtful and considered than mast and very much invite you to view it so that you can judge for yourself. See more Read all reviews
The Half of It

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The Half of It

The Half of It: Clip - Are You Ready The Half of It: Clip - Are You Ready 0:35 The Half of It: Clip - Being Authentic The Half of It: Clip - Being Authentic 0:54 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.
Director
Alice Wu
Producer
Blair Breard, Anthony Bregman, Alice Wu
Screenwriter
Alice Wu
Production Co
Likely Story
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Language|Teen Drinking)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2020
Runtime
1h 45m