Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bullied kids get revenge; sex, violence, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
F the Prom
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say this film has sparked mixed reactions, with many deeming it inappropriate and poorly executed due to its excessive profanity and unrealistic portrayals of high school life. While some viewers enjoyed its humor and relatable themes among teens, numerous critics found it to be a cringeworthy experience lacking in substance and quality.
- poor execution
- excessive profanity
- unrealistic portrayal
- mixed reactions
- not suitable for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In F THE PROM, Cole (Joel Courtney) and Maddy (Danielle Campbell) start high school as best friends. But Maddy soon attains high status as a popular cheerleader and social high priestess, admired by all. Meanwhile, the artistic Cole becomes a bullied subject of ridicule. Maddy abandons him to stay on her elevated perch while Cole, hurt and in love with her, watches from afar. By senior year, Maddy's poised to be crowned prom queen, but things unravel when Maddy's friend steals away her prom king -- her boyfriend Kane (Cameron Palatas). Fallen from her perch, it's time for Maddy to go on a journey of self-improvement. But only time will tell if she mends her ways for good.
Is It Any Good?
This movie tries to be too many things to too many different people and thus makes little or no sense. F the Prom's Maddy goes from nice kid to snobby popular girl. How does that transformation occur? We never see. She condones bullying. She hangs out with jerks. But when she gets dumped by her popular boyfriend and reconnects with old friend Cole, she admits she's been awful and persuades him and other bullied kids to support her effort to sabotage the prom, a gesture designed to prove she's changed her ways. This seems unconvincing at best.
Equally difficult to credit is her later decision to betray her new friends and opt for a fairy tale, prom-queen triumph. It certainly feels unbelievable that she would somehow in the process have forgotten what fate she and her co-conspirators had planned for whoever was elected prom queen. After tar and feathers fall on her in the spotlight, she becomes apologetic again and somehow surprised that Cole is snubbing her. F the Prom relies on clever dialogue to disguise the fact that it has ignored any real character development. Why does the supposedly reformed Maddy, who understands the shallowness of popularity, go ahead and betray her friends again? When she makes a kind gesture at the end, Cole forgives her. It just doesn't seem plausible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why popular kids can sometimes be mean. In F the Prom, Maddy suggests that the pressure to stay popular made her try to be someone other than herself. Why do you think kids become bullies?
Why do you think people want to be popular? Do you think that impulse might come from insecurity?
What's the appeal of movies about the prom? How does this one compare to other prom movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 5, 2017
- Cast : Danielle Campbell , Joel Courtney , Cameron Palatas , Madelaine Petsch , Meg DeLacy
- Director : Benny Fine
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : The Orchard
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate