Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong language in heartfelt coming-of-ager about gay teen.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Griffin in Summer
What's the Story?
GRIFFIN IN SUMMER follows Griffin (Everett Blunck), a 14-year-old with dreams of being a New York City playwright. His summer, which is already affected by his mom's (Melanie Lynskey) deteriorating marriage, is further upended by the arrival of Brad (Owen Teague), a 20-something who lives in their neighborhood and is trying to make money as a handyman to get back to his performance-artist life in New York. Griffin develops an attachment to Brad, which has an impact on his new play, his friendships, and how he views love.
Is It Any Good?
This coming-of-age comedy hilariously showcases the awkwardness of teenage first love, especially when that first love is someone older. Griffin in Summer deftly illustrates how cringey crushes—especially the kind Griffin gets on Brad—can be. Thankfully, most viewers probably haven't gone to the lengths that Griffin, misled by his childlike innocence and inexperience to naively think that he could have a future with a 20-something person, does here.
Though his crush eventually (and rightly) causes him heartache, Griffin learns the importance of having people who actually care about him, including his friends and his mother. Blanck does an excellent job of embodying Griffin through his emotional growth, giving the teen a maturity and sensitivity that feel rare in young actors. His standout performance is what makes Griffin in Summer so memorable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship. Was Brad a good friend for Griffin? Why, or why not? What important lessons does Griffin learn about friendship in Griffin in Summer? What other movies about friends do you like?
How do the characters and story show the importance of empathy? Why is that an important character strength?
How does Griffin's family life affect his decision-making? And how do the arts help him cope with his family life?
What makes this film an example of positive LGBTQ+ representation?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 29, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : September 16, 2025
- Cast : Everett Blunck , Owen Teague , Melanie Lynskey , Abby Ryder Fortson
- Director : Nicholas Colia
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Vertical
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 25, 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