Parents' Guide to

Stargirl

By Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Gentle book-based school drama has positive messages.

Movie PG 2020 104 minutes
Stargirl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 10+

Based on 9 parent reviews

awkward_handshake
awkward_handshake Adult
November 9, 2020
age 16+

Beautiful movie and great soundtrack! Too mature for little ones though.

A very imaginative and heartfelt movie about being unique, having empathy, and not fitting in with the crowd. It's about the strength it takes to be true to yourself, even when you stand alone outside of the crowd. It really expresses how people can sometimes be unpredictable, unforgiving, selfish, and ungrateful and overlook good intentions. It's a very heartwarming and emotional movie that will definitely get you thinking and smiling! However, I feel that the passionate kissing scenes between the main characters, who are minors, and the intense story might be a bit too mature for little ones. I haven't read the book, but it's classified as a young adult novel, so that makes sense why they went that route with the movie. Anyway, for that reason, I generally would recommend it for 16 and up.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
Megen Hall
Megen Hall Parent of 6, 8 and 10-year-old
September 7, 2020
age 9+

a really heartwarming movie!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a really great movie! my 6 year old sister loved it so much she started crying! she told me it was really good! a five star rating! you really should watch it!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When a free-spirited teen named STARGIRL enrolls in a small-town high school, her presence has ripple effects and will change the life of shy kid Leo. Stargirl (2016 America's Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal) has been homeschooled and doesn't dress or act the way other kids do. But she quickly wins their affection when she takes to the field at halftime during a football match and sings a folksy school-spirit tune with her ukulele. The team scores a touchdown immediately after, and Stargirl takes on the aura of a good luck charm for the entire school. When she starts dating Leo (Graham Verchere), an unassuming boy also being raised by a single mother, his cachet at the school goes up. He's happy to finally fit in, but that's not who Stargirl is. Their friendship will teach him, and others at the school, the value of acceptance, kindness, and integrity.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (29):

Stargirl's messages are positive ones for tween viewers, who will be drawn in thanks to the popularity of the book and the novelty of the film debut of VanderWaal. So, first things first: the young star gives a charming performance and proves she can act as well as sing. Co-star Verchere and a diverse supporting cast are equally charming. Fans of VanderWaal or the book likely won't be too put off by significant changes to the original story, the film's uneven pace, or some corny magical undertones.

Stargirl could be called the High School Musical of misfits and underdogs. But considering the majority of real-life teenagers are probably a lot more like Leo, Kevin, and even Stargirl than Troy, Sharpay, and the HSM gang, the film may actually be the more representative high school movie. There's no shortage of genre staples, including awkward encounters at school, football games, and the obligatory school dance. Stargirl falls into a growing body of films, like the HSM series, that show teens to be kinder, more genuine, and more accepting than the '80s screen teens of their parents' generation in, say, The Breakfast Club or Footloose. And while their typical teen identity issues are magnified in the age of social media, a minor theme in Stargirl, they're shown here to also benefit from healthier relationships with their parents. That, and the '80s musical references, make the film an okay watch for the whole family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the movie Stargirl compares with the book. What's changed, and how do these changes affect the story and characters?

  • Classmates think Stargirl is a good luck charm for their school. Do you believe individuals can bring good or bad luck? Why or why not?

  • What did you think of Stargirl's winning speech about patience in the digital age? Do you agree? Why or why not?

  • Why does Leo say to fit in he needs to "disappear"? Have you ever felt that way?

Movie Details

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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 suggesting a diversity update.

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