Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sensitive look at the effects of gun violence and grief.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Graduates
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE GRADUATES follows a group of intertwined characters who are still grieving a year after a deadly high school shooting. Among the lives lost was Tyler (Daniel Kim), the boyfriend of survivor Genevieve (Mina Sundwall). Tyler was also the son of the school's basketball coach, John (John Cho), and the best friend of Ben (Alex R. Hibbert), who dropped out after the trauma became too much for him to bear. The film follows these characters as they try to make sense of their lives after the loss, especially with high school graduation—a time when they should be at their happiest—coming up quickly.
Is It Any Good?
This drama is a sensitive examination of how grief can turn lives inside out. Loss of all kinds is often very hard to deal with, but it can be particularly hard when it comes due to something like gun violence, especially in the context of a school shooting. While The Graduates doesn't make any political commentary on gun violence, it does show the emotional and institutional effects its can have. Sadness, grief, mourning, anger, fear, and loss of safety are just some of those results.
Sundwall, Hibbert, and Cho all demonstrate tremendous range when conveying how intimate grief can feel to those who are suffering, as well as how hard it is to communicate those feelings to other people, even those who might be sharing in the same circumstances. Hannah Peterson's direction, which includes many moments of silence and introspection, also shows how grief isn't just about the emotions, but also about how empty and silent life can feel without the person you've lost. Overall, The Graduates is a deeply touching film in what is sadly a growing subgenre of dramas about the effects of gun violence on teenagers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about grief. How do the characters in The Graduates handle grief throughout the film? How does this compare to other ways you've seen loss addressed in movies?
How does finding community help characters cope with their feelings? What kinds of communities are you part of?
What is the film saying about gun violence? Do you agree?
What message does the film have about moving forward with life despite grief?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 1, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : February 4, 2025
- Cast : John Cho , Mina Sundwall , Alex R. Hibbert
- Director : Hannah Peterson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , African American Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : The Future of Film is Female
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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