Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet coming-of-age film wraps up beloved queer romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Heartstopper Forever
What's the Story?
Years after they sparked a tentative romance in Heartstopper, Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) are headed into their last year of high school in HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER. Some things they know to expect: exams, senior prom, applications to university. But some they don't, as the two struggle to keep their relationship strong in the face of events that try to tear them apart. As always, Nick and Charlie can count on the loving support of best friends Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney), Isaac (Tobie Donovan), Tara (Corinna Brown), and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), who dispense advice and affection in good times and bad. Like the series, this film is based on the graphic novel series by Alice Oseman.
Is It Any Good?
Following the same contours as the beloved TV series, this film caps off Nick and Charlie's high school years to tell a coming-of-age story while remaining sweet and gentle. Heartstopper, the series, is known for its warm and fuzzy storylines; its teens suffer, as all teens do, from issues both social and internal, many of them connected to romance and friendship. Heartstopper Forever does likewise, distinguishing itself from an episode of the series by gently moving the maturity level a few steps upward. No longer is Charlie concerned with school bullies and Nick fearful of his classmates and loved ones knowing he's gay; the characters dealt with these problems years before, and have moved into worries about what will happen when their friends scatter off to their post-high school futures. The most pressing concern: How will Charlie and Nick's long-running romance fare after graduation?
"Teenage relationships don't last" is a sentiment repeated several times in Heartstopper Forever; whether uttered by Charlie or a friend, it's one of the chief concerns being chewed upon here. Charlie and Nick are as desperately in love as ever, and their relationship has moved into new territory with their first sexual encounter at the finish of Season 3. Is it strong enough to weather the changes in store as they graduate and begin college? And for that matter, will Elle and Tao's relationship endure? What about Tara and Darcy's connection, or Tori and Michael's? Every partnership is at a testing point, and each character has fears about what comes next and who they can rely on to stick around. Happily, even as these characters grow and change, some things stay the same, chiefly the supportive relationships between these friends we've gotten to know. Friends are there for each other in Heartstopper Forever, whether it's time for feel-better hugs or joyous celebrations. If teen romances don't always last, the bonds forged in adolescence frequently do, and it's easy to imagine this friend group moving into the future, still enjoying each other's company and sticking together through ups and downs. For a show so gentle, it's a message that's surprisingly heartfelt and deep.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Heartstopper Forever depicts teens. Are the characters and their decisions realistic? What about the consequences of those decisions? Do these characters seem like people you might know? Why or why not?
How does Heartstopper Forever depict bullying? What should teens do if that happens to them? What should they do if they see it happening to someone else? How does Charlie handle it? Positively or not?
How does this show explore ideas related to masculinity and what it means to "be a man"? What makes the male character(s) positive role models for boys?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 17, 2026
- Cast : Kit Connor , Joe Locke , Anna Maxwell Martin
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 21, 2026
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