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Adam

Adam

Being yourself isn't always straightforward.

201995 minMidcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Director
Rhys Ernst
Starring
Nicholas Alexander, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Leo Sheng, Chloë Levine

Adam, an awkward teen, spends a summer with his older sister, who is part of New York City's lesbian and trans activist scene. He meets the girl of his dreams but can't figure out how to tell her he's not the trans man she thinks he is.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Adam?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Adam streaming on Hulu, Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Adam?

Adam earns 1 badge: Award Winner.

Reception

Is Adam worth watching?

Adam's Midcredits score is the 9th percentile of all films, from 4.5K ratings across 6 sources. 21% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

9th percentile

Better received than 9% of films

8th percentile among Comedy10th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)12th
Approval (how many liked it)10th

47 /100

12th percentile of all films

12th percentile among Comedy15th percentile among 2010s

Critics 64 · Audience 46

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

21% liked it

10th percentile of all films

8th percentile among Comedy10th percentile among 2010s
21% rated it 7–1079% rated it 1–6

Critics 73% · Audience 18%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 4 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

61st percentile

4.5K ratings across platforms

56th percentile among Comedy65th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 24% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$364K

33rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A provocative queer satire about a cis teen mistaken for trans, with good intentions but divisive execution.

Fans praised

  • bold satire that challenges queer orthodoxies
  • strong performances from trans cast, notably Leo Sheng and MJ Rodriguez
  • engaging coming-of-age story about identity and empathy

Detractors panned

  • harmful trans and lesbian stereotypes, including corrective rape trope
  • protagonist's deception is played for laughs without addressing consent
  • boring pacing and uninteresting lead character

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive75

fresh take on queer themes, though familiar structure

Acting68

cast appealing, especially trans actors

HumorDivisive55

comedy of errors; some find it off-key or offensive

PacingDivisive45

slackens midsection, boring to detractors

Plot and storyDivisive40

deception premise seen as offensive or thoughtful satire

Emotional impactDivisive40

moving moments undercut by problematic premise

CharactersDivisive35

protagonist deplorable and boring; some see flawed but human

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Adam like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you want something light and affecting.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulHopefulContemplative
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film balances comedic awkwardness with sincere emotional beats.
The rideThe film is a coming-of-age comedy with a light touch, but reviews mention it deals with hard truths, suggesting a hopeful yet contemplative mood that builds toward the end.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly across Adam's summer in New York.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's controversial treatment of identity and consent leaves a lingering unease and debate.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% (this title) · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of errors: Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.

11% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeAdam's false identity as a transman drives the comedic confusion in this coming-of-age story set in NYC's activist scene.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfComingof age
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Coming of age · 5% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film follows Adam's last high school summer, exploring his growth and understanding of love and friendship within a vibrant activist community.
StanceThe film questions what it means to come of age in a complex social landscape, exploring identity and community without celebrating or condemning.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRealistic
Supportive music · original score · Jay Wadley
SettingNYC's lesbian and trans activist scene during a high school summer
MusicThe score supports the film's tender and wry tone without overwhelming the narrative.

Content guide

Is Adam okay for kids?

As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (52/100) and sexual content at intense (63/100).

Ratings in 1 other country
  • South Korea18
Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavier than 44% of all films
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavier than 83% of all films

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 2.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Adam have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Adam?

Cast

3 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Nicholas Alexander
as Adam
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Bobbi Salvör Menuez
as Gillian
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Leo Sheng
as Ethan
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Chloë Levine
as June
Margaret Qualley
as Casey
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Haley Murphy
as Sandy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Gracie Lawrence
as Kelsey
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Hayley Huntley
as Alyssa
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Colton Ryan
as Brad
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Mel Hinkle
as Kate
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Adam?

Movies like Adam include The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl (2017), Shortbus (2006) and Bamboozled (2000). Of the 4 closest matches, half are comedies of errors, and most are films set in New York.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Adam?

6.2K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: romcom. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.