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SPF-18

SPF-18

201775 minPG-13Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
Director
Alex Israel
Starring
Carson Meyer, Noah Centineo, Bianca A. Santos, Jackson White

Eighteen-year-old Penny Cooper spent years pining for heartthrob surfer Johnny Sanders Jr. before his father’s tragic death brought them closer together. But now high school is over, and when mysterious country musician Ash Baker shows up on the beach, Penny is torn.

Where to watch

Where can I watch SPF-18?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists SPF-18 to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about SPF-18?

SPF-18 earns 2 badges, led by Overhyped and Universally Panned.

Reception

Is SPF-18 worth watching?

SPF-18's Midcredits score is the 1st percentile of all films, from 24K ratings across 4 sources. 9% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

1st percentile

Among the least well received films

1st percentile among Drama1st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)2nd
Approval (how many liked it)1st

36 /100

2nd percentile of all films

1st percentile among Drama3rd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

Approval

How many liked it

9% liked it

1st percentile of all films

1st percentile among Drama1st percentile among 2010s
9% rated it 7–1091% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

76th percentile

24K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Drama78th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 28% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Everyone agrees this is a short, low-stakes teen film with a great 80s soundtrack and beautiful beach visuals.

Fans praised

  • 80s soundtrack with iconic songs
  • beautiful California beach cinematography and scenery
  • relaxing, lighthearted, feel-good vibe

Detractors panned

  • nonexistent or incoherent plot with no clear story
  • cringey, unnatural dialogue and narration
  • wooden, unemotional acting from lead actors

What stands out

Sound and music75

80s soundtrack widely praised as best element despite odd placement

AtmosphereDivisive55

successfully captures lazy Malibu/summer vibe but feels hollow

CinematographyDivisive50

pretty beach and house shots undermined by shaky cam and odd framing

ActingDivisive15

mixed—fans find it charmingly awkward, detractors call it among the worst they've seen

Originality12

derivative of surfer/teen tropes yet bizarrely unique in execution

CharactersDivisive10

broad cardboard archetypes with no development or relatable motivation

Plot and story8

diffuse, meandering, lacking conflict or clear throughline

Dialogue7

cringey, stilted, reads like placeholder or Instagram captions

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is SPF-18 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you feeling good. 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

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmMelancholicRomantic
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmSentimental · 8% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its teenage characters' summer discoveries with earnest warmth and gentle nostalgia, never undercutting their emotions.
The rideThe film is likely a light, sun-drenched summer drama with occasional emotional dips, peaking when the characters face their choices.
StructureThe story follows a linear chronology of summer events at the beach house.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a warm, nostalgic glow about summer transitions, with a touch of melancholy from lost innocence and grief.
How it ends · evidence
Happy 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).
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%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · 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% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe film is an ensemble slice-of-life about five high school grads navigating personal transitions during a summer break; there is no overarching plot archetype.

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% (this title) · 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% · 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 filmsRomantic love · 15% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on the transition from high school into adulthood, with each character wrestling with who they are and what they want.
StanceThe film watches its characters navigate personal growth without heavy judgment, aligning with its observational tone.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanDomesticRealistic
PopSupportive music · original score · Emile Haynie
SettingKeanu Reeves' beach house in Los Angeles during summer
MusicA breezy, pop-leaning score accompanies the summer mood.

Content guide

Is SPF-18 okay for kids?

PG-13

SPF-18 is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for sexual material, nudity, language and some drug references” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (17/100), sexual content at moderate (50/100), language at moderate (40/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (27/100) and frightening material at mild (20/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 90%
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

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

Too few votes to rank this title overall (41 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

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 SPF-18 have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in SPF-18?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Carson Meyer
as Penny Cooper
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Noah Centineo
as Johnny Sanders Jr.
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Bianca A. Santos
as Camilla Barnes
Jackson White
as Ash Baker
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Molly Ringwald
as Linda Sanders
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Rosanna Arquette
as Faye Cooper
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Sean Russel Herman
as Steve Galmarini
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Goldie Hawn
as Narrator
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Pamela Anderson
as Pamela Anderson
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Juan Monsalvez
as Carlos
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 SPF-18?

Movies like SPF-18 include Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), Stargirl (2020) and Your Place or Mine (2023). Of the 12 closest matches, most are friends-to-lovers stories, and most are films set in the suburbs.

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

7 of these 12 share its story type: teen drama. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with SPF-18?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: friends to lovers. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.