Skip to content
MovieCove
Straight A's

Straight A's

201391 minRMidcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Director
James Cox
Starring
Ryan Phillippe, Anna Paquin, Luke Wilson, Riley Thomas Stewart

Pressured by his late mother's ghost to return home to the family he abandoned, a former addict grabs a bag of pills and a sack of marijuana and hits the road to Shreveport.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Straight A's?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Straight A's streaming on Howdy via Prime Video, Pluto TV (free), Prime Video, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Straight A's?

Straight A's earns 1 badge: Bittersweet.

Reception

Is Straight A's worth watching?

Straight A's' Midcredits score is the 29th percentile of all films, from 6.5K ratings across 4 sources. 34% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

29th percentile

Better received than 29% of films

31st percentile among Comedy29th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)30th
Approval (how many liked it)29th

56 /100

30th percentile of all films

33rd percentile among Comedy32nd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.9 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

34% liked it

29th percentile of all films

30th percentile among Comedy28th percentile among 2010s
34% rated it 7–1066% rated it 1–6

80th percentile

6.5K ratings across platforms

77th percentile among Comedy82nd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26

Box office

Budget$2M
Worldwide gross$62K

Returned 0.0× its budget — 19th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A low-budget drama about a black sheep returning to reconnect with family in the South.

Fans praised

  • Understated, natural acting and chemistry among cast members
  • Surprisingly engaging story of family reconciliation despite soap-opera elements
  • Effective music and cinematography that enhance emotional moments

Detractors panned

  • Amateurish direction and editing that undermine the story
  • Unpolished, disjointed narrative with continuity errors
  • Gratuitous profanity and unsympathetic adult characters

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

Understated performances, particularly Ryan Phillippe and Anna Paquin

Emotional impactDivisive55

Touching family moments for some; unearned sentiment for others

CharactersDivisive50

Unlikable adults, charming kids, one-note supporting roles

Sound and musicDivisive50

Emotionally fitting at times, but often generic or mismatched

Plot and storyDivisive45

Predictable but engaging family reconciliation with loose threads

Dialogue40

Overly profane and artificial at times, with some witty moments

Originality35

Familiar prodigal-son and love-triangle formula

Pacing30

Slow, choppy editing with jarring scene transitions

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men even
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Straight A's like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It takes its time, has a few laughs and leaves you bittersweet. 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

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
BittersweetWarmMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmTender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film balances humour and emotional weight with a sincere, warm approach to its characters' struggles.
The rideThe mood stays mostly warm and bittersweet as Scott reconnects, with heavier emotional weight arriving late as his secret comes out.
StructureThe story follows a conventional chronological order from Scott's return through his interactions with the family.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a mix of melancholy and optimism as Scott attempts to reconnect with his family despite past damage.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

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).Rebirth
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% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeScott returns to his Louisiana family seeking redemption for abandoning his fiancée and his years of addiction, fitting the redemption subtype of rebirth.

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 filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · 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% (this title) · Redemption 6% (this title) · 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%

Bonds

Family bondsRedemption · 6% of films: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Guilt · 3% of films
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 themeScott's return forces the family to confront past betrayals and secrets, testing the bonds of brotherhood, marriage, and parenthood.
StanceThe film examines family bonds and the possibility of redemption without resolving whether Scott deserves another chance.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticRuralRealistic
FolkOrchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Joe Purdy
Settinga Louisiana small town, family home and surrounding countryside
MusicJoe Purdy's folk-influenced score likely underscores the film's gentle, Southern tone.

Content guide

Is Straight A's okay for kids?

R

Straight A's is rated R: “Rated R for language and some drug use” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (7/100), sexual content at mild (33/100), language at severe (83/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (50/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany6
  • Brazil12 Anos
  • Netherlands12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (25 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 Straight A's have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Straight A's?

Cast

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

Ryan Phillippe
as Scott
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Anna Paquin
as Katherine
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Luke Wilson
as William
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Riley Thomas Stewart
as Charles
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ursula Parker
as Gracie
Amparo Garcia-Crow
as Louisa
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Augustin Solis
as Carlos
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tess Harper
as Mother
Powers Boothe
as Father
Christa Campbell
as Dana
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Straight A's?

Movies like Straight A's include The Color Purple (1985), The Inspection (2022) and 28 Days (2000). Of the 12 closest matches, most are films set in the rural American South, and half are found-family stories.

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

5 of these 12 share its story type: redemption. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Straight A's?

7K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: found family. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.