Club Kid takes us deep into New York's queer nightlife, where the music never stops, the parties never end and growing up is something best postponed indefinitely. Jordan Firstman's outrageously funny directorial debut turns that lifestyle upside down when a ten-year-old boy suddenly appears, transforming a wild club comedy into one of the year's most unexpectedly moving films about fatherhood, friendship and finding your place in the world.
Film details
- Title: Club Kid
- Premiere date in the Netherlands: 12 November 2026
- Director: Jordan Firstman
- Runtime: 126 minutes
- Genre: Comedy, drama
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Subtitles: Dutch
- Age rating: 16+
- Cast: Jordan Firstman, Reggie Absolom, Cara Delevingne, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Colleen Camp, Diego Calva and Eldar Isgandarov
- Where to watch in Rotterdam: KINO, LantarenVenster and Cinerama
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What's the vibe?
Peter lives as though every night is Friday night. As a well-connected promoter in New York's queer club scene, he spends his evenings organising parties, dancing until sunrise and navigating a social circle where excess is practically a professional qualification.
His days are considerably less impressive.
Then, one morning, a ten-year-old boy named Arlo appears in his life. The child is his son, although Peter has spent the previous decade blissfully unaware of his existence.
Suddenly, a man who can barely organise his own life is expected to look after somebody else's.
What follows is a chaotic journey from nightclubs to school routines, with Peter attempting to balance an increasingly complicated career, questionable habits and a child who turns out to be considerably more emotionally mature than his father.
Writer, director and star Jordan Firstman brings his recognisable brand of sharp, irreverent comedy to the big screen. The opening sequences are a dizzying immersion into Brooklyn nightlife, filled with pounding music, flashing lights and enough dubious decisions to sustain several seasons of reality television.
But beneath all that noise lies a surprisingly tender story.
As Peter and Arlo gradually discover each other, Club Kid shifts from outrageous comedy into something considerably more emotional. Crucially, the film never suggests that growing up means abandoning an entire community or becoming somebody else.
It is about learning that responsibility and personal freedom might actually coexist.
And perhaps discovering that the best party of your life occasionally involves being home before midnight.
Trailer
Check out the trailer below.
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Why you might like it
- Eyes: Shot on 35mm film, Club Kid captures New York's queer nightlife through vivid colours, sweaty dancefloors and energetic camerawork, contrasting its chaotic club sequences with quieter, intimate moments between father and son.
- Heart: The chemistry between Jordan Firstman and young newcomer Reggie Absolom gives the film an emotional centre, turning an unlikely parenting arrangement into a genuinely touching relationship.
- Mind: Beneath the humour lies an exploration of chosen family, queer identity, responsibility and the idea that personal growth does not require rejecting the people or communities that helped shape you.
Critical reception
Club Kid has emerged as one of the most enthusiastically reviewed independent films of 2026.
As of 10 November, Rotten Tomatoes lists the film at an extraordinary 100% from 65 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.7 out of 10. Metacritic also reports a highly favourable reception, with scores in the low 80s as additional reviews are incorporated.
The remarkable consensus is particularly impressive for a directorial debut from someone previously known primarily for provocative internet comedy.
The Guardian awarded the film four stars, praising its relentless humour and the surprising sincerity of its emotional journey. The review highlighted Firstman's ability to move between outrageous jokes and genuine affection without making either feel out of place.
Time Out also gave it four stars, celebrating the film's infectious energy, memorable supporting characters and the natural chemistry between Firstman and Reggie Absolom. Its review particularly praised the film's ability to balance hedonism with the responsibilities of fatherhood.
Screen International was even more enthusiastic, describing Club Kid as an outstanding queer family drama that combines biting humour with a celebration of empathy, community and unconditional love.
IndieWire praised Firstman's emergence as a filmmaker with genuine emotional depth, suggesting that his willingness to move beyond the ironic persona familiar from his online work makes the film particularly rewarding.
RogerEbert.com awarded the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, admiring how it allows Peter to embrace responsibility without suggesting that queer nightlife or his chosen family must disappear from his life.
Not every review has been entirely uncritical.
TheWrap felt that Firstman occasionally places too much emphasis on his own persona, while The A.V. Club questioned whether the film's familiar storyline offers enough surprises. Other reviewers have noted that some supporting relationships receive less attention than they deserve.
Nevertheless, the overall response has been overwhelmingly positive, with critics repeatedly singling out newcomer Reggie Absolom for his remarkably natural performance.
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Awards and festival recognition
Club Kid premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it quickly became an audience favourite.
Its festival success continued with several notable wins:
- Deauville American Film Festival: Grand Special Prize and City of Deauville Audience Award.
- Chicago International Film Festival: Audience Award and Breakthrough Director Award for Jordan Firstman.
- Hamptons International Film Festival: Flyte Breakthrough Director Award for Jordan Firstman.
The film has also earned two Gotham Film Award nominations, including Best Feature and Breakthrough Director, as well as a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best International Independent Film.
With its strong reviews and growing awards recognition, Club Kid is already attracting attention as a potential contender during the coming awards season.
Scene to watch for
Pay particular attention to the film's opening twenty minutes.
Jordan Firstman plunges the audience directly into the chaos of Brooklyn nightlife, with cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra capturing the sweaty, colourful atmosphere on 35mm film.
The camera moves through packed clubs, crowded vehicles and a constant succession of late-night encounters. Cristobal Tapia de Veer's pounding electronic score makes the experience feel almost overwhelming.
It is an intoxicating introduction to Peter's world, but it also establishes something important about his character.
He is surrounded by people, yet much of his life revolves around temporary connections and moments that disappear as quickly as they arrive.
When Arlo enters the picture, the contrast becomes immediately apparent.
Watch how the film's pace, framing and emotional atmosphere begin to change. Firstman gradually moves from the spectacle of nightlife towards the far less glamorous business of forming a lasting relationship.
It is a clever visual way of showing that Peter's world is changing before he has quite figured that out himself.
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Recommended pairing
Start the evening with a casual meal and something refreshing to drink. Club Kid runs for just over two hours, so arriving hungry might not be the best preparation for its energetic opening.
If you enjoy electronic music, a little dancing afterwards would certainly be appropriate. Rotterdam has no shortage of nightlife, and the film might leave you feeling nostalgic for those nights when going home before sunrise seemed like a terrible waste of an evening.
Alternatively, embrace the other half of the story and choose a quiet drink with friends.
Club Kid is ultimately about the people who stay in your life when the music stops, which makes it a surprisingly good excuse to catch up with someone you have not seen in a while.
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Need-to-knows
From internet comedy to Cannes
Jordan Firstman first became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of short comedy videos on Instagram.
His impressions of everyday situations, celebrity behaviour and social awkwardness attracted a large following, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
He subsequently appeared in productions including Rotting in the Sun and the television comedy I Love LA.
Club Kid marks his feature-film debut as both writer and director, while he also takes the leading role.
The project attracted considerable industry attention following its Cannes premiere, with distributor A24 acquiring the film after a competitive bidding process.
A remarkable young newcomer
One of the film's biggest discoveries is Reggie Absolom, who plays Peter's ten-year-old son Arlo.
Despite his limited previous screen experience, Absolom has received widespread praise for his natural performance and ability to hold his own opposite Firstman's considerably louder character.
Several critics have described the relationship between the two actors as the film's greatest strength.
Their scenes together provide much of the story's emotional weight, particularly when the jokes and party atmosphere give way to moments of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Music and cinematography
The film's distinctive visual style comes courtesy of cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, whose credits include The Last Black Man in San Francisco and The Bear.
Shot on 35mm film, Club Kid uses an energetic, intimate approach to capture both the excess of New York nightlife and the quieter spaces where its characters gradually connect.
The original score was composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, whose previous work includes The White Lotus and Utopia.
Music is central to the film's identity, with club sequences featuring a mixture of electronic tracks and contemporary pop.
Not your average family film
Despite its increasingly tender story about fatherhood, Club Kid is very much intended for adult audiences.
The Dutch Kijkwijzer rating is 16, with warnings relating to drug and alcohol use and coarse language. The American classification also identifies strong sexual content and brief graphic nudity.
LantarenVenster additionally warns that the film contains flashing lights, which may be relevant for viewers sensitive to strobe effects.
In other words, the presence of a charming ten-year-old child should not be mistaken for a recommendation to bring your own.
