By Natalie McCarty
If Uptown Girls had a younger brother who spent his nights downtown in New York clubs, it would be Club Kid.
Club Kid (2026); Courtesy of A24.
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for found-family stories, especially in New York, and Jordan Firstman's directorial debut is the perfect fit. I caught the film at The Grove, where Firstman, Miss Benny, and Hannah Einbinder came out to introduce it, which made seeing this particular group of characters on screen feel all the more special.
The film follows Peter (Jordan Firstman), a nightlife fixture who has spent most of his adult life partying and doing his own thing, until a ten-year-old son he didn't know he had, Arlo (Reggie Absolom), shows up and turns his world upside down. Peter is very much not prepared to be a father, and the movie doesn't build some fantasy world that becoming one suddenly makes him a completely different person–for Peter is still very much growing up himself, which was one of the things I appreciated the most about the story. It isn't really about Peter suddenly getting his life together, but rather him going through immense transformation due to the sudden want to show up for someone else. It was touching!
Club Kid (2026); Courtesy of A24.
The entire ensemble cast feels so natural, adding another layer of believability to the film. Saturn Risin9 is gorgeous as Saffron and so much fun to watch, and Eldar Isgandarov as Nicky genuinely stole the show for me (maybe it's because he reminded me so endearingly of my dear friend Axel, but I found myself especially taken with him). I need Isgandarov in fifty more things, stat!
Reggie Absolom is also, of course, a wonderful standout as Arlo. He's such a natural on screen, and the chemistry between him and Firstman makes their relationship feel all the more believable. You're gonna go far, kid!
Club Kid (2026); Courtesy of A24.
It's also nice to see Cara Delevingne back on screen with her portrayal of Sophie. So natural, I'd love to see her in more roles like this. Diego Calva–even with limited screen time as Oscar–manages to make an impression; he really effortlessly elevates everything he's in. And Firstman is great as Peter, especially in the way he lets him be frustrating and immature without losing sight of the more vulnerable side of him. He's not always easy to root for, but I found myself rooting for him anyway.
I think part of why the movie worked for me is that its version of New York felt familiar. These are the kinds of people I was living among when I lived in New York myself. The clubs, the dolls, the friendships, the music, the humor. Club Kid is rooted in reality, making this human story even more powerful as it truly feels like a world full of actual people–all of whom I found myself getting attached to immensely.
Club Kid (2026); Courtesy of A24.
Club Kid has its heart in the right place, and I left thinking about how much I miss this kind of movie. There's something to be said for stories that make room for the messier parts of growing up, especially when they're told through the experiences of people whose stories don't always get this kind of attention.
The film is truly about the human experience: an atypical coming of age filled with love, anguish, hope, and angst. We could use more movies about people finding their way to one another (and themselves), especially right now.
