Jordan Firstman’s ‘Club Kid’ Opens With a Flawless Rotten Tomatoes Score, and Critics Can’t Stop Gushing

A24 has a knack for turning small, personal films into major word-of-mouth hits, and Jordan Firstman’s ‘Club Kid’ looks like its next big one. Firstman writes, directs, and stars as Peter, a gay, hard-partying club promoter who discovers he has a 10-year-old son he’s suddenly been entrusted to care for.

The film has been building buzz for months. It made its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it competed for the Caméra d’Or and the Queer Palm. It also received a 7-minute standing ovation, and A24 acquired it for a reported $17 million, beating multiple bidders.

Now that the movie is finally reaching theaters, the critical consensus is in, and it’s spotless. ‘Club Kid’ is Certified Fresh with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, now based on 80 reviews. That perfect score means ‘You Can See Everything’ is no longer A24’s best-reviewed movie of the year.

The praise has been remarkably consistent across outlets. The Guardian described it as a heartfelt, irresistible comedy and a love letter to queer nightlife, and IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio declared Firstman “a major filmmaking talent with a sensitive side that belies his brash, internet-based persona.”

Others leaned into the film’s surprisingly familiar formula. Den of Geek’s David Crow called it “a pure, unapologetic crowdpleaser” and a movie that could fairly be described as “queer arthouse ‘Big Daddy.'”

‘CLUB KID’ is Certified Fresh at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes “A heartfelt, irresistible comedy that is a love letter to queer nightlife” – The Guardian “A warm & witty screenplay with super confident directing from Jordan Firstman” – Awards Watch “The type of film that could break your heart or mend your heart” – Buzzfeed

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 5, 2026

The reviews aren’t entirely without nitpicks. Some critics noted that the film runs a bit long at just over 2 hours, and that it stumbles a little when Peter’s hangout vibes clash with the expected hurdles of the story.

Part of what makes the reception so striking is Firstman’s path to directing. He first went viral with Instagram videos during the pandemic before appearing in series such as ‘I Love LA’, and he has described the buzz around his debut since Cannes as surreal and thrilling.

The first trailer for Jordan Firstman’s acclaimed directorial debut ‘CLUB KID’ has been released. In theaters November 6. https://t.co/yv6MA4a8wS

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) August 19, 2026

The film’s world is personal, too. ‘Club Kid’ is set deep in New York’s gay nightclub scene, though Firstman’s real inspiration was reportedly a summer he spent in Berlin. Firstman is joined by a vibrant ensemble. Newcomer Reggie Absolom plays Peter’s son, and the cast also includes Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Colleen Camp.

That cast clearly mattered to the director. During the sale process, Firstman said it was vital to him that the whole cast be brought out to promote the film, with travel, lodging and glam covered.

With reviews this strong, ‘Club Kid’ is already making noise on the awards circuit. Firstman received the Breakthrough Filmmaker Award at the Middleburg Film Festival, the Rising Star Director Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and the film is nominated for Best Feature and Breakthrough Director at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Its festival tour was busy as well, with stops at Toronto, New York and Telluride. ‘Club Kid’ opens in select U.S. theaters on November 6, followed by a wider rollout. For a first-time feature from a filmmaker best known for his online persona, a perfect score is quite a statement, and it may only be the start of the film’s run.

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