Love, Simon

Simon Spier is a typical 17-year-old: he loves his family, hangs out with his best friends, and obsesses over the right college application essay. But he's carrying a secret he's not ready to share: he's gay. When an anonymous classmate posts online that he's gay too, Simon finds himself drawn into a secret email correspondence with the mysterious "Blue." As they bond over shared fears and hopes, Simon becomes determined to uncover Blue's identity, all while trying to keep his own secret safe.

Directed by Greg Berlanti and based on Becky Albertalli's novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this is the first major studio film to center on a gay teenage romance. Nick Robinson leads a warm, funny cast that includes Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel as Simon's parents, and Katherine Langford as his best friend Leah. With a budget of $17 million, the film grossed over $66 million worldwide, proving that audiences were hungry for a story about love, identity, and the courage to be yourself. [edit]

Simon Spier has a good life. He's got a loving family, a tight group of friends, and a spot in the popular crowd at his Atlanta high school. But he's also gay, and he hasn't told anyone. The pressure of keeping that secret weighs on him, especially when his dad makes clumsy jokes about girls and his friends talk about crushes. Simon feels like he's watching his own life from the sidelines, unable to be the protagonist of his own story.

Everything changes when an anonymous student posts a confession on the school's gossip page: "Blue" is gay and terrified to come out. Simon creates a fake email account and reaches out, and the two begin a secret correspondence. Through their messages, they share their fears, their hopes, and their daily struggles. Simon falls for Blue without knowing who he is, and the mystery consumes him. He starts scrutinizing his classmates, his friend Nick, the quiet artistic Bram, even the new kid Cal, looking for clues.

But his carefully balanced life starts to unravel when Martin Addison, a socially awkward classmate, discovers Simon's secret. Martin has a crush on Simon's friend Abby, and he blackmails Simon: help me get Abby, or I'll out you to everyone. Simon reluctantly becomes a matchmaker, pushing Abby toward Martin while trying to keep his own identity hidden. His behavior becomes erratic, straining his friendships. Leah, his longtime confidante, feels shut out; Nick is confused by Simon's distance; and Abby is hurt by his manipulation.

As Simon juggles Martin's demands, his secret emails with Blue grow deeper. He's torn between his desire for a normal high school experience and his growing need to live authentically. The film builds toward a crisis where Simon's secret is on the verge of being exposed, forcing him to confront his fears and decide what he truly wants.[edit]