Club Kid (2026) – An Ode to Eccentric Communities That Help Raise Children

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“Club Kid” Film Details

• Director(s): Jordan Firstman
• Writer(s): Jordan Firstman
• Runtime: 2 Hour(s) and 2 Minutes
• Public Release Date (Film Festival – Montclair Film Festival [More Coverage Of The 2026 Film Festival]): October 17, 2026
• Public Release Date (In Theaters): November 6, 2026
• Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, LGBT+
• Content Rating: Rated R

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Movie Summary

For most of his adult life, Peter has been the life of the party, the face of the party, and the person you got drugs from. Originally, Sophie was his right hand in all of this, but as Peter focused more on the fun and the high than the work, the two fell out. The timing couldn’t have been worse for while Peter assumed he was at least a Gold Star gay man, he then learned one intoxicated night he actually had sex with a woman, and thus Arlo came into being.

By the time Peter meets him, Arlo is ten, his mother just died, Peter’s survival partly depends on a rent-controlled apartment, and it’s questionable whether Peter could be a father figure, never mind a potential full-time dad. But whether he rises to the occasion or just gets Arlo to a firehouse to drop him off, it could have gone either way at the beginning.

Cast and Characters

• Peter (Jordan Firstman)
• Sophie (Cara Delevingne)
• Arlo (Reggie Absolom)
• Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov)
• Saffron (Saturn Risin9)

Review and Commentary

Who Is This For?

This is for viewers who want a family drama about unexpected parenthood in a younger LGBTQ+ community. Peter isn’t an established adult choosing to adopt; he’s a club kid thrown into parenthood, relying on the imperfect community he already has to help raise Arlo.

Highlight(s)

How Community Is Presented [86/100]

Jordan Firstman, who wrote, directed, and stars in this film, is phenomenal, but it isn’t a solo effort. What makes Peter so great is that, while he has his trauma, eccentricities, and more than enough going on as an individual, he also has his community. That community comes through in Nicky, who lives with Peter; in Peter’s claim that he deals drugs so his friends can party safely; and in how those friends respond to Arlo. I don’t think I’ve seen this kind of community among LGBT+ characters depicted quite this way.

Note: There is no one getting arrested, no depiction of abuse or anything like that here. Even the shady comments are few and far between. It’s a lot of partying, drug use, and when Arlo comes around, it’s a challenge for many because they don’t interact with kids. But as we watch Peter adjust, so do they, and we see them take Arlo under their wing, like Saffron training him to be a DJ or simply treating him like one of the girls.

Granted, their approach to Arlo often isn’t age-appropriate. At first, Peter is fine with Arlo being a gimmick at his parties, having him DJ early in the night, as Saffron’s protégé, before the drugs, alcohol, and sex in the bathrooms begin. But Peter and some of his friends start to question whether that should become part of Arlo’s normal. Based on how Peter describes himself and his friends, New York City doesn’t just make you grow up early; it traumatizes you early. That likely leaves them without a clear sense of childhood or a child’s place. This makes some of them see their own behavior as fine, but others become overprotective once they recognize that although they survived, what they went through wasn’t normal.

Peter and Arlo’s Relationship [85/100]

Because of the circumstances that led to Peter and Arlo meeting, Club Kid uses a wild mix of comedy and trauma to make the situation feel real. Why Arlo is in Peter’s care is a touchy subject, and Peter knows it. Yet, as Arlo grows comfortable with Peter and pursues a relationship with him, you see Arlo learn that the safety Peter can offer means they can talk about difficult subjects.

In fact, the way Peter bonds with Arlo, trying to become a good dad, creates multiple moments when you might get teary-eyed as you see both realize what they have is real. It’s not just Peter’s name on Arlo’s birth certificate; an actual relationship is starting to form behind the title. Add in Peter changing his life to better deserve Arlo, and then how the film ends for the two of them, and it pushes you to think: Firstman has to be nominated for something during awards season.

Specifically, major awards, not just indie or LGBT+ award shows.

On The Fence

Sophie [74/100]

Sophie feels like she should have been more integral to the film. Yes, she plays a major role in Peter’s finances, getting funny, and does something despicable towards the latter half of the movie. But it feels like so much of her relationship with Peter got cut, and so did what happened after they became estranged.

And granted, maybe my issue with Sophie stems from Cara Delevingne being the type of person who has presence, and making her seem so integral to Peter’s life, then writing her off for most of the movie, felt like a waste. Especially for a character who seemed very in her wheelhouse. But you could submit that, in Delevingne’s absence, we got Saturn Risin9 as Saffron, and her relationship with Peter and Arlo is irreplaceable.

Overall

Our Rating (81/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

Unquestionably, Firstman deserves nominations for his performance and writing. Club Kid feels like a breakout for him on several fronts: it showcases his talents while giving the cast room to uplift one another. The film balances tear-inducing drama with humor rooted in the characters, not added just for relief. It shows how, even in difficult moments, a community that knows you beyond your struggles can help bring out your light.

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