‘Club Kid’ Review: Jordan Firstman Cleans Up His Act in a Sweet, Surprisingly Old-Fashioned Heartwarmer
Jordan Firstman's debut feature film 'Club Kid' marks a shift from his online persona, blending the vibrant energy of New York's queer club scene with a heartfelt father-son narrative. The film starts as a chaotic, hedonistic romp but transitions into a tender, emotionally grounded story when a young boy enters the protagonist's life. Despite its edgy setup, the movie embraces a classic, sentimental structure that showcases Firstman's range as a filmmaker.
- ▪Jordan Firstman directs and stars in 'Club Kid,' his debut feature film premiering at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section.
- ▪The film follows Peter, a dissolute party promoter in Brooklyn, whose life changes when a 9-year-old boy is suddenly placed in his care.
- ▪'Club Kid' begins with a frenetic, queer club culture aesthetic but evolves into a sweet, emotionally resonant story inspired by classic Hollywood heartwarmers.
- ▪Firstman previously played a satirical version of himself in the 2023 film 'Rotting in the Sun,' showcasing his talent for self-parody.
- ▪The movie has been well-received at Cannes and is expected to attract strong interest from distributors.
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| Original publisher | Variety |
| Canonical URL | https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/club-kid-review-1236750685/ |
| Publication time | Sat, 16 May 2026 12:48:42 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-16T13:10:18.577Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-16T13:10:18.577Z |
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Home Film Reviews May 16, 2026 5:48am PT ‘Club Kid’ Review: Jordan Firstman Cleans Up His Act in a Sweet, Surprisingly Old-Fashioned Heartwarmer The first feature directed by the ultra-online comedian is dressed up in the spiky style and slang of New York's queer party scene, but the core of this father-son bonding tale is pure Hollywood. By Guy Lodge Plus Icon Guy Lodge Film Critic @guylodge Latest ‘Club Kid’ Review: Jordan Firstman Cleans Up His Act in a Sweet, Surprisingly Old-Fashioned Heartwarmer 19 minutes ago ‘Gabin’ Review: A French Farm Boy Grows Up, Both Fast and Slow, in a Marvelous Cannes Discovery 2 days ago ‘Tangles’ Review: Striking Animation Honors an Artist’s Heartbreaking Account of Losing Her Mother to Alzheimer’s 2 days ago See All Adam Newport-Berra Jordan Firstman‘s…
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