Love, Simon (2018)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A closeted gay teenager must navigate the complexities of his identity while dealing with a blackmailer and searching for the identity of his online love interest.
The story
Simon Spier is a closeted gay teenage boy living in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He has a close and loving family and three best friends. When a classmate known as "Blue" posts an anonymous online confession about being closeted, Simon begins communicating with them via email under a pseudonym. However, their correspondence is discovered by a classmate named Martin, who threatens to out Simon unless he helps him win over a girl named Abby. Simon must then navigate the pressures of his secret while trying to determine which of his classmates is actually his online confidant.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Simon Spier, a closeted gay teenager in Atlanta, begins an anonymous email exchange with a classmate known as 'Blue.' Their connection is discovered by Martin, who blackmails Simon into helping him win over Abby. During this period, Simon tries to identify Blue among his peers, including his friends Nick and Leah, and a classmate named Lyle. After a series of complications—including a failed attempt to help Martin and a public rejection—Martin eventually leaks Simon's emails online. Following a period of isolation, Simon comes out to his parents and eventually reconciles with his friends. He learns that Leah was in love with him and that his online contact, Blue, is actually his classmate Bram. The film concludes with Simon and Bram becoming a couple and Simon's life returning to a new normal.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Greg Berlanti
- Writers
- Elizabeth Berger · screenplay; Isaac Aptaker · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nick Robinson · Simon Spier; Jennifer Garner · Emily; Josh Duhamel · Jack; Talitha Bateman · Leah; Katherine Langford · Nora; Alexandra Shipp · Abby; Jorge Lendeborg Jr. · Lyle
- Genres
- teen romantic comedy drama; coming-of-age
- Themes
- Secrecy; Normativity; Acceptance
- Tone and mood
- funny; warm-hearted; life-affirming; tender; sweet; affecting
- Setting
- A suburb of Atlanta, Georgia during the school year and holidays.
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; romance; LGBTQ+; high school
- Source material / true-story basis
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
- Franchise connections
- Love, Victor
- Reception
- The film was well-received by critics, who praised its heart, cast, and portrayal of a gay romance. It was described as a 'classic' and a 'hugely charming crowd-pleaser'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 38; CinemaScore · score: A+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- First film by a major film studio about a gay teenage romance; Becky Albertalli, the author of the novel the film is based on, and three YouTubers made cameo appearances; The film was released alongside Tomb Raider and I Can Only Imagine
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…