Fairyland

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1:58

Fairyland

R

Oct 2025

1h 56m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Produced by Oscar® winner Sofia Coppola (Writing, Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation, 2003) and based on the acclaimed memoir of the same name by Alysia Abbott, Fairyland is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of San Francisco's vibrant cultural scene in the 1970s and '80s. This captivating film chronicles a father and daughter relationship as it evolves through an era of bohemian decadence to the sober and heartbreaking era of the AIDS crisis.

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Critics Consensus

Drawing on one family's real-life experiences, the powerfully acted Fairyland pays poignant tribute to love and resilience in the face of adversity and tragedy.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

The performances from McNairy, Nessa Dougherty as a young Alysia and Emilia Jones as a teen/adult Alysia capture her aches and longing.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 17, 2025

Full Review

G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

Durham’s direction is sensitive and assured, and he does a great job mixing his location work with archival footage to create an authentic sense of what San Francisco was like during those times.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 14, 2025

Full Review

Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

This is an honest, real movie about people living big lives during tumultuous times, and coming through it damaged but wiser.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 10, 2025

Full Review

Zach Youngs

InSession Film

Fairyland is a film that grows into itself. It’s a coming of age story that we see evolve as Alysia grows into it.

Rated: B

Oct 24, 2025

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André Hereford

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Adapting Alysia Abbott’s acclaimed memoir about growing up with a single gay dad in ’70s San Francisco, 'Fairyland' shapes the unconventional coming-of-age story into a moving, warmly funny portrait of a bygone era of queer life and liberation.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 11, 2025

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Strong performances and heartfelt intergenerational dynamics propel this otherwise predictable coming-of-age melodrama.

Oct 10, 2025

Full Review

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JoAnne

Loved it! Fantastic cast and moving story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/25

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TY

Heartbreakingly beautiful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Lynne

It was a wonderful heartfelt movie. Highly recommend

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

Full Review

Scooty

Such a great movie! The breakout role for such a great little actress in San Francisco native Nessa Dougherty Scoot McNairy was amazing and Emilia Jones was excellent too, such great overall acting, writing and filming that takes you on a time warp back to a different era. Loved IT!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/25

Full Review

Dan Q.

Very moving and evocative of a time and place.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

Full Review

Kiarostami K

Everything is solid about this period piece set in 70's and 80's San Francisco. It may be the first film/story I've ever seen about a child taking care of a parent dying of AIDS. The script feels very real and raw in a good way. The film is also a heartwarming and funny coming-of-age story about a girl growing up in 80's San Francisco, which is heartwarming and funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

Full Review

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Andrew Durham

Director

Emilia Jones

Alysia

Scoot McNairy

Steve

Cody Fern

Eddie

Maria Bakalova

Paulette

Bella Zahra Murphy

Yayne

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Fairyland: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

Produced by Oscar® winner Sofia Coppola (Writing, Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation, 2003) and based on the acclaimed memoir of the same name by Alysia Abbott, Fairyland is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of San Francisco's vibrant cultural scene in the 1970s and '80s. This captivating film chronicles a father and daughter relationship as it evolves through an era of bohemian decadence to the sober and heartbreaking era of the AIDS crisis.

Director: Andrew Durham
Producer: Andrew Durham, Sofia Coppola, Megan Carlson, Laure Sudreau, Siena Oberman, Greg Lauritano
Screenwriter: Andrew Durham
Distributor: Lionsgate / WILLA
Production Co: Lost Gang Films West, Black Magic, American Zoetrope, Artemis, Ouroboros Entertainment, Safe Space Pictures
Rating: R (Drug Use)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2025
Runtime: 1h 56m

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