Pools

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Pools

Aug 2025

1h 39m

Drama

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

76%

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17 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Kennedy has one day to get her shit together or get kicked out of school for good. Instead of buckling down, she rallies a ragtag crew for a midnight pool-hopping adventure through the lavish estates of her college town. But under the surface, Kennedy is searching for answers to the questions tearing her up inside in the wake of her father's death. As the secrets spill, this wild escape becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery.

Robert Daniels

RogerEbert.com

Vibrant, silly, and unwaveringly vulnerable, ‘Pools' is an invigorating party movie whose non-stop reverie uplifts its protagonist’s downcast spirit.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 22, 2025

Full Review

Brandon Yu

New York Times

Rather than considering where or if there’s a heart to this specific film, Hayes seems more preoccupied with capturing the vague vibe of a certain kind of indie teen movie, one in which life gets real, but there’s nothing like being young, wild and free.

Aug 21, 2025

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Hayes has made the kind of slick, flashy film that instantly qualifies him for bigger-budgeted projects, but despite the decent efforts of the cast, I didn’t find a moment of sincere emotion here.

Sep 19, 2025

Full Review

Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

Sam Hayes' debut is a fresh spin on the "graduate" angst of what should we do with our lives, spotlighting not-knowing-what-we're-looking-for while featuring Odessa A'zion as the rep seeker, combining grief, pathos and runaway fun. W/Sam Hayes interview.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 8, 2025

Full Review

Jason Delgado

Film Threat

We’ve seen coming-of-age dramas many times over, so Pools is not revolutionary in that sense, but the blending of genres and the top-of-the-line young cast are what make this film special.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 6, 2025

Full Review

Sankeerthna Vedamtam

MovieJawn

The best parts of this film are these long sequences of the group actually swimming around talking, totally at ease inside the various pools. Kennedy, especially, seems to enter another dimension when she passes through the water.

Aug 29, 2025

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Norm V

Can be a real story but the scenes are not too real.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/10/25

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Mr. Hollywood

Nothing special here but while watching it I didnt mind it. After the movie you wont remember much as there wasnt much there. Reminded me of the movie The Swimmer with Burt Lancaster, because it takes place in one day mostly and in the summer with different pools (that was a way better movie though, check it out).

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/25

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Steve

A beautiful, hilarious, and heartfelt ode to the summers of our youth.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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C X

I get what they were going for with this movie, but it just never got there. Mildly entertaining, casting was decent.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

joel g

This movie could have been good with a total script re-write.. It was sooo boring in the beginning, middle and as far as the end- the last 20 minutes kind of saved this movie from disaster.. But even then it didnt elevate it that much.. This gave the feel of a lifetime special on TV..Not worthy of a big screen on a movie theater. Would I see it again?..No.. If you had to pay more than $3 for this , you feel you got ripped off.. If they didnt cast Francesca Noel, the movie would have got a half star.. Just stating facts.. you have been warned.. I have not been paid off by any director or studio execs..

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $53,500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

Full Review

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Samuel Hayes

Director

Mason Gooding

Reed

Michael Vlamis

Michael

Tyler Alvarez

Blake

Francesca Noel

Shane

Odessa A'zion

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Synopsis

Kennedy has one day to get her shit together or get kicked out of school for good. Instead of buckling down, she rallies a ragtag crew for a midnight pool-hopping adventure through the lavish estates of her college town. But under the surface, Kennedy is searching for answers to the questions tearing her up inside in the wake of her father's death. As the secrets spill, this wild escape becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery.

Director: Samuel Hayes
Producer: Samuel Hayes, Jack Heston, Seth Savoy, Adonis Tountas, Mike D. Ware
Screenwriter: Samuel Hayes
Distributor: Circle Collective
Production Co: Chicago Media Angels, Paesanos Pictures
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 2025, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.5K
Runtime: 1h 39m