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Pools

Play trailer Poster for Pools Released Aug 29 1h 39m Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 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.

Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Steve A beautiful, hilarious, and heartfelt ode to the summers of our youth. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/30/25 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Pools

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Movie Info

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