Pools

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Pools

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1h 39m

Drama

Comedy

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81%

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16 Reviews

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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.

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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

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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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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

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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

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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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Srijoni Rudra

Digital Mafia Talkies

It’s fun, it’s vibrant, and it’s quintessentially summer, all wrapped up in a blanket of nostalgia.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 29, 2025

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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

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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

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

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Shane H

Fun, feel-good film for friends: flashy, fast, funky. Fresh faces furnish fantastic flair. Filmmaker fashions frenetic, fluid framing, flawless flow. Funny flashes foster fond feelings. Fans find fulfilling finale, feeling fully fascinated.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

Full Review

samuel s

I walked into Pools expecting a lighthearted midnight adventure and ended up feeling like I was right there with a ragtag crew. I loved the unexpected wave of nostalgia for moments I didn’t even know I missed. Couldn’t recommend the movie more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

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
Runtime: 1h 39m