‘Heartstopper Forever’ review: a chaotic goodbye to Netflix’s wholesome teens

Since it premiered in 2022, the success of Heartstopper has been genuinely heartwarming. This winsome teen drama never set out to be hip and edgy like Skins or Euphoria, but it still offered a much-needed celebration of LGBTQ+ representation. As it followed the blossoming romance between outwardly confident rugby jock Nick (Kit Connor) and nervy but determined Charlie (Joe Locke), it offered a comforting vision of British high school life – one where being gay or bisexual is an obstacle, but not insurmountable.

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Essentially, Nick and Charlie always got by with a little help from their friends, who learned about their own sexual and gender identities along the way. How many shows have one asexual character, let alone two? In its third and most recent season, which arrived on Netflix in 2024, Heartstopper even managed to shed some of its early tweeness by drilling into Nick and Charlie’s decision to become sexually active. Locke also shone during a standout episode in which Charlie receives treatment for an eating disorder.

Though the show’s writer-creator Alice Oseman initially planned for a fourth season, it was announced in April 2025 that Heartstopper would instead conclude with a feature-length film. Was Netflix reluctant to commission more episodes – all too believable, given the streamer’s track record – or were its breakout stars just too busy? Either way, fans were relieved that this beloved show would at least be getting a proper farewell.

Sadly, it’s a pretty patchy one. Adapted by Oseman from her own webcomic and graphic novel series, Heartstopper suited an episodic format – its charm lay in intimacy, not grand gestures. By contrast, this film feels diluted and curiously driftless. For much of its two-hour runtime, it’s overly focused on Charlie and Nick’s relationship difficulties, which are exacerbated as university beckons for one of them. Though Heartstopper: Forever never tries to out-steam Heated Rivalry – which would be pretty jarring, admittedly – the sex scenes are much less squeamish than before.

For long stretches, Heartstopper’s supporting characters barely get a look-in. The show’s second couple, chatty Tao (William Gao, also one-half of sibling indie duo Wasia Project) and arty Elle (Yasmin Finney), only enjoy a glimmer of closure in the epilogue. Earlier in the film, Elle reminds Charlie about the parlous state of trans rights in 2026, but this well-intentioned moment feels shoehorned in – Elle has to tell us about the difficulties she faces as a young trans woman because this film doesn’t find time to explore them.

Thankfully, Heartstopper‘s prevailing sweetness carries it to the finish. Along the way, there’s a touching subplot involving Charlie’s plan to launch a school “Pride club”, which allows gay teacher Mr Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) to deliver a quietly stirring message about queer disobedience. And as ever, oblivious Imogen (Rhea Norwood) supplies the funniest moments. When she reconnects with Nick, whom she once had a huge crush on, she skips the small talk and says without an ounce of self-consciousness: “I never got to tell you I’m a lesbian.” 

Still, if Heartstopper Forever isn’t a flawless farewell, it’s at least a fitting one. Saying goodbye to your teenage mates isn’t meant to be easy, and this film recognises that growing up can mean growing apart. That it does so without denying fans a happy ending feels like one last big-hearted hurrah.