Film

Crush

Name: Crush
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 2022
Cast: Rowan Blanchard, Auliʻi Cravalho, Isabella Ferreira, Tyler Alvarez, Teala Dunn

Other titles called Crush: the 2013 film.

Romantic comedy
Light-hearted

A charming teen comedy about an art-focused girl who joins the track team to get closer to her longtime crush, only to discover that real connection comes from an unexpected place. It's warm, funny, and genuinely romantic without pretence—the kind of film that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it well.

TMDb rating

3.7

If you liked this

Love, Simon2018

A comparable teen romance that balances comedy with genuine sweetness. It finds humour in awkwardness without mocking its characters, and the central relationship feels earned rather than imposed.

But If you've seen too many "coming out" films, the beats may feel familiar. Some moments trade specificity for broad comedy.

The Half of It2020

A clever, tender romance that plays with perspective and expectation in ways that resonate. The writing is sharp and the emotional stakes feel real without ever becoming heavy.

But It's quieter and more introspective than Crush. If you want constant momentum, this moves at a contemplative pace.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before2018

Same warmth and specificity about teenage crushes, with a protagonist who's similarly clear-eyed about what she wants. The romance unfolds naturally alongside character growth.

But The Netflix sheen might feel slick compared to Crush's more grounded tone. Some plot contrivances exist to service the romance.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Crush

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire2019

Both films centre on the moment attraction becomes something real, but this one strips away comedy and dialogue to sit in the space where feelings live. It's Crush's spiritual opposite—same emotional core, completely different register.

A French film about two women discovering love through art and proximity. It's visually gorgeous, emotionally unrushed, and treats desire with total seriousness. The cinematography alone is worth the evening.

But It's in French with subtitles. There's minimal plot—it's mood and feeling over narrative momentum. Some find it slow; others find it hypnotic.

Heartstopper2022

A British teen romance that radiates genuine joy. It captures the electricity of early connection and the terror of vulnerability with real tenderness and excellent comedy timing.

But If you find relentless cheerfulness exhausting, this leans into sweetness without much cynicism. It's a short season, which is either perfect or unsatisfying.

Alex Strangelove2018

A smart comedy about sexual identity and first love that doesn't pretend high school is anything other than confusing. The characters talk to each other like real people.

But It takes longer to get to the central relationship than you might expect. Some supporting characters are broad stereotypes.

The Summer I Turned Pretty2022

A series about complicated feelings and summer romance that doesn't rush its emotional beats. The cast has genuine chemistry and the setting is lush without being distracting.

But It's a love triangle, which means someone has to lose. If that format frustrates you, it won't resolve that frustration.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018

An animated series that builds a romance across its five seasons with patience and real stakes. The action is inventive and the relationships feel like the centre, not the subplot.

But It's animated, which might not be what you're looking for. The first season is a bit rough; it finds its footing in season two.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power poster

Plan B2021

A scrappy, honest comedy about two high school girls on a mission. It's crude and warm at once, with real friendship at its core and no pretence about teenage sexuality.

But The humour is juvenile in places. The plot is thin—it's really just an excuse to hang out with these characters for ninety minutes.

Everything Sucks!2018

A short-lived comedy about theatre nerds and the people who love them. It's earnest about feelings while being very funny about the specific absurdity of high school.

But It was cancelled after one season on a cliffhanger. If unfinished stories drive you mad, know that going in.

Bend It Like Beckham2002

Both use sports as the vehicle for self-discovery rather than the point. The structure is nearly identical: outsider joins a team, finds herself there, finds love there. Crush executes this in 2022 with queer identity at the centre; this one did it first, with different stakes.

A British-Indian film about a girl joining a sports team against expectation, where the team becomes the place she discovers who she really is. It's funny, energetic, and surprisingly moving about family and identity.

But It's over twenty years old and shows its era. The romance arrives late and feels secondary, which some find frustrating.

All the Bright Places2020

Where Crush is pure discovery and joy, this asks what happens when real love collides with real suffering. Same age group, same kind of chemistry, inverted emotional stakes. It's the film to watch if you want to sit with something harder.

A teen romance that takes emotional risk seriously. It's funny and romantic, but it also doesn't shy away from darkness. The two leads have real chemistry and the film trusts that audiences can hold contradictions.

But It deals with suicide ideation and depression. The tonal shifts between comedy and genuine pain might feel jarring. It ends in a way some find devastating.