Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- hopeful
- lazy sunday
- teen movie night
What critics said
Critics found the film fleet, sweet, funny, and highly watchable, praising its young leads and lively debate scenes while noting its familiar formula.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bennett and Lona compete for debate-team leadership because it may strengthen their Yale or Harvard applications.
Bennett and Lona's debate clashes coexist with romantic attraction and recognition that their lives are more alike than they assume.
Debate sequences use split screens, close-ups, and dynamic presentations to heighten otherwise formal academic exchanges.
Lona and Bennett come from different economic circumstances, yet both face single mothers and pressure around achievement and homecoming.
Films like Candy Jar, and why
The DUFF
teen rivalry, academic ambition, witty school comedy, and interracial romance
The Edge of Seventeen
high school intellectual competition, coming-of-age themes, and warm ensemble comedy
The Half of It
teen romance, class differences, parental pressure, and uplifting coming-of-age tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Ben Shelton
- Release Date
- 2018-04-27
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (490)
Cast
- Sami Gayle
- Jacob Latimore
- Christina Hendricks
- Uzo Aduba
- Helen Hunt
- Tom Bergeron
- Tracey Bonner
- Paul Tigue
- Evan Castelloe
- Wilbur Fitzgerald
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Candy Jar about?
- Two ambitious high-school debaters turn a fierce rivalry into cooperation, romance, and a broader challenge to achievement-obsessed expectations.
- What is Candy Jar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Candy Jar as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Candy Jar violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Candy Jar.
- What did critics think of Candy Jar?
- Critics found the film fleet, sweet, funny, and highly watchable, praising its young leads and lively debate scenes while noting its familiar formula.
- Which films are like Candy Jar?
- Films with a similar feel include The DUFF, The Edge of Seventeen, and The Half of It.
- How long is Candy Jar?
- Candy Jar runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Candy Jar?
- In United States, Candy Jar streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
