Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- melancholic
- intimate
- quiet evening
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film a sincere but familiar young adult romance, with its patient direction and lead performances strengthening a well-worn melodramatic story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Henry's attraction to Grace gradually forces him to confront grief, idealization, emotional limits, and the difference between loving someone and imagining who they are.
Grace's heartbreaking past and unpredictable behavior define the emotional obstacle at the center of her relationship with Henry.
Henry and Grace are selected to co-edit their high school paper, making journalism central to their bond and Henry's desire for a public voice.
The film's 35mm photography, static medium-wide shots, and open compositions place emotionally volatile teenagers in contemplative visual spaces.
Films like Chemical Hearts, and why
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Shared coming of age romance, emotionally wounded teenagers, literary sensibility, and bittersweet treatment of first love.
The Fault in Our Stars
Both are melancholic young adult romances centered on grief, emotional vulnerability, and intense school-age connection.
The Spectacular Now
Shared high school setting, introspective teenage protagonists, romantic idealism, and emotionally serious coming of age themes.
All the Bright Places
Both use a wounded, enigmatic love interest and a sincere adolescent perspective to explore romance, trauma, and emotional growth.
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Tanne
- Release Date
- 2020-08-21
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (1171)
Cast
- Austin Abrams
- Lili Reinhart
- Sarah Jones
- Bruce Altman
- Adhir Kalyan
- Coral Peña
- Shannon Walsh
- Kara Young
- Meg Gibson
- C.J. Hoff
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chemical Hearts about?
- A sincere high school romance follows an aspiring student journalist whose idealized love for a grieving transfer student becomes an education in empathy and emotional boundaries.
- What is Chemical Hearts like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chemical Hearts as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chemical Hearts violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Chemical Hearts.
- What did critics think of Chemical Hearts?
- Critics found the film a sincere but familiar young adult romance, with its patient direction and lead performances strengthening a well-worn melodramatic story.
- Which films are like Chemical Hearts?
- Films with a similar feel include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in Our Stars, The Spectacular Now, and All the Bright Places.
- How long is Chemical Hearts?
- Chemical Hearts runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chemical Hearts?
- In United States, Chemical Hearts streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
