While Stephen's production is not an innovative film that bends the standards of cinema, it's certainly an eye-opening coming-of-age story.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Feb 13, 2022

Director Martha Stephens skillfully evokes the pettiness and unspoken longing of small town life and gets wonderfully natural performances from her young actors.

Full Review | Nov 22, 2021

With each other, both [Maggie and Iris] find a space to belong, daring to reach for the stars towards a space beyond this myopic town...

Full Review | Mar 22, 2021

While not an easy watch at times, the performances are strong and what the characters are experiencing is movingly depicted. The power of female friendship and heartbreak and the tentative steps toward first love are subtly portrayed...

Full Review | Aug 31, 2020

To the Stars is a familiar film, sure, but also a quite lovely film.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2020

How Maggie's own fate is handled squarely places her in the problematic trope that's as old as the black and white styling of the movie's cinematography.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jun 25, 2020

To the Stars is an evocative coming-of-age drama that manages to follow the groove it cuts for itself, and says just enough differently to its predecessors, to make it worth a watch.

Full Review | Jun 8, 2020

The film's keen sense of the barrenness endured by the characters enlarges the poignancy of their loneliness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 7, 2020

It's nicely shot, but a little tamer than it might have been.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 7, 2020

Some of it is a little unsubtly done, the odd cake is overegged, but overall, the film has a light touch and the characters are easy to care about.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 7, 2020

Parts of the plot feel contrived, especially towards the end, but overall this is a warm-hearted film that will appeal to teenagers bored of fast-cut squealing comedies and blockbusters.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 5, 2020

Although this is director Martha Stephens' fourth feature, it feels absurd that we haven't heard more about her previous films.

Full Review | Jun 5, 2020

To the Stars wants to remind us that however bad we think things may be now, back then there were times where it felt like there was nobody there to support those who felt differently.

Full Review | Jun 4, 2020

The period trappings - which must have cost a bomb - are lush and smartly deployed without being heavy-handed, and the two young leads are very watchable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 27, 2020

A queer coming of age drama filled with remarkable moments.

Full Review | May 5, 2020

To the Stars is a somewhat formulaic Middle America melodrama, enlivened by inspired and well-directed performances that infuse some radiant life into small-town struggles.

Full Review | May 1, 2020

Initially, you may find 'To the Stars' dealing exclusively in well-worn cliches. But you may eventually find it emotionally disarming you, and then knocking you flat.

Full Review | Apr 28, 2020

To the Stars is mainly a story about friendship, but at the same time, it shows that being able to live your truth isn't so black and white.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 28, 2020

With a fine cast and nicely crafted script, To the Stars explores both the stifling restrictions of its time period and and of the timeless struggles of adolescence.

Full Review | Apr 27, 2020

With strong female leads, and a writer, director, and lots of women below the line, including a score by Heather McIntosh, To the Stars is a gentle, engaging film well-executed on all fronts.

Full Review | Apr 27, 2020