Filmmaker Jordan Firstman's debut feature, Club Kid, has emerged as a critical and commercial success, captivating audiences with its exploration of queer nightlife and an unlikely paternal bond. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, was acquired by A24 for a reported $17 million and has since garnered a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with over 100 reviews. It opened in U.S. theaters on November 6, outperforming other notable 2026 independent releases with an average of over $65,000 per screen.
Club Kid centers on Peter, a New York City nightlife veteran played by Firstman, whose fast-paced lifestyle is disrupted when he discovers he is the father of a 10-year-old boy, Arlo, whose mother has died. Initially resistant to the responsibility, Peter gradually embraces his role, influenced by the intelligent and sensitive Arlo, portrayed by newcomer Reggie Absolom. The narrative follows Peter's attempts to integrate Arlo into his world, even bringing him to clubs.
Firstman drew inspiration from films like Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, focusing on creating lived-in roles for a supporting cast comprised of individuals he knew from the nightlife scene. He emphasized developing backstories for every character to ensure authenticity. The casting of Absolom as Arlo was a pivotal moment, with Firstman describing the young actor's audition as instantly connecting with the character he envisioned. Absolom, who was 13 during filming, initially expressed skepticism about the script's mature themes but felt protected on set, accompanied by his mother throughout the production.
Firstman implemented measures to safeguard Absolom, carefully managing which dialogue was spoken in the child actor's presence. Absolom learned DJing skills for a scene where his character is taught by Peter's friend Saffron, played by Saturn Risin9. The young actor stated his primary takeaway from the experience was learning to connect with diverse personalities and the importance of not internalizing online negativity.
Despite some online discourse suggesting a conservative message due to Peter's eventual detachment from the nightlife scene, Firstman strongly refutes this interpretation. He maintains that the film is Peter's personal story and that other characters continue to embrace the scene, emphasizing that his character's departure is a temporary necessity rather than a lifelong decision. Firstman views the film as an act of self-compassion, reflecting his own experiences with loneliness amidst social connection. "The part of Peter that I relate to a lot is feeling lonely inside a sea of people," Firstman said. "I can have an inflated sense of ego, and I can have crippling [low] self-esteem. Both of those things are true. I think a lot of queer people feel this way a lot, and it's not bad. We've been through stuff, and it's hard to be queer. This movie was an act of compassion for myself."