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The Half of It 2020

A shy, introverted student finds himself unexpectedly entangled in the romantic lives of others. He secretly agrees to write letters for a popular athlete, who wants to win over a classmate. As the student navigates this unusual arrangement, he finds himself developing feelings while orchestrating a delicate dance of attraction and vulnerability, ultimately learning about love and acceptance in the process.

A shy, introverted student finds himself unexpectedly entangled in the romantic lives of others. He secretly agrees to write letters for a popular athlete, who wants to win over a classmate. As the student navigates this unusual arrangement, he finds himself developing feelings while orchestrating a delicate dance of attraction and vulnerability, ultimately learning about love and acceptance in the process.

Does The Half of It have end credit scenes?

No!

The Half of It does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Half of It

Explore the complete cast of The Half of It, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Half of It

See how The Half of It is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Half of It stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

83

The Half of It achieves a warm and hopeful tone through its nuanced exploration of friendship and longing. Its strong performances and thoughtful cinematography create an intimate atmosphere that resonates emotionally. While the story occasionally slips into predictable or rushed moments, the emotional core remains engaging. Overall, the film offers a heartfelt coming-of-age experience that balances fresh perspective with minor narrative imperfections.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for The Half of It

80
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of visual craft, the film excels with refined compositions and consistent cinematography. Users and critics alike highlight the beautiful shots and thoughtful production design that underscore the intimate tone. Although some note a lack of dynamism in certain scenes, the restrained editing and measured pacing reinforce the story’s contemplative mood. Overall, the visual design is polished and fitting for the film’s reflective atmosphere.

88
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character and emotion, The Half of It stands out for its authentic performances and well-realized relationships. The young cast brings natural chemistry and depth, making each connection feel genuine. A minor subplot involving an overly simplistic character slightly undercuts the portrayal, but it does little to diminish the overall resonance. In sum, character development and emotional honesty remain among the movie’s strongest assets.

70
Echo Score

Story & Flow

Regarding story and flow, the film offers an original spin on a classic framework with tender pacing and thematic ambition. Moments of warm friendship and philosophical reflection are engaging, yet the narrative occasionally resorts to clichés and expedient plot devices. Some sequences feel hurried or under-explored, resulting in uneven coherence. Despite these flaws, the storyline retains a charming appeal that sustains viewer interest throughout.

85
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

With respect to sensory experience, The Half of It benefits from a memorable soundtrack and careful sound design that enhance emotional beats. The audio complements an understated color palette and cohesive visual style, reinforcing the film’s calm mood. While it does not indulge in flashy effects or dynamic shifts, the subtle audiovisual choices contribute to the story’s reflective quality. Overall, the soundtrack and design effectively support the film’s intimate tone.

80
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s gentle humor and poignant character moments invite return viewings. Many viewers cite the emotional sincerity and charming adaptations of familiar themes as reasons for repeated engagement. A few may find the deliberate pacing less conducive to multiple watches, yet the thoughtful performances and modern take on the narrative continue to resonate. Ultimately, the movie offers solid replay value rooted in its emotional honesty.

Metacritic

74

Metascore

7.9

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

97%

TOMATOMETER

review

81%

User Score

IMDb

6.9 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

71

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.2

From 2.5K fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.33/5

From 3 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Half of It Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Half of It with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Love and Letters: The Half of It Quiz: Test your knowledge of the intricate relationships and themes in 'The Half of It'.

What unconventional service does Ellie offer her classmates?

Awards & Nominations for The Half of It

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by The Half of It, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how The Half of It and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


36th Film Independent Spirit Awards 2021

Alice Wu
Nomination

Best Screenplay

Alice Wu

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Half of It

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Read the complete plot summary of The Half of It, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Friendless student Ellie Chu (Leah Liang Lewis) resides in the quiet town of Squahamish, where she supplements her income by crafting homework papers for her classmates. She only receives payment if her clients earn an A (A-, A, or A+), charging $10 for three pages and $20 for papers between three and ten pages long. Ellie lives with her widowed father, Edwin (Collin Chou), juggling responsibilities as the station master and signalman while providing support in their household.

Sensitive and introspective, Ellie often writes about love, expressing that people have an inherent understanding when they are meant to be with someone. As part of her high school’s requirements, Ellie must participate in the senior talent show. This is where she encounters Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), an inarticulate football player who approaches her with a request to pen a love letter for Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), a girl from their school. Ellie harbors her own feelings for Aster and initially turns down the offer. However, when Paul offers to increase her payment, Ellie is compelled to accept, particularly after learning that their electricity will be cut off unless they settle a $50 bill within a day.

Aster is currently dating Trig (Wolfgang Novogratz), a boy from a wealthy background, and in a twist, Ellie begins to communicate with Aster through letters and text messages, posing as Paul. This creates a meaningful connection between them, centered on their shared interests in literature and art, although Aster believes she is engaging with Paul. Their correspondence becomes a canvas for mutual creativity, as they collaborate on a mural—taking turns painting at designated times to avoid meeting each other.

Amidst this, Ellie receives encouragement from her English teacher, Mrs. Geselschap (Becky Ann Baker), to apply to Grinnell College. Yet Ellie is hesitant to leave her father, despite her dissatisfaction with life in Squahamish. Recognizing Ellie’s talent, Mrs. Geselschap is aware of her ghostwriting for peers, which underscores her capabilities.

Ellie tries to set Paul up on a date with Aster, but it backfires as Paul fails to captivate Aster the way Ellie can. Disheartened but encouraged by Paul’s defense against bullies, Ellie decides to help him prepare for a subsequent date, teaching him about art, literature, and Aster’s preferences, including essential topics like existentialism and Audrey Hepburn.

Their time together fosters a bond, leading Paul to stumble upon Ellie’s feelings for Aster. Initially surprised, he eventually comes to terms with it, sharing insights about his passion for sausages and culinary creations. Paul’s second attempt at a date falters as well, but Ellie cleverly intervenes by texting Aster while pretending to be Paul, leading to a heartfelt confession from Paul and a kiss that he later shares with Ellie.

During a party, Paul takes an inebriated Ellie home, where he discovers letters in her bag addressed to food critics, indicating Ellie’s genuine concern for him. Aster, impressed by Ellie’s solo performance at the talent show, invites her for a day out, leading them to a secluded hot spring where they swim and share intimate thoughts. Aster reveals her apprehensions about Trig, who intends to propose, while Ellie confides about her atheism and her late mother.

Simultaneously, a bonding moment occurs between Paul and Ellie’s father as they prepare sausages together. However, Ellie struggles with her feelings as she witnesses a kiss between Paul and Aster, prompting her to consider applying to Grinnell after initially resisting change.

In a misunderstanding fueled by Paul’s feelings, he tries to kiss Ellie, leading to an angry outburst from Aster. Paul becomes aware of Ellie’s affections for Aster and, due to his upbringing, expresses that her love is a sin. Their connection deepens through shared cooking experiences, and as Trig proposes to Aster in church, Ellie and Paul interrupt the moment publicly. Aster discovers that Ellie was behind the letters and is understandably furious.

Before leaving for Grinnell, Ellie takes the brave step to apologize to Aster, who reveals possible feelings for her too and plans to pursue art school. Their connection culminates in a kiss, with Ellie promising to reunite in two years. As Ellie departs, Paul sees her off at the train platform, sharing news of his sausage reviews and his intent to maintain a friendship with her father. Mimicking a scene from the movie Ek Villain, Paul comically runs alongside the train as it pulls away, eliciting laughter from Ellie as she reflects on the passengers around her.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Half of It

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Half of It. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Cars Featured in The Half of It

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Explore all cars featured in The Half of It, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


BMW

1999

3 E46

Dodge

1983

Omni

Dodge

1981

Ram

Ford

1997

Escort

Ford

1996

F-150

Ford

2018

F-150

Ford

1978

F-Series

Ford

1992

F-Series

Ford

2011

F-Series Super Duty

Ford

2015

Focus

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


lesbianlesbian attracted to a straight womanlesbian teenlesbian charactergay charactercoming of agechinese americanlove trianglefalling in lovesingle fatherintroverted teenage girlasian americanreference to remains of the dayawkward datetriple f ratedreference to the remains of the day the novelgay kissletterteenage girlteenage boyhigh schoolfather daughter relationshipwritingdepressed mandeceased motherwriting a letterbicycleshy girlreference to albert camuschoir practicereference to jean paul sartrereference to platoreference to romeochurchreference to wim wendersfist bumpacoustic guitarconfessionalhigh school cliquereference to smith coronareference to nazisreference to katharine hepburnreference to audrey hepburnreference to no exitrunningping pongstalkingfootball playerfamily dinnersermon

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