World's Greatest Dad 2009

Lance Clayton, portrayed by Robin Williams, is a frustrated aspiring writer and poetry teacher whose dreams of publication remain unfulfilled. While he struggles to gain recognition in his own life, he also faces tumultuous relations with his teenage son, Kyle (played by Darly Sabara), who mistakenly believes his father is homosexual. Complicating matters further, Lance is in a budding relationship with fellow educator Claire.

At school, Kyle, grappling with his own adolescent curiosities, shows his friend Andrew some European pornography, much to Andrew’s disgust. When Kyle makes a crude remark to Jennifer, it leads to a confrontation with another student, resulting in a trip to the principal’s office, where Geoff Pierson suggests that Lance consider placing Kyle in a special needs school. This ordeal sets off a chain of events that profoundly affects their family dynamic.

Lance’s frustrations grow as he learns that his colleague, Mike, has made his mark in a prominent magazine, stirring a pinch of jealousy as he watches Claire express interest in Mike. Following a conversation about dinner plans, Claire cancels, igniting a small argument when Lance insinuates she may have feelings for Mike.

While Kyle’s fixation on sex deepens—highlighted by a sneaky photo of Claire’s underwear—his friendship with Andrew grows stronger. Tragically, after a night of poor decisions, Lance discovers Kyle dead in their home, a victim of auto-erotic asphyxiation. In a desperate bid to avoid the scandal that could ensue, Lance stages the scene to resemble a suicide, even going so far as to write a fabricated suicide note.

As the fallout from Kyle’s death unfolds, the community begins to rally around the narrative that arises from the staged suicide. Students don shirts with Kyle’s image, and both Claire and the school become highly focused on Lance, who is unprepared for the emerging popularity. Yet, guilt eats away at him as he fabricates stories about Kyle’s purportedly tragic life while continuing to write the journal meant to represent his son’s voice.

Despite Andrew’s suspicions that the narrative doesn’t align with Kyle’s character, Lance maintains his facade. The grief counselor becomes involved, suggesting that the fabricated journal may be a needed comfort to other students, leading to its publication. As accolades and popularity grow—especially with a new library dedication in Kyle’s name—Lance’s guilt mounts.

Invited to a talk show, Lance faces Andrew one last time, who pleads with him to abandon the lies. The pressure culminates during the library dedication when confronted with the truth of his actions and the reality of being exposed. In a moment of reckoning, Lance reveals his deception to the gathered crowd, stripping away the mask he has worn so long.

Feeling unshackled by his deceit, Lance dives naked into the school pool, experiencing a raw rush of emotion as he knows he is now a pariah. With only a few remaining allies—his elderly neighbor and Andrew—Lance looks to the future, seeking solace in writing while spending time with those who accept him, culminating with a shared interest in horror films as they watch a zombie movie together.