Kit Connor and Joe Locke are back for one last outing as Nick and Charlie in Heartstopper For those who’ve been devotedly following the ups and downs of Charlie and Nick’s romance over the course of the last three seasons of Netflix’s Heartstopper; the final chapter in their story, which comes in the form of a feature-length film, is a must-watch. Heartstopper Forever premiered on the platform on Friday 17 July, picking up after the events of the much-loved teen drama’s darker third season. At this point in the story, our heroes have declared their love for one another, taken their relationship to the next level and their lives, pretty much, are in a good place. But as the end of their time at school looms, they’re presented with increasingly adult bumps in the road, which threaten to burst the bubble they’ve built around themselves over the course of the series. Couples around them are falling on hard times and splitting up, university is on the horizon for one half of the pair, and the question on everybody’s lips seems to be about whether first love can really endure. All of this puts a strain on our central duo’s relationship – and while the more divisive third season of Heartstopper saw Nick supporting his boyfriend, Charlie, through a variety of mental health struggles, this time around, their roles are reversed. Kit Connor’s character faces internal struggles as he stands on the precipice of a major life change. Unable to voice his worries, he internalises his problems, driving a wedge even deeper between himself and Joe Locke’s Charlie. Heartstopper Forever offers fans more of a glimpse into the psyche of Kit Connor's character, Nick Nelson In contrast to the light and breezy tone many associate with Hearstopper, this is a film with a lot to say, whether that’s about toxic masculinity, the ongoing rise of anti-LGBTQ+ (and, in particular, transphobic) rhetoric, chosen family, sexual experimentation and the importance of remembering that everyone is on their own personal journey, each with its own set of obstacles to overcome. Of course, this is Heartstopper we’re talking about, so the whole thing is presented with a sheen of candy-coloured high saturation, accompanied by twinkling pop needle-drops and grinning montages from the central friendship group. Indeed, if the show’s cheesiness has been a turn-off for you in the past, there’s little here that’s going to change your mind. For all the film carries on the more adult themes presented in season three of the original series (we see even more of Nick and Charlie’s burgeoning sex life, for example, alongside storylines touching on mental health and alcohol abuse) we never stray too far from the core message of optimism and queer joy. As for how successfully Heartstopper has transitioned from TV series to film, that’s definitely up for debate. In the past, seasons of the show have been made up of eight episodes at half an hour each, so with Heartstopper Forever clocking in at just shy of two hours, fans are definitely getting less bang for their buck with this final instalment. This abridged runtime definitely comes at the expense of its supporting cast, some of whom get only a scene or two to really shine in comparison to the film’s two leads, while others are relegated to only a few lines here and there. Heartstopper's supporting cast don't all get their moment to shine in the new Netflix movie While Nick and Charlie’s love has always been the central storyline of Heartstopper, the show has always been more of an ensemble piece. As a result – aside from one brilliantly-delivered speech from Yasmin Finney that serves as a reminder of the current state of trans rights in the UK – many fans of the supporting cast might well be disappointed to see their favourites’ screen time being slashed. Meanwhile, some storylines are introduced and near-immediately resolved in ways that wouldn’t feel as jarring in an episodic TV format, but in a feature film, wind up feeling rushed and underdeveloped. If we were to be even more critical, some of the niggling gripes with Heartstopper’s writing and acting only feel more pronounced the older members of the cast get… but at the same time, the whole thing is so well-intentioned that dwelling on that for too long does feel like kicking Nick Nelson’s dog. And here’s the thing. As a stand-alone film, yes, Hearstopper Forever is far from perfect. But for those who’ve followed Nick and Charlie’s journey these past few years, the movie feels like a fitting farewell to the characters we’ve grown to know and love. Heartstopper Forever explores more of the sexual experimentation between its central characters Let’s face it, it’s a tough world out there for the queer community, and while some have criticised Heartstopper for lacking the edge of some of its peers in the teen drama sphere (perhaps most notably Euphoria and Netflix’s own Sex Education and Young Royals), that’s also never been what the show was about. Heartstopper’s aim was always to serve as a celebration of unapologetic queer joy, a reflection of how things could be, rather than how they are, and a straightforward love story that would have been unthinkable even a generation or two ago. While now feels like the right moment to say goodbye to Nick, Charlie and their friends, we imagine that many will be glad to be able to spend one last hour or two hanging out with them before the final farewell. Heartstopper Forever is now streaming on Netflix. MORE NETFLIX: Our 11 Top Picks Of The New Shows And Films Streaming On Netflix In July 2026 Here's Why Olivia Colman's Character Was Recast In Heartstopper Forever Kit Connor And Joe Locke Had An Emotional Final Day On The Heartstopper Set