Singer and songwriter Hayley Kiyoko has expanded her creative portfolio with her feature film directorial debut, Girls Like Girls. The coming-of-age drama represents the culmination of a project that began as a queer electropop song in 2015, evolved into a viral music video, became a best-selling young adult novel in 2023, and now reaches the big screen as a full-length motion picture.
Film critic William Bibbiani reviewed the film, describing it as a memorable coming-of-age story that is at times beautifully realized but occasionally undercooked. The film features Maya da Costa in her big screen debut alongside Myra Molloy, Levon Hawke, and Zach Braff.
From Song to Screen: The Origin of Girls Like Girls
The journey of Girls Like Girls through multiple creative mediums represents a unique path in entertainment. Kiyoko released the original song in 2015, accompanied by a music video that she directed herself. The music video went viral and established Kiyoko as a voice in queer representation in popular music.
Building on that foundation, Kiyoko wrote a young adult novel based on the story in 2023. The book became a best-seller, demonstrating that audiences remained connected to the narrative years after the original song captured their attention. The feature film adaptation continues this creative expansion, with Kiyoko taking on directing duties once again while also co-writing the screenplay.
Stefanie Scott, who starred in the original Girls Like Girls music video, co-wrote the screenplay with Kiyoko. The collaboration reunites the two artists who previously worked together as co-stars in Jem and the Holograms. This creative partnership brings continuity to the project, connecting the film directly to its music video origins.
Cast and Characters
Maya da Costa leads the film in her big screen debut, playing Coley, a high schooler who moves to a small town. According to the review, da Costa delivers a breakout performance in the role, marking her as an emerging talent to watch in film.
Myra Molloy plays Sonya, the young woman who becomes the focus of Coley’s romantic feelings. The review noted that Molloy’s performance is uneven at times, though the role remains central to the film’s emotional core.
Levon Hawke appears as Trenton, a character involved in the romantic dynamics of the story. Zach Braff takes on the role of Coley’s estranged father, adding a family dimension to the narrative about a young woman finding her identity in unfamiliar surroundings.
Setting and Story
The film takes place in the late 2000s, establishing a specific time period for this coming-of-age drama. The story centers on a romance that goes wrong, following Coley as she navigates new relationships and her own identity after relocating to a small town.
The reviewer credited Kiyoko with having an eye for detail in crafting the film’s world. The period setting allows the story to exist in a specific cultural moment while addressing themes of young love and self-discovery.
The coming-of-age genre provides the framework for exploring the central relationship between Coley and Sonya. As a drama about first love and the complications that arise, the film follows familiar emotional territory while presenting a queer romance as its central narrative.
Critical Assessment
William Bibbiani’s review characterized Girls Like Girls as a film with both strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the reviewer highlighted Maya da Costa’s debut performance and Kiyoko’s visual attention to the world she created on screen.
The review also identified areas where the film falls short. According to the assessment, some characters lack interiority, meaning their inner lives and motivations are not fully developed. This criticism suggests that while the central romance receives attention, supporting characters may not be as fully realized.
The description of the film as occasionally undercooked indicates that certain elements may feel underdeveloped or rushed. However, the reviewer also used the word memorable to describe the overall experience, suggesting that despite its shortcomings, the film leaves an impression on viewers.
Hayley Kiyoko’s Multi-Talented Career
The film represents another milestone in Kiyoko’s career as a multi-hyphenate artist. Known primarily as a singer and songwriter, she has consistently expanded into other creative areas. Her direction of the original Girls Like Girls music video in 2015 demonstrated her interest in visual storytelling early in her career.
The transition from music video director to feature film director follows a path taken by several artists who began in the music industry. Kiyoko’s co-writing credit on the screenplay, alongside her earlier work writing the novel, shows her involvement in shaping the story across all its iterations.
The review’s title suggested that Kiyoko can apparently do everything, reflecting on her ability to work across multiple creative disciplines. Whether as a singer, songwriter, music video director, novelist, screenwriter, or film director, she has demonstrated a willingness to pursue her creative vision through different mediums.
The Significance of Queer Storytelling
Girls Like Girls continues Kiyoko’s commitment to queer representation in mainstream entertainment. The original song became an anthem for LGBTQ audiences when it was released in 2015, and the subsequent novel and film extend that representation into literature and cinema.
The film’s existence as a theatrical release about a queer romance represents the ongoing expansion of diverse stories in mainstream entertainment. By centering a relationship between two young women, the film provides representation that remains meaningful to audiences seeking to see themselves reflected on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed the Girls Like Girls movie?
Hayley Kiyoko directed Girls Like Girls, marking her feature film directorial debut. She also co-wrote the screenplay with Stefanie Scott.
What is Girls Like Girls based on?
The film is based on Hayley Kiyoko’s 2023 best-selling young adult novel, which was itself based on her 2015 viral music video for her queer electropop song of the same name.
Who stars in the Girls Like Girls movie?
Maya da Costa stars as Coley in her big screen debut. Myra Molloy plays Sonya, Levon Hawke plays Trenton, and Zach Braff plays Coley’s estranged father.
When does Girls Like Girls take place?
The film is set in the late 2000s and follows a high schooler named Coley who moves to a small town and develops a romance with a young woman named Sonya.
Who wrote the Girls Like Girls screenplay?
Hayley Kiyoko co-wrote the screenplay with Stefanie Scott. Scott also starred in the original 2015 music video and previously worked with Kiyoko as a co-star in Jem and the Holograms.
Girls Like Girls stands as Hayley Kiyoko’s feature directorial debut, bringing her 2015 song full circle through a young adult novel and now a theatrical film. With Maya da Costa’s debut performance and Kiyoko’s visual storytelling, the film offers a coming-of-age drama centered on queer romance, though critical assessment notes both its memorable qualities and areas where execution falls short of ambition.
