Movie · 2021 · Drama, Romance · 2h 23m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 9.0/10 (56.2K ratings)
The time has come.
Overview
The story of Usnavi, a bodega owner who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights.
Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Díaz IV, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco, Noah Catala, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mateo Gómez, Patrick Page, Olivia Perez, Analia Gomez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Mason Vazquez, Delila Ramos
Curator Review
Verdict
A buoyant, crowd-pleasing musical with real visual flair, strong ensemble energy, and a vivid sense of place. It’s especially rewarding if you like big choreography, community-centered stories, and romances shaped by identity, ambition, and neighborhood change.
Best for
musical fans
viewers who love ensemble storytelling
fans of vibrant city-set films
people drawn to immigrant and Latinx stories
audiences who enjoy romantic drama with upbeat energy
Skip if
you dislike musicals
you want a tightly plotted drama with minimal spectacle
you’re allergic to heightened sentiment
you prefer realism over stylized performance
Overview
In the Heights is at its best when it treats Washington Heights as a living, breathing character. The movie bursts with movement, color, and communal energy, and Jon M. Chu stages the musical numbers with a confidence that makes the neighborhood feel expansive rather than confined. It’s a film about aspiration, home, and the push-pull between leaving and staying, and that emotional tension gives the spectacle some real weight.
Worth noting
The ensemble is the main attraction: the cast has warmth, chemistry, and enough charisma to make even the broadest moments land. The movie also benefits from its sense of musical abundance, leaning into the genre instead of apologizing for it. When it clicks, it feels celebratory and transportive, with choreography and camera movement working together to create genuine lift.
Bottom line
It’s not flawless, and some viewers will be divided by the adaptation choices and the way certain emotional beats are reshaped from the stage version. But as a theatrical experience, it’s generous, energetic, and full of life. If you want a big-screen musical that values community, romance, and momentum, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Paul Klein (4★) · 10000 likes
I am not throwing away my shop.
demi adejuyigbe · 8801 likes
106 degrees in a new york blackout and these boys are wearing hoodies and jeans. toxic masculinity is killing our men
Jay (2★) · 4993 likes
was the villain gentrification or was it lin manuel miranda
Patrick Willems (4★) · 4051 likes
Apologies to all the blockbusters coming out this year but nothing is gonna be more exciting than like a hundred people dancing together in the street in the opening number of In the Heights
freya. (3★) · 3913 likes
i went into this knowing exactly who wrote the musical but i still jumped every time lin manuel miranda was on the screen
2015 · Crime, Drama, Comedy · 1h 43m · R · Curator 6.8/10 (93.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Starz, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A lively coming-of-age story centered on a specific neighborhood, youth ambition, and cultural identity.