Girls Like Girls: Trailer, Cast, Story, and Release Date. One summer. One first love. One chance to finally be seen.

“Love begins when you let it in.”

That line anchors the official trailer for Girls Like Girls, the feature debut from writer and director Hayley Kiyoko. Based on her 2015 breakout song and 2023 bestselling novel of the same name, the film arrives exclusively in theaters on June 19, 2026.

What began as a viral music video has evolved into a full-length coming-of-age romance — intimate, sunlit, and emotionally direct.

What Is Girls Like Girls About?

Set over the course of one transformative summer, the story follows Coley, a quiet new girl adjusting to life in a new town. When she meets Sonya, the connection is immediate but complicated.

Coley is still learning who she is. Sonya is already navigating the pressures of expectation and secrecy. Their growing bond unfolds against long afternoons, house parties, and moments that feel small but change everything.

The film centers on first love — not as spectacle, but as discovery.

From Hit Song to Big Screen Adaptation

Girls Like Girls expands on the world first introduced in Hayley Kiyoko’s music video, which resonated widely for its honest portrayal of young queer love.

Rather than simply adapting the novel, the film incorporates new music from Kiyoko, blending storytelling with emotional soundtrack cues. The result appears designed to feel personal — a reflection of lived experience rather than fictional distance.

Produced by Marc Platt Productions and distributed by Focus Features, the film balances independent sensibility with theatrical scale.

The Cast Bringing the Story to Life

Maya da Costa leads as Coley, capturing the vulnerability of someone stepping into unfamiliar emotional territory. Opposite her, Myra Molloy plays Sonya, a character navigating both attraction and external pressure.

Supporting performances from Levon Hawke and Zach Braff round out the ensemble, adding generational contrast to the teenage perspective.

The casting leans toward authenticity rather than star spectacle — reinforcing the film’s grounded tone.

A Summer Story With Emotional Weight

The trailer emphasizes atmosphere: warm lighting, open skies, and quiet tension between characters. Instead of dramatic confrontations, the emotional shifts appear subtle — glances held a second too long, conversations that trail off unfinished.

The coming-of-age element focuses on self-acceptance as much as romance. Coley’s journey isn’t just about falling in love — it’s about allowing herself to feel it openly.

The film suggests that the most significant battles happen internally.

Why This Film Matters

Queer coming-of-age stories have gained broader theatrical presence in recent years, but Girls Like Girls stands apart because it originates from a creator whose own career was shaped by telling this story first through music.

By adapting her own work, Hayley Kiyoko brings continuity to the narrative — preserving its emotional DNA while expanding its world.

This isn’t a reboot or reinterpretation. It’s an evolution.

Release Date and Where to Watch

Girls Like Girls releases exclusively in theaters across the United States on June 19, 2026, with international distribution to follow.

As a summer theatrical release, it positions itself as both a date-night film and a coming-of-age experience for young audiences seeking stories that reflect their own journeys.

What to Expect From Girls Like Girls

The trailer suggests a film that prioritizes sincerity over spectacle. The stakes are emotional rather than explosive.

At its core, Girls Like Girls is about recognition — seeing someone clearly and allowing yourself to be seen in return.

Sometimes love begins quietly.

And sometimes, one summer is enough to change everything.