It’s late April. Finals are breathing down your neck, but let’s be honest, most of you seniors aren’t thinking about exams. You’re doom-scrolling through “Class of 2030” social media groups, judging strangers by their Instagram aesthetics, and wondering if the girl who described herself as “clean, chill, and loves going out but is also down for a cozy night in” is unaware of what’s true or false, or just outright crafting a carefully worded lie.
Almost a quarter of my school is about to enter the roommate lottery, and if you do nothing else before you sign that housing agreement, watch this movie.
“Roommates” is a 2026 American dark comedy film directed by Chandler Levack and written by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan. It was released on Netflix on April 17 and quickly snagged a top spot in the streamer’s Top 10.
The tale follows Devon (Sadie Sandler), who, having graduated from high school without a best friend, is on a mission to ensure her college experience goes differently. She heads off to college, leaving behind her parents, Hannah (Natasha Lyonne) and Brian (Nick Kroll), in pursuit of an architecture degree and, ideally, a best friend. During an orientation trip, she meets the effortlessly cool Celeste (Chloe East). After bonding on a zip-line, they decide to room together, and once school starts, they’re basically inseparable. But this is not a friendship movie.
By fall break, the vibe shifts, and things start to unravel in a very messy way. Celeste is always lying about little things, borrowing clothes without asking, and pressuring Devon into situations she’s not comfortable with, using her casual not-like-the-other-girls charm.
The movie’s structure is a story-within-a-story. Dr. Schilling (Sarah Sherman), the dean of student life and the former resident assistant of Devon and Celest’s dorm, retells the story of Devon and Celest to two roommates, Auguste (Ivy Wolk) and Luna (Storm Reid), who face their own roommate struggles.
Coming into the film, my biggest concern was how they would make it believable that these characters would never have a simple conversation that could have solved their tensions much sooner. However, “Roommates” does a thorough job showing how teens believe there is some kind of social contract barring them from directly confronting their beef [drama] with one another.
Including songs by artists from Suki Waterhouse, Olivia Rodrigo and others “Roommates” blasts pop bops that suit the vibe of a college campus, but what doesn’t work is the predictability.
It’s not very fun waiting around for the main character to realize something the movie makes incredibly clear from the start. There is a bit of mystery about whether Celeste will have an interesting backstory that explains her mischief, but it’s not well-teased and is fully fumbled upon reveal. And in the end, while Sadie Sandler does an excellent job, I found it hypocritical that a film that critiques nepotism has a child of nepotism as its lead.
But now that you’ve read the review, here’s the part you actually need, the advice I gleaned from the film. If you’re about to pick a roommate, print this out and tape it above your desk.
Lesson 1: Don’t pick a roommate based on “vibes”
Devon chooses Celeste because they bonded during a single zip-line course at orientation. That’s it. One shared moment, and suddenly they’re confining themselves to a shoebox of a room. What you should do is talk to potential roommates about the boring stuff first. Sleep schedules. Cleanliness standards. Guest policies. How they handle conflict. If they can’t have that conversation, that’s your first red flag.
Lesson 2: Set boundaries on day one, not day 99
Devon’s fatal flaw in this movie is her total inability to speak up. She lets resentment build for months because she’s terrified of confrontation. What you should do is have an honest conversation in the first week. Write a roommate agreement if your school offers one. Discuss what’s shared and what’s off-limits. It might feel awkward for 15 minutes, but it will save you months of silent rage.
Lesson 3: Your roommate doesn’t have to be your best friend
Devon’s biggest mistake is that she wanted Celeste to be her everything, her roommate, her best friend, her social life, her identity. That kind of pressure suffocates any relationship. What you should do is have multiple friend groups. Join clubs. Sit with different people at meals. Your roommate is the person you share a room with, not the person responsible for your entire social happiness.
Lesson 4: If something feels off, talk to your RA early
Devon eventually meets with her RA to ask about switching roommates. But by that point, things have already spiraled beyond repair. Your RA exists for this reason. Talk to them at the first sign of a pattern, not after your stuff has been stolen, your personal secrets exposed, and your brother has been publicly outed.
“Roommates” is not a perfect movie. The film won’t be remembered as a campus classic, or even in the upper half of college movies, but it’s not hard to see a world where somebody watches it at exactly the right time in their lives and proceeds to cherish it forever.
So before you answer that “Looking for a roommate!” post, before you commit to living with your orientation buddy based on one good weekend, stream this movie. Take notes. And remember, the girl who seems perfect at orientation might burn your dorm down by spring.
“Roommates”
1 hour, 47 minutes
Rated R for language, sexual content, drug use, and underage drinking
Directed by Chandler Levack
Starring Sadie Sandler and Chloe East
