Between heavily anticipated films like Black Panther and the upcoming Deadpool 2, the beginning of 2018 seems to be laden with must-see blockbusters and brimming popcorn buckets. Amongst these films is a hidden gem: a slice-of-life comedy that follows average high school boy Simon Spier – who also happens to be a closeted gay kid struggling with his own identity and telling those around him the truth about who he is. Meanwhile, he’s developed a crush on a fellow classmate online who has created an anonymous identity to protect his own closeted sexuality. When an e-mail of his ends up in the wrong hands, his carefully hidden secret may become public knowledge. The film follows his trials and tribulations as he makes important decisions regarding his identity, his life, and his future.

Although the film will not hit theaters until March 16th, those who want to know more about the story will be pleased to know Love, Simon is an adaption from the book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Written by Becky Albertalli, the movie is said to be a close adaption of the book, so those who are faithful to the original story should be pleased. Still, the film is a must-see, with a cast including Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, and Katherine Langford. Already the film has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.8/10 on IMDb.

With a well-received story and delivery, many people have high hopes – and for good reason! Nevertheless, at its core, people have expectations for Love, Simon as an LGBT+ movie. Even with hugely successful films like Moonlight and otherwise well-known flicks like Atomic Blonde, the LGBT+ community is still a severe minority in the motion picture category, and Love, Simon is the kind of representation those young LGBT+ teens struggling with coming to terms with their identity need. The success of this film could be another stepping stone in the pathway to a fuller spectrum of representation in movies, so the anticipation for it is prominent in many.

With just a couple of weeks left, fans are waiting impatiently for the release of what will – hopefully – be an entertaining and influential LGBT+ film.