So, here’s the thing. When you’ve spent a decade obsessing over a book as deeply poetic as Benjamin Alire Sáenz's Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a movie adaptation feels like a high-stakes gamble. You’re basically handing over your heart to a director and saying, "Please don’t mess this up."
The Aristotle and Dante movie, which finally hit theaters in late 2023 after years of "will-they-won't-they" production rumors, is a strange beast. It’s beautiful. It’s frustrating. It’s exactly what some people wanted and a total "meh" for others. Honestly, if you walked into the theater expecting a high-octane Hollywood blockbuster, you were in the wrong room. This is a slow, sun-drenched, 1980s El Paso vibe check that prioritizes feelings over fireworks.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
A lot of casual viewers see the trailer and think, "Oh, another Love, Simon or Heartstopper clone." But that’s not really it. While those are great, they have a certain "gloss" to them. The Aristotle and Dante movie—directed by Aitch Alberto—is grittier in its quietness.
The story follows Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza (played by Max Pelayo) and Dante Quintana (Reese Gonzales). They meet at a pool in 1987. Dante is this eccentric, art-loving kid who doesn't wear shoes and thinks the world is a masterpiece. Ari is a ball of repressed anger and silence.
Most people assume the movie is just about them falling in love. It isn't. Not entirely. It’s actually about Ari trying to figure out why his family is so broken. There's this massive secret—a brother in prison whose name is never mentioned—and Ari feels like he’s haunted by a ghost he isn't allowed to know. The romance with Dante is almost a side effect of Ari finally learning how to breathe.
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The Production Struggle: Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Long Road
Did you know this movie was stuck in "development hell" for nearly five years? It’s true. Aitch Alberto actually spent a huge chunk of her own time and resources just trying to get the rights and the funding.
The turning point was when big names like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eugenio Derbez stepped in as producers. Miranda actually narrated the original audiobook, so he was already emotionally invested. Derbez, who is a massive star in Mexico, even took on the role of Ari’s father, Jaime Mendoza. Having that kind of Latiné star power behind a small indie film is probably the only reason it didn't just end up as a forgotten screenplay in a drawer somewhere.
Why the Ending is Still Sparking Arguments
If you haven't seen it yet, or if you’ve only read the book, the ending of the Aristotle and Dante movie hits a bit differently on screen. In the book, the internal monologue is everything. We are stuck inside Ari’s head for hundreds of pages.
On screen? You can't see thoughts.
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The film relies on a lot of lingering shots of the desert and subtle facial expressions. Some fans felt the "big realization" at the end—where Ari finally admits his feelings—felt rushed. They wanted more of the letters. They wanted more of the pining.
But honestly? The scene in the desert where they’re just lying there under the stars? That’s pure cinema. It captures that 1987 "Secrets of the Universe" vibe perfectly. It’s not about a big Hollywood kiss; it’s about two boys realizing they don't have to be lonely anymore.
Quick Facts: The Movie at a Glance
- Release Date: September 8, 2023 (USA)
- Director: Aitch Alberto (her feature directorial debut)
- Runtime: 96 minutes—pretty short for a book with that much depth.
- Box Office: It made roughly $407,838. It was a very limited release, so it's definitely a "cult classic" rather than a box office smash.
- Cast: Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales are the leads. You’ve also got Eva Longoria playing Dante’s mom, which was a pretty cool casting choice.
Is It Accurate to the Book?
Kinda. Mostly.
The movie keeps the big beats: the car accident, the trip to the desert, the homophobic attack on Dante that changes everything. But some of the darker, more "philosophical" stuff from the book gets trimmed.
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For instance, the movie leans heavily into the relationship between the boys and their parents. In many queer stories, the parents are the villains. Here, they’re the anchors. Watching Eugenio Derbez play a father struggling with PTSD while trying to connect with his son is one of the best parts of the film. It adds a layer of "generational healing" that is super rare in YA adaptations.
Why You Should Actually Watch It (Or Re-watch It)
If you’re looking for a film that feels like a humid summer evening, this is it. It’s not perfect. Some of the pacing in the middle feels like it’s skipping chapters—probably because it was. Budget constraints for indie films usually mean you have to cut the "fluff," even if the fluff is what made the book feel so alive.
But the chemistry between Pelayo and Gonzales is undeniable. They actually feel like 15-year-old boys. They’re awkward. They have bad haircuts (very 80s). They don't know what to do with their hands. It feels real in a way that 25-year-old actors playing teenagers never do.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch on Digital: If you missed the theatrical run (which most people did), the movie is available on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Kanopy.
- Read the Sequel: If the movie’s ending felt too abrupt, go read Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. It picks up exactly where the first one ends and goes much deeper into their actual relationship.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The music is a total vibe. It features 80s classics that perfectly ground the story in that specific El Paso era.
- Compare the Audiobook: Since Lin-Manuel Miranda produced the film and read the book, it’s worth hearing his performance of the text to see how his vision translated to the screen.
The Aristotle and Dante movie might not have changed the face of cinema, but it gave a voice to a very specific, very beautiful story about identity. It’s a quiet film for a loud world.