You’ve probably seen the trailer pop up on your feed. Sofia Carson is looking emotional, Connie Britton is appearing in bittersweet video clips, and there’s a massive inheritance on the line. If you’re trying to figure out the life list where to watch, the answer is pretty straightforward, but the story behind how this movie finally hit screens is actually kind of a saga.
Basically, the film landed on Netflix on March 28, 2025.
It’s one of those "second coming-of-age" stories. You know the vibe. A woman in her 30s thinks she has her life together until her mother passes away and leaves a will that feels more like a scavenger hunt than a legal document. To get her inheritance, Alex Rose (played by Carson) has to complete a bucket list she wrote when she was a teenager.
Where can you actually stream it?
Right now, Netflix is the exclusive home for The Life List. Since it’s a Netflix Original—produced by Liza Chasin’s 3dot Productions—you aren't going to find it on Hulu or Disney+.
Honestly, if you don't have a subscription, you might be out of luck for a while. Netflix rarely puts its original films on VOD platforms like Apple TV or Amazon for rent until years later, if ever.
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Why the sudden buzz?
The movie actually performed way better than critics expected. According to data from Showlabs, it hit the #1 spot for movies on Netflix in the U.S. during the week of April 8, 2025. People are suckers for a good "find yourself" story, especially when it involves a love triangle between a "dweeby-hot" lawyer named Brad (Kyle Allen) and a hunky doctor named Garrett (Sebastian de Souza).
What makes this version different?
If you read the book by Lori Nelson Spielman, you might be a little confused. The movie took some liberties. Huge ones.
For starters, the main character’s name in the book is Brett Bohlinger. In the movie? It’s Alex Rose. Why? Probably because Alex sounds just ambiguous enough to keep a running joke from the book alive—people always expect a man to walk through the door.
Also, in the book, the mom leaves behind letters. The movie swapped those for pre-recorded DVDs. It makes sense because, well, you don't hire Connie Britton just to have Sofia Carson read her handwriting for two hours. You want to see her on screen.
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The Controversial Ending
Here is the tea: the movie and the book do not end the same way.
- In the book: Alex (Brett) ends up with Garrett.
- In the movie: It’s all about Brad.
Brad is the estate lawyer, the guy helping her navigate her mom's wishes. He's got that "golden retriever boyfriend" energy that’s really popular right now. The movie focuses heavily on their banter and road trips, which makes the shift in the ending feel earned, even if it deviates from the source material.
The Production Grind
They filmed this thing all over the New York and New Jersey area in late 2024. If you know the Nyack area, you might recognize a restaurant called Wasabi—they rebranded it as "Purdy’s" for the film because the story is supposed to be set in Burlington, Vermont.
Director Adam Brooks (who did Definitely, Maybe) clearly wanted that cozy, autumnal, small-town feel. It’s a 125-minute runtime, which is a bit long for a rom-com, but it spends a lot of time on Alex’s career transition from a corporate cosmetics job back to her true passion: teaching.
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Is it worth your Saturday night?
It depends on what you’re looking for. The reviews were... mixed. Variety called it a "rote romantic drama," while fans on Reddit have been praising Sofia Carson’s performance, especially her chemistry with Kyle Allen. It’s got a PG-13 rating for some drug content and "sexual material," but it’s mostly a heart-tugger.
Watch it if:
- You loved Purple Hearts or My Oxford Year.
- You need a good cry about mothers and daughters.
- You’re into the "he fell first" trope.
Skip it if:
- You hate "sappy" Lifetime-style plots.
- You’re a purist about book-to-movie adaptations.
Your Next Steps for The Life List
If you're ready to dive in, here is how to make the most of the experience:
- Check your Netflix plan: Ensure you have an active subscription; the film is currently trending in the Top 10, so it’s easy to find on the home screen.
- Read the original novel: If the ending of the movie frustrated you, pick up Lori Nelson Spielman's The Life List. It offers a much deeper look into the characters and, as mentioned, a completely different romantic conclusion.
- Explore the soundtrack: Sofia Carson often contributes to her films' music. Check Spotify for the official The Life List playlist, which features the score by Will Bates.
- Follow the locations: If you're a film buff, look up the "lifelist_myoxfordyear" Instagram account. It’s a fan-run page that tracked the specific filming spots in Manhattan and Nyack.