Netflix’s new romantic dramedy, The Life List, has quickly climbed to the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s movie charts following its March 28 release. Based on the book of the same name by Lori Nelson Spielman, the film stars Sofia Carson as Alex Rose, a Brooklyn native who believes everything in her life is just fine, while those around her are worried after she quits her teaching job and appears to have “settled down.” As her mother, Elizabeth, nears the end of her battle with terminal cancer, she becomes convinced that Alex is meant for something more.
Hoping to push her daughter out of her comfort zone, Elizabeth includes a stipulation in her will: in order for Alex to receive her inheritance, she must complete a list of life goals she wrote when she was 13. With each goal Alex checks off, the family’s charming lawyer, Brad, gives her a new DVD containing a message from her mom, giving her a chance to see and hear the person she misses most. But, there’s a catch. Alex must finish the entire list by New Year’s to claim the inheritance.
Slowly but surely, Alex begins working through the list, which includes everything from performing stand-up comedy to playing basketball with a New York Knicks player. Along the way, she uncovers the painful secret that her mom had an affair before she was born—which means the man who raised her isn’t her biological father. Alex makes the trip to Vermont to meet her real dad, who tells her he once wrote a song about her, but their connection is short-lived when he stands her up the next morning.
One of the most challenging items for Alex to check off her list is falling in love. At the start of the film, she’s dating Finn, a guy obsessed with creating zombie video games. But after realizing he doesn’t pass the true love test, she breaks things off and moves back into her childhood home. Her second love interest, Garrett—whom she first meets on the subway while reading Moby-Dick, and who also works at the shelter where she teaches—seems more promising. But even though he has some of the qualities she’s looking for in a partner, he ultimately isn’t the one.
During a trip to New England to visit her biological father, Alex starts to realize her connection with Brad might be more than platonic. He passes the true love test, which are three questions her mom once shared with her sister-in-law and best friend: Is he kind? Can I tell him everything in my heart? Does he help me become the best version of myself? Can you imagine him as the father of your children? Ultimately, Alex chooses to be with Brad. After finally earning her driver’s license (one of the items on her list), she drives to see him and, in a bold (and slightly dramatic) move, accidentally crashes her mom’s car into his house to profess her love.
“The scene where Alex crashes the car, I love just being with those characters and having that gratifying moment between them, that coming togetherness of them,” Kyle Allen, who plays Brad, told Netflix’s Tudum. “After following these characters for so long, to have that moment where everything comes together and clicks, it’s very settling, like, ‘Phew, I needed that.’”
Although she doesn’t technically check off the box of finding true love, Alex still receives her inheritance. Her mom leaves her the family home in Brooklyn, along with a trust to help cover taxes and maintenance. It’s a place that holds deep meaning—not just as a piece of her past, but as a lasting connection to her mother. In the final DVD from her mom, Elizabeth tells her daughter: “Being your mom has been the joy of my life.”
The final scene of the movie brings Alex full circle, back to where it all began in the Rose family living room. But this time, instead of feeling lost or uncertain, she’s filled with confidence and purpose as she hosts a bustling New Year’s Eve party surrounded by friends and family.
Interestingly, The Life List has had a surprising impact on its audiences. Sofia Carson revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that after test screenings, many people reported making significant life changes. "Adam would call me all the time after test screenings, and he would say that there were so many people that would [tell him], 'I ended up breaking up with my boyfriend,' or 'I ended up changing or quitting my job,'" Carson shared.
She emphasized that the film raises "all these existential questions," adding, "That's the beauty of this film. It's so much more than a rom-com." Carson reflected on how the movie has made her examine her own life, stating, "I think so many of us, including myself, tend to forget the little girl that was a fearless dreamer. This movie took me back to her in so many ways. I left that set a different Sofia that I think little Sofia would be so deeply proud of. I've been writing my own 'life list' recently, and it was beautiful to see a few of the things that I dreamt of have come true."
Despite its popularity, The Life List has received a slew of scathing reviews, with critics branding it "another rom-com letdown." Viewers took to Reddit to air their grievances, including some disliking the lack of romantic build-up. One disappointed viewer wrote, "The Life List on Netflix, another romcom letdown. Are there any good new romcoms these days?!" They continued, "Do people making romcoms the last decade or so think they can just skip the build-up and put in protagonist life filler? I had such high hopes for this new Netflix romance!"
Another viewer lamented, "All the trailers made it seem like her and this lawyer go on these tasks to complete this list from her deceased mother. But No! The love interest in the end is barely in this movie!" Critics have also noted the film's predictability and lack of investment in character relationships. One critic remarked, "Honestly the title turned me off. It’s a bucket list. Let’s call the movie something else, or call a spade a spade."
Nonetheless, The Life List continues to resonate with many viewers, highlighting the complexities of love and personal growth. The film is currently streaming on Netflix, where it has sparked discussions about life’s priorities and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams.
