The Sun Is Also a Star

On a bright day in New York, Natasha Kingsley and Daniel Jae Ho Bae cross paths in a string of chance meetings that feel preordained. Natasha is trying to keep her family from being torn apart by deportation to Jamaica, while Daniel is chasing a future at Dartmouth. Their connection builds quickly, fueled by late night conversations, nervous laughter, and small acts of kindness that push them past strangers into something warmer. The day becomes a race against the clock as outside pressures tighten and every decision could tilt their worlds. In a city that never stops, their shared spark tests loyalty, destiny, and the stubborn hope that love can alter a life.

Directed by Ry Russo-Young, the adaptation of Nicola Yoon's novel features a screenplay by Tracy Oliver. It stars Yara Shahidi as Natasha and Charles Melton as Daniel, and was released in 2019 by Warner Bros Pictures as a contemporary YA romance.

With a budget around 9 million, the film grossed roughly 6.8 million worldwide, a modest return that suggests a limited theatrical footprint. It found a smaller but devoted audience among fans of YA romance and multicultural storytelling, especially those drawn to bright city energy.

Even if not a blockbuster, the movie contributed to discussions about immigration and cross cultural love in mainstream cinema. It centers a Black Jamaican family alongside a Korean American lead, highlighting New York as a vibrant, inclusive backdrop that mirrors real city life.

Critics praised the performances of Shahidi and Melton, noting warmth and chemistry. The film wrestles with identity, belonging, and the pull between family duties and personal dreams, placing a hopeful romance at the center of a bigger conversation about chance, choice, and community.