Overview

• Jillian Bell's directorial debut, 'Summer of 69,' premieres on Hulu on May 9 after its SXSW debut in March 2025.
• The film stars Sam Morelos as Abby, a high school senior who hires stripper Santa Monica, played by Chloe Fineman, for a $20,000 mentorship to gain sexual confidence.
• Critics praise Morelos’s standout performance for authentically portraying teenage insecurity and growth, marking her as a rising star.
• While the movie highlights women’s sexual empowerment, it has been criticized for failing to deeply engage with issues like patriarchal exploitation and sex-work stigmas.
• Bell has emphasized the importance of showing women as 'sexual beings' and said directing this project has been a transformative experience for her career.