My Old Ass

My Old Ass

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2024
Founder	Megan Park (director and writer)
Headquarters	United States, Canada
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Megan Park (director, writer), Maisy Stella (lead actress), Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Aubrey Plaza
Products	Feature film
Parent	Amazon MGM Studios (US distribution), Warner Bros. Pictures (international distribution)

My Old Ass is a 2024 coming-of-age dramedy both penned and helmed by Megan Park. The film marks the cinematic debut of Maisy Stella, who stars alongside Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, and Aubrey Plaza. The narrative centers on Elliott, an 18-year-old who encounters her 39-year-old self during a hallucinogenic mushroom experience.

The movie premiered on January 20, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival and saw a limited theatrical release in the United States through Amazon MGM Studios on September 13, 2024. Internationally, distribution was managed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Garnering critical praise, it was recognized by the National Board of Review as one of the top 10 independent films of that year. My Old Ass received two nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, where Stella won Best Young Performer, and also earned nods at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards. Director Park received acknowledgments from both the Directors Guild of America Awards and Writers Guild of America Awards, while Stella was honored with several breakthrough performance nominations, including one from the Gotham Awards.

Plot

Elliott is an adolescent living on her family’s cranberry farm in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, with just three weeks remaining before she departs for university in Toronto. Her summer is filled with boating excursions alongside friends Ro and Ruthie, farm labor, and exploring a romantic connection with Chelsea, a girl she has admired since grade eight.

During a camping trip celebrating her eighteenth birthday, Elliott consumes mushroom tea with Ro and Ruthie, leading to a vivid psychedelic experience. She meets an older version of herself who confirms her identity by revealing a scar and sharing intimate details. This future Elliott, now a PhD candidate, advises her younger self to value her remaining time on the farm, strengthen family relationships, and steer clear of a boy named Chad. She leaves her contact information under the name "My Old Ass."

Back home, Elliott maintains phone contact with Older Elliott and deepens her relationships with siblings Max and Spencer. While skinny-dipping, she encounters Chad, who works for her father. Despite Older Elliott’s counsel to avoid him, Elliott finds herself attracted to Chad, prompting her to reconsider her sexual orientation.

Elliott discovers from her brother that their parents plan to sell the farm once she leaves. Her father explains they have received an irresistible offer and encourages her to accept it.

She enlists Chad’s help to sell her boat. During their last ride together, the motor fails amid rainfall. At a lookout shack, Elliott learns Chad will attend her university. She confesses that she previously identified as gay but is now open to exploring feelings for him. They reveal mutual attraction and share an intimate moment.

Older Elliott returns to explain why she cautioned against Chad—he is destined to die, and she cannot change this outcome. Nevertheless, Elliott chooses to embrace love with him because its value outweighs the inevitable sorrow. Unexpectedly, Chad also sees Older Elliott; they awkwardly introduce her as Elliott's "uncle" Michelle. After an emotional goodbye, Older Elliott urges younger Elliott to accept this bittersweet romance. She leaves a voicemail encouraging Elliott to focus on living fully in the present rather than dwelling on past or future concerns.

Production

In March 2022, it was revealed that Megan Park would both write and direct her sophomore feature film, the coming-of-age comedy My Old Ass. The project was produced by LuckyChap Entertainment alongside Indian Paintbrush. During pre-production, Margot Robbie was actively involved and remained on set throughout filming. Principal photography commenced on August 15, 2022, in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario—a setting Park described as a "love letter to Canada"—and concluded in October 2022. The film's score was composed by Tyler Hilton, while Aubrey Plaza joined the cast mid-production amid ongoing contract negotiations.

Release

My Old Ass had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024. Amazon MGM Studios secured worldwide distribution rights for $15 million, planning an initial theatrical release followed by availability on Prime Video. The limited U.S. theatrical debut was originally scheduled for August 2, 2024, but was postponed to September 13, 2024. In the United Kingdom, the film was released through Curzon Film on September 27, 2024.

Critical response

Christy Lemire from RogerEbert.com awarded the film 3½ out of 4 stars, commending the acting performances, direction, and visual composition. She singled out Stella's "remarkable screen presence and excellent comedic timing," labeling it an "exciting feature film debut." Lemire also observed how Plaza’s deadpan delivery contrasts effectively with Stella’s vibrant energy, resulting in a convincing dual performance.

Lemire further praised Park’s strong sense of location, noting that much of the narrative unfolds around picturesque lakes near a family farm. The cinematography by Kristen Correll adds a romantic and nostalgic tone that enriches the film’s intimate yet broadly relatable coming-of-age story.

Alison Willmore of Vulture characterized My Old Ass as a blend of broad humor and poignant coming-of-age storytelling. She lauded its sophisticated treatment of fantasy elements and youthfulness without losing emotional resonance.

Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair applauded Stella’s depiction of Elliott as spirited yet compassionate, capturing the emotional subtleties of the narrative. He highlighted the distinctively Canadian backdrop of Ontario’s Lake Muskoka region and described the film as "a pleasant dream, sun-dappled and full of potential." Lawson concluded that Park’s examination of life’s challenges and rewards holds significance across different generations.

Filmmaker Chris Columbus included My Old Ass among his favorite films of 2024, commending Megan Park alongside directors such as Ryan Coogler and Robert Eggers as influential voices shaping modern cinema while paying homage to classic filmmakers like Billy Wilder, Elaine May, and John Hughes. Other industry figures including Kelly Fremon Craig, William Goldenberg, Drew Hancock, and Don Hertzfeldt also expressed high regard for the film.

Box office

My Old Ass earned $5.4 million within the United States and Canada, with an additional $0.3 million from international markets, bringing its global total to $5.7 million. Although its initial release was limited to fewer than 40 theaters during the first two weeks, the film climbed to the No. 10 position at the domestic box office in its third week after briefly expanding to a wider release across 1,390 screens.

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
Variety Breakthrough Awards	January 19, 2024	Breakthrough Artist	Maddie Ziegler	Template:Won
Gotham Awards	December 2, 2024	Breakthrough Performer	Maisy Stella	Template:Nominated
National Board of Review	December 4, 2024	Top Ten Independent Films	My Old Ass	Template:Won
Michigan Movie Critics Guild	December 6, 2024	Breakthrough Award	Maisy Stella	Template:Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards	December 9, 2024	Best Comedic Performance	Aubrey Plaza	Template:Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society	December 13, 2024	Best Youth Performance – Female (under 21)	Maisy Stella	Template:Won
		Best Comedy	My Old Ass	Template:Won
Indiana Film Journalists Association	December 16, 2024	Breakout of the Year	Maisy Stella	Template:Nominated
Columbus Film Critics Association	January 2, 2025	Best Comedy	My Old Ass	Template:Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle	January 4, 2025	Best LGBT Film	'My Old Ass'	Template:Nominated
Alliance of Women Film Journalists	January 7, 2025	Best Woman Director	Megan Park	Template:Nominated
		Best Woman Screenwriter	Megan Park	Template:Nominated
		Best Breakthrough Performance	Maisy Stella	Template:Nominated
Music City Film Critics Association	January 10, 2025	Best Young Actress	Maisy Stella	Template:Nominated
		Best Comedy Film	'My Old Ass'	'Nominated'
Critics' Choice Movie Awards	January 12, 2025	' Best Comedy Film	'Nominated'
	' Best Young Actor or Actress	'Maisy Stella'	'Won'
London Film Critics' Circle	'February 2, 2025	'Breakthrough Performer	'Nominated'
Saturn Awards	'February 2, 2025	'Best Fantasy Film	'My Old Ass'	'Nominated'
Directors Guild of America Awards	'February 8, 2025	'Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film	'Megan Park'	'Nominated'
Artios Awards	'February 12, 2025	'Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Comedy)	'Douglas Aibel & Matthew Glasner'	'Won'
Writers Guild of America Awards	'February 15, 2025	'Best Original Screenplay	'Megan Park'	'Nominated'
Independent Spirit Awards	' rowspan=2 ' February 22, 2025	' Best Screenplay	'Nominated'
	' Best Breakthrough Performance	'Maisy Stella	'Won'
GLAAD Media Awards	'March 29, 2025	'Outstanding Film – Wide Release	'My Old Ass	'Won'