Roommates (2026) Review: Netflix College Comedy
Roommates premiered on Netflix on April 17, 2026, offering a grounded look at freshman-year friendships. Directed by Chandler Levack and produced by Happy Madison, the film stars Sadie Sandler and Chloe East. It explores the transition from best friends to rivals, capturing the fragile intimacy of shared dorm life.
Roommates (2026): Film at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Director | Chandler Levack |
| Writers | Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan (both Saturday Night Live) |
| Stars | Sadie Sandler, Chloe East, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Storm Reid |
| Runtime | 107 minutes | Rating: R |
| Netflix Date | April 17, 2026 |
| Premiere | Los Angeles — April 13, 2026 |
| Production | Happy Madison Productions, Range Media Partners, Netflix Studios |
| Filming | New Jersey (main), Los Angeles, Barcelona, New York |
| Producers | Adam Sandler, Ceara O’Sullivan, Tim Herlihy |
Roommates (2026): A Study in Dormitory Diplomacy
Roommates is a black comedy film released on Netflix on April 17, 2026. Directed by Chandler Levack, the story follows Devon (Sadie Sandler), a naive college freshman who asks the charismatic Celeste (Chloe East) to share a dorm room.
What begins as a hopeful bond quickly devolves into a calculated war of passive aggression as they navigate the messy realities of first-year independence. The film explores the “bizarre intimacy” of shared spaces, where minor misunderstandings spiral into significant emotional conflicts.
Roommates earns its laughs through character tension, not set pieces. That is a harder thing to do, and Levack pulls it off for the first 70 minutes convincingly.
Roommates Full Cast
| Actor | Character | Note |
| Sadie Sandler | Devon | Lead — daughter of producer Adam Sandler |
| Chloe East | Celeste | Lead — the outgoing, difficult roommate |
| Natasha Lyonne | Hannah | Key supporting role |
| Nick Kroll | Brian | Devon’s father |
| Sarah Sherman | Dr. Schilling | SNL cast member |
| Storm Reid | Luna | Euphoria, The Last of Us |
| Aidan Langford | Alex | Supporting role |
| Adam Sandler | Cameo | Producer and father of lead actress |
| Janeane Garofalo | Supporting | Ensemble cast |
| Francesca Scorsese | Supporting | Ensemble cast |
Sadie Sandler provides Devon with a restrained, specific quality that maintains sympathy despite the character’s poor choices. She avoids relying on her family name or superficial likability. Chloe East portrays Celeste as genuinely difficult rather than purely villainous, adding texture to their dynamic.
Supporting actors Natasha Lyonne and Nick Kroll utilize experienced comic timing to ground their roles. Storm Reid brings quiet credibility to the ensemble as Luna, while Adam Sandler’s brief cameo provides humor without overshadowing his daughter’s lead performance. .
Director Chandler Levack and the Writing Team
Roommates premiered on April 17, 2026, as Chandler Levack’s second feature film. Her work focuses on young people navigating identity, and this Netflix original continues that pattern by exploring the “bizarre intimacy” of dorm life.
Levack keeps the camera close to leads Sadie Sandler (Devon) and Chloe East (Celeste), allowing comedy to emerge from behavior rather than broad situations. This approach separates the film from the typical Happy Madison catalogue, resulting in a poignant Gen-Z character study.
Filming Locations for Roommates (2026)
Roommates, the 2026 Netflix college comedy starring Sadie Sandler, was filmed extensively across New Jersey during the summer of 2025. Directed by Chandler Levack, the production utilized several real-world academic and suburban settings to bring the story of Devon and Celeste to life. As a senior interior designer and content strategist, I have analyzed the primary locations to provide insights into the film’s authentic university aesthetic.
Are Roommates Worth Watching on Netflix?
Roommates (2026) is a sharp, chaotic Happy Madison comedy exploring college life. While the 107-minute runtime and third act stretch the premise, Sadie Sandler and Chloe East deliver relatable, high-energy performances
Watch it if you want a college comedy that respects its audience. Skip it if you need clean resolution or a film that picks a clear winner in the roommate war.
Roommates streams on Netflix now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Roommates (2026) about?
Two mismatched college freshmen, Devon and Celeste, share a dorm room and turn a fast friendship into a slow-burning passive-aggressive conflict across a full semester.
Who stars in Roommates on Netflix?
Sadie Sandler and Chloe East lead, supported by Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Storm Reid, Sarah Sherman, and Adam Sandler in a brief cameo.
When did Roommates release on Netflix?
Roommates started streaming on Netflix on April 17, 2026, four days after its Los Angeles premiere on April 13, 2026.
Who directed Roommates (2026)?
Chandler Levack directed from a screenplay by Saturday Night Live writers Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan.
Where were Roommates filmed?
Principal photography took place in New Jersey, with additional filming in Los Angeles, Barcelona, and New York beginning in June 2025.
Are Roommates suitable for children?
No — Roommates carries an R rating for adult language and mature content and is not appropriate for younger viewers.
Who produced Roommates?
Adam Sandler, Ceara O’Sullivan, and Tim Herlihy produced through Happy Madison Productions, Range Media Partners, and Netflix Studios.
Final Thought
Roommates arrive at the right moment. College comedies usually win by going bigger. Levack wins by going smaller — closer, more specific, more honest about what it actually feels like to share eleven square feet of your life with someone you chose in the first week of a new world.
Devon and Celeste never fully resolve. That is not a flaw. That is the film telling the truth.
If you have ever had a roommate you loved and could not stand simultaneously, Roommates will feel uncomfortably accurate. That accuracy is the entire point.
Stream Roommates on Netflix now.
