Movie Profile: THE FALLOUT
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | The Fallout |
| Release Date | March 17, 2021 (SXSW) • January 27, 2022 (HBO Max) |
| Director & Writer | Megan Park |
| Producers | Shaun Sanghani, David Brown, Rebecca Miller, Cara Shine Ballarini |
| Genre | Drama |
| Runtime | 96 minutes |
| Platform / Distributor | HBO Max / Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Lead Cast |
• Jenna Ortega (Vada Cavell) • Maddie Ziegler (Mia Reed) • Niles Fitch (Quinton Hasland) • Will Ropp (Nick Feinstein) • Lumi Pollack (Amelia Cavell) • Shailene Woodley (Patricia) • Julie Bowen (Patricia Cavell) • John Ortiz (Carlos Cavell) |
| Accolades & Honors |
• SXSW Film Festival (2021): Won Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature & Narrative Feature Audience Award • Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Nominated for Best Movie Made for Television |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Vada Cavell (Jenna Ortega) is a quirky, laid-back 16-year-old high school student living in California. During a routine school day, she steps into the restroom to answer a call from her younger sister, Amelia. While inside, a sudden active shooter rampage breaks out in the hallways.
Vada hides inside a bathroom stall alongside Mia Reed (Maddie Ziegler), a popular student dancer, and soon after, Quinton Hasland (Niles Fitch), whose brother was shot during the opening moments of the tragedy. Together, the three teenagers huddle in terror as the shooting unfolds around them.
Though physical injuries are avoided among the three, the psychological trauma leaves Vada emotionally shattered. In the days following the event, Vada finds herself unable to connect with her parents, her younger sister, or her activist best friend Nick (Will Ropp), who channels his grief into political rallies. Instead, Vada forms a deep, insular bond with Mia and Quinton—the only peers who understand the exact terror she experienced. As Vada navigates panic attacks, emotional numbness, and substance use, she takes her first fragile steps toward healing and processing unexpected trauma.
