Year: 2022
Runtime: 93 mins
Language: English
Director: Karen Knox
Rosy, a 25-year-old bank teller who left foster care at 18, seeks to fill a parental void in her life. She turns to an online service that matches adults with individuals looking for surrogate children. This decision leads her on an unexpected and surreal journey as she searches for the familial love she has always desired, exploring unconventional ways to find connection and belonging.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Adult Adoption yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Adult Adoption (2022), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Rosy, Ellie Moon, is a 25-year-old bank teller who aged out of the foster care system at 18, building a quiet, sometimes lonely life. She dresses like a much younger girl and subsists on the simple comfort of Kraft Dinner, a small ritual that hints at deeper yearning for a family she never fully had.
After a restorative yoga class ends abruptly when the instructor tries to reposition her while she is swaddled, Rosy begins to question what kinds of support might truly suit her. Her coworker, Helen, Leah Doz, who is very close to her own mother, suggests she consider finding an older adult to adopt her, offering a glimmer of possibility in a world she has learned to navigate alone.
Rosy reconnects with Nola, Chelsea Muirhead, with whom she once lived in a group home, when Nola calls the bank to transfer money to her “new family.” The money is meant to join a church-run arrangement, and the account appears to be a business-facing bank setup rather than a straightforward donation. This observation unsettles Rosy and makes her suspect that something unusual, perhaps even dangerous, is going on within the circle she’s being drawn into.
Through a website that matches younger adults seeking parental roles with older adults willing to adopt, Rosy meets Mark, Jeremy Ferdman, who responds with warmth and openness but quickly reveals a more complicated motive: he is also hoping for a dating relationship rather than a familial bond. At the same time, Rosy encounters Brian, Michael Healey, whose presence on the site seems friendly at first, but soon hints at a desire for romance rather than a protective role.
Rosy also encounters Jane, Rebecca Northan, a high school teacher who is estranged from her own daughter. After glimpsing Jane on a date with another young woman, Rosy reaches out—calling and emailing—only to be met with silence and unanswered messages, leaving her to wonder about the boundaries and debts of human connection.
As tensions rise, Rosy learns that Nola has been trying to reach her as well, and a dangerous-looking man arrives, pressing for Rosy to complete the money transfer to the church. The pressure intensifies, and Rosy feels emotionally overwhelmed, reaching out to multiple people and testing the limits of the relationships she depends on.
In a stark turning point, Rosy acts to protect Nola, rescuing her from the looming danger of the cult-like situation. Jane finally answers a call and invites Rosy to visit, but when the two meet, Rosy finds Jane drunk, sparking a wrenching exchange that reveals not only Jane’s limits but Rosy’s own humanity and resilience in equal measure. The moment underscores that family bonds can be fragile, yet real connection remains possible.
Seeking grounding, Rosy attempts to reestablish ordinary life—she exchanges a genuine, if tentative, conversation with the owner of the coffeeshop in her building and reaches out to Helen to begin mending the rifts that have formed. She returns to her yoga practice, this time allowing the instructor to reposition her with a sense of cautious renewal, signaling a small but meaningful reclaiming of control over her life.
Throughout this journey, the film paints a quiet portrait of longing, accountability, and the messy, imperfect work of building a chosen family. It threads themes of vulnerability and trust with the daily rituals that anchor a person’s sense of belonging, illustrating how one finds steadiness in the face of confusion, danger, and heartbreak.
Last Updated: November 29, 2025 at 00:47
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where lonely characters find unconventional but meaningful connections.If you liked Adult Adoption's story of searching for connection, explore these movies about lonely characters forming their own families. They share a similar steady pace, medium emotional intensity, and a bittersweet but hopeful tone.
The narrative follows a protagonist, often starting from a place of loneliness or institutional upbringing, as they actively seek out or stumble upon a group of people who become their chosen family. The story focuses on the gradual, sometimes hesitant, building of trust and mutual support, leading to a resolution that validates connection, even if it's imperfect.
Movies in this group are connected by their central theme of finding family outside of traditional structures. They share a similar emotional tone that balances melancholy with hope, a character-driven focus on vulnerability, and an ending that feels earned and realistically positive.
Intimate portraits of flawed individuals learning to navigate their emotional needs.Fans of Adult Adoption's focus on Rosy's emotional journey will appreciate these similar character studies. These movies feature moderate complexity, a steady pace, and explore themes of loneliness, codependency, and realistic personal breakthroughs.
The story is built around the protagonist's internal conflict and emotional maturation. External events serve primarily to challenge their worldview or defense mechanisms. The arc is one of increasing self-awareness, often involving learning to ask for help, set boundaries, or understand past trauma, culminating in a nuanced and believable step forward.
These films are grouped by their primary focus on a character's emotional development. They share a similar moderate intensity and complexity, avoiding melodrama for grounded realism. The pacing is steady, allowing the audience to sit with the character's feelings and subtle transformations.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Adult Adoption in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Adult Adoption is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Adult Adoption with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Adult Adoption. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Adult Adoption that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Adult Adoption: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Adult Adoption that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Adult Adoption (2022) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Adult Adoption (2022) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Adult Adoption (2022) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Adult Adoption – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Rose Plays Julie (2021) Complete Plot Breakdown
The Surrogate (2020) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Adopt a Highway (2019) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Adulthood (2018) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Rose Plays Julie (2019) Complete Plot Breakdown
Foster Child (2007) Film Overview & Timeline
Born to Be Sold (1981) Complete Plot Breakdown
Immediate Family (1989) Full Summary & Key Details
Girl Finds Out She’s Adopted (FEATURE FILM)|Dhar Mann (2021) Story Summary & Characters
Father, Mother, Child (1996) Movie Recap & Themes
Adult Children (1961) Story Summary & Characters
Back Door (1960) Film Overview & Timeline
Gallant Lady (1933) Film Overview & Timeline
The Surrogate (1995) Complete Plot Breakdown
Born for You (2023) Full Summary & Key Details