The story begins with Stargirl, played by Grace VanderWaal, as she passionately sings “Just What I Needed” to her pet rat Cinnamon, capturing her free spirit and love for music. Her mother, Judy Greer, then gently persuades her that it’s time to move from their familiar home in Arizona to Los Angeles because she has secured a new job working on a film set. Stargirl feels ambivalent about the move, overwhelmed by the thought of starting over once again, but her mother encourages her to see it as an exciting new adventure.
Once they arrive at their new apartment, they meet their somewhat grumpy neighbor, Judd Hirsch, who warns them about the challenges of settling into a new place. As Ana begins her work on the film, she leaves a key for Stargirl to explore the vibrant city on her own, fostering her curiosity. During her explorations, Stargirl visits her mother at work and quickly notices that the director, Daniel, behaves quite poorly—showing signs of being difficult and inconsiderate.
That evening, Stargirl’s singing talent shines again as she hums “Make Your Own Kind of Music.” Her voice catches the attention of Elijah Richardson’s character, Evan, the landlord’s son. He befriends her and introduces her to his brother Terrell, played by Tyrel Jackson Williams, who is in the midst of filming a movie. Evan invites Stargirl to help them create a sizzle reel, where she can showcase her musical talents by writing songs and possibly acting. Excited about the opportunity, she agrees, eager to find her place in the new city.
Despite some initial skepticism from Mr. Mitchell, her neighbor, who complains about her singing, Stargirl shows kindness by gifting him a pair of earmuffs to enjoy the sound quietly. Later, she makes her way to a bar named Forte, where Terrell works, and joins Evan and Terrell in watching performances. They soon spot a regular patron known as “Table Six”: the legendary musician Roxanne Martel, played masterfully by Uma Thurman. Encouraged by her friends, Stargirl takes the stage and delivers a heartfelt performance, with the house band backing her up. Both Evan and Terrell praise her talent, and Terrell shares that Roxanne even liked her singing—a moment that boosts Stargirl’s confidence.
As they work on their projects, Stargirl plays some of Roxanne’s songs for Evan and Terrell to listen to, with intentions to use her song “Miracle Mile” in their reel. However, when Stargirl approaches Roxanne for permission, Roxanne declines, explaining her hesitation to lend her song to newcomers, although she encourages Stargirl to write her own music. Inspired by this advice, Stargirl, Evan, and Terrell compose a new song titled “Figure It Out.” They seek Roxanne’s help again, asking to use her piano, which she agrees to after listening to their new composition. Roxanne offers valuable suggestions to refine their song and shares her own experiences of fame and its fleeting nature, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and passion.
Throughout this process, Stargirl forms a deeper bond with Roxanne, learning about her journey from rising star to facing the hardships that come with fame. Roxanne reveals she helped save Forte with her own money and now owns the venue, demonstrating her resilience. She also tells Stargirl that her newfound inspiration has reawakened her love for music. Meanwhile, Stargirl’s kindness continues as she talks with Mr. Mitchell, who gifts her an old vintage camera, recalling his own film days. When the group finds themselves short on money, Mr. Mitchell suggests selling the camera, hinting at the ups and downs faced in pursuing dreams.
As the team works on the sizzle reel, Stargirl and Evan’s friendship blossoms into romantic affection, especially after a day spent together filming and sharing personal stories. They further develop their connection when a producer shows interest in their project after seeing the reel. This marks a major breakthrough for the trio, as they are offered a significant deal—$1 million—to produce a full-length film called “Tell Your Story.”
However, their happiness is tempered by the news that the film Ana was working on has been shut down due to multiple complaints against the director, Daniel. An investigation is underway, which may mean yet another move for Stargirl and her mother, as Ana finds a new job in Berkeley. This news initially sours Stargirl’s mood, as she begins to feel uncomfortable about leaving behind her growing new life in Los Angeles.
Recognizing the importance of resilience, Stargirl receives heartfelt advice from Henry Wilcoxon through her friend Terrell, who reminds her that “you should never regret your mistakes, but continue to learn from them.” This inspires her to confront her fears and talk openly with her mother about their uncertain future.
That night, everyone gathers at Forte, where Stargirl performs once more, this time alongside Roxanne as part of their band called Table Six and the Shirley Temples, which is a nod to Roxanne’s favorite drink. During the performance, Stargirl reveals that she and her friends are staying in LA, and they are not moving after all. Their victory is celebrated with a lively embrace of their newfound purpose.
In the final scenes, Terrell begins filming “Tell Your Story” on the picturesque beach, with Stargirl and Evan joining in on the first day of shooting, symbolizing her transition from uncertainty to confidence and her embrace of her authentic self. Throughout this journey, Stargirl’s musical talent, resilience, and unwavering spirit shine brightly, encouraging viewers to follow their dreams regardless of the obstacles they face.
