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Mustache

Play trailer 2:06 Poster for Mustache 2023 1h 21m Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
It's the mid-90's in Northern California and 13-year-old Pakistani-American Ilyas is facing a major crisis -- his parents yanked him out of his comfortable Islamic private school and now he has to face life at public school. Ilyas' fears about joining public school are made worse by insecurities due to his inescapable, prepubescent MUSTACHE. Ilyas hatches a hilarious plan to return to his old school -- but he must also learn to accept himself.
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Mustache

Critics Reviews

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Tina Kakadelis Beyond the Cinerama Dome 6d
In order to enjoy Mustache, you just have to be willing to go back to the awkward teenage years of finding yourself — the often uncomfortable, sometimes profound, and always shifting time when the tickle of a prepubescent mustache can change the world. Go to Full Review
Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Jul 31
Sharply observed and charmingly nostalgic, this tender and heartfelt comedy tackles familiar themes of self-acceptance and teenage angst through a fresh cultural lens. Go to Full Review
Jared Mobarak Hey, Have You Seen ...? Jul 31
8/10
Mustache proves a heartwarming and inspirational example of the immigrant experience while also just embracing the comedy born from naïveté. You can’t help but be charmed by just how endearing this movie is. Go to Full Review
Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Jul 29
4/5
Writer-director Imran Khan finds hilarious observations all the way through the story, and as it gets deeper under the skin, it also resonates beautifully. Go to Full Review
Kenneth R. Morefield 1More Film Blog Jul 26
3/4
A male, Muslim version of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Go to Full Review
Alisha Mughal The Asian Cut 08/02/2025
4/5
Khan directs his own script with impeccable comedic timing that he shrewdly balances against substantial ideas of what it means to grow up as a South Asian kid in America. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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sahar P @RT18128907 1h As a Muslim girlie who went to Islamic school with a mustache AND unibrow - I definitely related to this film and appreciated the accuracy captured. From the school uniforms to the famous Yusuf Islam soundtrack to the awkward exchanges across gender lines, this film has my whole heart. This was an exceptional performance by Meesha Shafi who I have been waiting to see on the big screen for years now! Atharv is a natural performer and this has to be one of the strongest films of Rizwan Manji. Heartfelt, nuanced, and full of love for both being a Muslim and a creative. Thank you Imran J. Khan for bringing this movie for the world to see! The start of a new era in Muslim filmmaking! See more Zainab A @RT51269851 9h What a poignant film— a must-watch for everyone. I wish I could watch it again IN A THEATRE! See more Riddhi G @RT50492462 1d So so proud of dear Avi Rituu Verma! His debut movie "Mustache" got a standing ovation last night and we were honored to be a part of the private screening. Atharv (Avi) had a unique way to connect with the audience with his craft. A special mixture of emotion wrapped in grit and passion. As a parent to a son, I could sense so many parallels to our experience raising a teenager. This is the story not just of a Desi kid but any young man trying to navigate the intersection of adulthood and childhood. It was heartwarming and just so special. Story aside, the cast handled the subject so sensitively, with no unnecessary oxygen given to stereotypes but still trying to highlight the importance of one’s culture. It was simple, it was complex, it was perfect. Take a bow Atharv. Very proud of you! See more Yusuf Z @RT32746791 1d This film is a beautiful masterpiece. A timely and poignant coming of age story that will resonate with you, no matter how you grew up. It’s funny, heart warming, and touching. Khan’s directing feels so intimately personal with impeccable timing, and he masterfully recreates the essence of the 90s without it feeling like nostalgia bait. The performances are all grounded and raw. Highly recommend, one of the best movies of the year! See more Nasar A @RT43897360 2d I'm not sure how to say this eloquently. You know the feeling you get when you look back on old pictures and videos of you/your family/your kids growing up realize, "dam, those were the days"? That warm "man, wish I could go back to that time in my life and just linger in that stage forever" feeling? Mustache is somehow able to bottle up that elixir and share it with us as you share in Ilyas's beautiful coming of age journey. From playing video games on the CRT TV in the garage (SNES for the win) during family parties, to football before dinner with friends, the grainy VHS tapes, the size too big puffy dress shirts, when youth was everpresent - I felt like I was reliving the best time of my life. Strongly recommend this movie for anyone that wants a reprieve from today's chaotic world and wants to experience bit of warm fuzzy feeling of their childhood. See more Ibrahim L @ibrahimlala 3d I loved it. It's awkward, funny, charming, and visually nostalgic. It's a film about a Muslim kid, but is written in such a way that everyone who remembers their teenage years can relate to it. See more Read all reviews
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Mustache

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Movie Info

Synopsis It's the mid-90's in Northern California and 13-year-old Pakistani-American Ilyas is facing a major crisis -- his parents yanked him out of his comfortable Islamic private school and now he has to face life at public school. Ilyas' fears about joining public school are made worse by insecurities due to his inescapable, prepubescent MUSTACHE. Ilyas hatches a hilarious plan to return to his old school -- but he must also learn to accept himself.
Director
Imran J. Khan
Producer
Christina Won, Jessica Sittig
Distributor
Quiver Distribution
Production Co
MakeSay
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 31, 2026
Runtime
1h 21m
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