The Kissing Booth film series consists of American teen-romantic comedy films developed and released as Netflix original films,[1][2][3][4] exclusively for the streaming service. Based on the novels written by Beth Reekles, the plot centers around Rochelle "Elle" Evans, and the complications that arise when she begins dating her best friend's older brother. The series explores the teenage experiences of high school, popularity, dating, and friendship.
| The Kissing Booth | |
|---|---|
 Official film series logo | |
| Based on | The Kissing Booth novels by Beth Reekles |
| Starring |
|
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date | 2018–2021 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Although it was poorly-received by critics,[5][6] the series as a whole has seen success in its streaming numbers with audiences.[7][8] Netflix officially identified it as one of its consistently most-viewed releases.[9][10]
Film
edit| Film | U.S. release date | Directed by | Screenplay by | Produced by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Kissing Booth | May 11, 2018 | Vince Marcello | Ed Glauser, Vince Marcello, Michele Weisler & Andrew Cole-Bulgin | |
| The Kissing Booth 2 | July 24, 2020 | Vince Marcello | Jay Arnold & Vince Marcello | |
| The Kissing Booth 3 | August 11, 2021 | |||
The Kissing Booth (2018)
editRochelle "Elle" Evans, is a popular and outgoing student at her high school. Despite this, she has never been kissed. Together with her life-long best friend Lee, the pair plan a kissing booth event as a fundraiser for their school at a Spring Carnival fair. Elle has always had a secret crush on Lee's bad-boy older brother, named Noah. For years, she never acted on her feelings, since she and Lee had written rules about their friendship. One of those rules was to never date each other's family members. After sharing a kiss at the event, Elle and Noah begin a secret romantic relationship. When Lee finds out, there is a strain on the pair's friendship. After some time, their differences are overcome. Elle navigates the complexities of teenage-drama, while Noah prepares for Ivy League college experience at Harvard University. As he leaves, Elle realizes that though she doesn't know what the future holds, her romance with Noah will always be a part of her.[11]
The Kissing Booth 2 (2020)
editElle begins her senior year of high school, while Noah is a freshman at Harvard. The couple navigate their lives, balancing full schedules of education and studies, and continuing their long-distance relationship. This is complicated as each of them find attraction elsewhere; Elle with a new student named Marco, and Noah with a British student named Chloe. Elle tags along with her best friend and his girlfriend named Rachel, as a third wheel on the couple's dates, only to unintentionally cause friction in their relationship. Noah meanwhile asks Elle to once again break one of her best friend rules with Lee, and wants her to move to attend college with him once she graduates high school. Lee however wants her to continue her schooling, with him at Berkeley. Noah realizes that his feelings for Chloe are only as a friend, while Marco tries to convince Elle that they have something more. Noah and Elle reconcile at her graduation. Elle receives letters from Harvard and Berkeley notifying her that she is accepted at both schools. She faces the difficult decision of choosing her best friend, or her love life with Noah.[12]
The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)
editAfter graduation, Elle struggles to choose between Berkeley and Harvard, while spending the summer at her childhood beach house with Noah, Lee, and Rachel. Struggles arise as tensions build with Noah and Marco, and Elle faces challenges with her father's new girlfriend, Linda. Following a fight with her father about his new girlfriend and breaking up with Noah due to concerns about her future, Elle ultimately realizes she needs to prioritize her own happiness. She applies to University of Southern California to study game design, reconciles with her father, and mends her friendships. Six years later, Elle is developing her own game, and after a chance reunion with Noah, they share a nostalgic motorcycle ride along the California coastline, hinting at a possible rekindled relationship and unresolved feelings.[13]
Cast and characters
edit| Character | Title | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Kissing Booth | The Kissing Booth 2 | The Kissing Booth 3 | ||||
| Rochelle "Elle" Evans | Joey King | |||||
| Noah Flynn | Jacob Elordi | |||||
| Lee Flynn | Joel Courtney | |||||
| Mike Evans | Stephen Jennings | |||||
| Brad Evans | Carson White | |||||
| Sara Flynn | Molly Ringwald | |||||
| Mr. Flynn | Morné Visse | |||||
| Rachel | Meganne Young | |||||
| Marco Peña | Taylor Zakhar Perez | |||||
| Chloe Winthrop | Maisie Richardson-Sellers | |||||
Additional crew and production details
edit| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies | Distributing company | Running time | ||
| The Kissing Booth | Patrick Kirst | Anastas N. Michos | Paul Millspaugh | Netflix Original Films Komixx Entertainment |
Netflix | 1hr 40mins | |
| The Kissing Booth 2 | Clearblack Films Netflix Original Films Komixx Entertainment Picture Loom Productions |
2hrs 11mins | |||||
| The Kissing Booth 3 | 1hr 53mins | ||||||
Reception
edit| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| The Kissing Booth | 15% (13 reviews)[14] | —[15] |
| The Kissing Booth 2 | 27% (41 reviews)[16] | 39/100 (12 critics)[17] |
| The Kissing Booth 3 | 25% (20 reviews)[18] | 36/100 (7 critics)[19] |
References
edit- ^ Portée, Alex (December 4, 2023). "Joey King on Jacob Elordi's 'Kissing Booth' criticism: 'It's unfortunate'". Today. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Reekles, Beth. "The Kissing Booth series". Beth Reekles, Official website. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Dumaraog, Ana (August 14, 2021). "Every Kissing Booth Movie Ranked From Worst To Best". ScreenRant. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Lerner, Jamie (August 17, 2021). "The Third 'The Kissing Booth' Book Actually Comes out After the Movie". Distractify. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (June 1, 2018). "Netflix's 'The Kissing Booth' is a terrible rom-com full of slut-shaming and sexism — here's everything wrong with the movie". Business Insider & IndieWire. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Marcus, Stephanie (July 23, 2020). "Here are the 26 best-worst moments from 'The Kissing Booth'". The Insider. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Kaufman, Amy (June 28, 2018). "Must Reads: How 'The Kissing Booth' became a pop culture sensation (even if critics hated it)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Bundel, Ani (July 3, 2018). "Netflix's 'The Kissing Booth' is a runaway teen phenomenon that critics hate and adults have never heard of". NBC News. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Clark, Travis (June 11, 2018). "Netflix says its teen romcom 'The Kissing Booth' is 'one of the most-watched movies in the country'". Business Insider. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Mendelson, Scott (July 26, 2020). "'Kissing Booth 2,' Netflix's Most-Watched Movie, Turns 'Twilight' Into A Teen-Friendly Romantic Comedy". Forbes. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (November 30, 2016). "Netflix Orders 'The Kissing Booth'; YA Adaptation To Be Produced By Komixx". Deadline. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Howard, Courtney (July 24, 2020). "'The Kissing Booth 2': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 26, 2020). "Netflix Puts Liplock On Vince Marcello-Directed 'Kissing Booth 3'; Pic Is Already Shot With Original Cast Back". Deadline. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 2". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "The Kissing Booth 3". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 4, 2021.