The Kissing Booth is a Netflix Original films trilogy directed by Vince Marcello. It is based on a 2012 young adult novel of the same name by Beth Reekles published initially on Wattpad. The rom-com film follows Elle, a high-school teenager, navigating her relationships with best friend Lee and Lee’s elder brother Noah.
Despite not getting a decent critical response, being called a cliché, the film proved to be a big commercial success. According to Netflix, one in three viewers of The Kissing Booth have re-watched the movie. This led to The Kissing Booth becoming a trilogy.
In November 2016, Netflix purchased the film’s rights and ordered Komixx Media to produce it. The Kissing Booth premiered on May 11, 2018, as a Netflix Original title and was renewed twice because of its vast global popularity.
A high school teen rom-com, the film series revolves around Elle Evans (Joey King), a 16-year-old girl who has been single and never kissed. Since childhood, she and her best friend Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney) have been together and always adhere to their self-made rules. Elle has a low-key crush on Lee’s elder brother Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi), the hottest boy at school. She can’t think of making a move as it’s against the rules.
Elle and Lee set up a Kissing Booth for the spring carnival, where things take a turn as Noah kisses a blindfolded Elle and later confesses his love for her. As they both get swept up in romance, conflicts with Lee and choosing between the two becomes difficult for Elle.
The second part tests their long-distance relationship. Noah is off to Harvard, and Elle heads back to high school for her senior year. Elle juggles between getting into her dream college with her best friend Lee or opting for Harvard, where Noah is. A close friendship with the charismatic newcomer, Marco, and doubts about Noah having an affair further complicates Elle. She has to decide where her heart belongs and how much she can trust Noah.
The third part has the summer before Elle heads to college. She is still in dilemma whether she should relocate across the nation with her lover Noah or keep the vow of going to college with her BFF Lee. Elle goes through a lot of emotional turmoil, trying to please everyone, but failing on commitments.
Find here the trailer of the first part.
Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi, Molly Ringwald, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young, and Stephen Jennings.
Noah breaks up with Elle for not complicating her anymore. She finally gets to decide on her own what she actually wants to pursue as a career, regardless of her BFF or ex-Boyfriend. Making an independent decision, she goes to USC to become a game designer. After six years’ time-lapse, the trio meets again at the fair back in town. This time they were young adults involved in their respective professions, rather than amateur teenagers. Elle runs into Noah, who is choosing between jobs in Los Angeles and New York. The film ends with him asking Elle if she would like to go on a bike ride with him.
The Kissing Booth was nominated for Favorite Movie, and Joey King won the Favorite Actress award at the Kids’ Choice Awards 2019.
The Kissing Booth 2 won Favorite Comedy Movie, and Joey King won Favourite Comedy Movie Star at the People’s Choice Award 2020.
| Genre | Romantic Comedy, Drama |
| Release Date | May 11, 2018 | July 24, 2020 | August 11, 2021 |
| Certificate | 13+ per Netflix |
| Cast | Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi, Molly Ringwald, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young, and Stephen Jennings |
| Director(s) | Vince Marcello |
| IMDb Ratings | 6/10 (part 1), 5.7/10 (part 2), 4.7/10 (part 3) |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Countries where available | Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States |
| Total Parts | 3 |
| Upcoming Part | – |
| Filming Location | Cape Town – South Africa
LA, California – US |
| Soundtracks | The Kissing Booth Playlist |
