The Kissing Booth

***The Kissing Booth*** is an American teen romantic comedy film written and directed by Vince Marcello, based on the novel of the same name by Beth Reekles. The film was released on May 11, 2018, by Netflix.

The sequel, The Kissing Booth 2, was released on July 24, 2020, while a third and final film, The Kissing Booth 3, was released on August 11, 2021.

## Synopsis

Elle Evans just had the most romantic summer of her life with her reformed bad-boy boyfriend Noah Flynn. But now Noah is off to Harvard, and Elle heads back to high school for her senior year. She'll have to juggle a long-distance relationship, getting into her dream college with her best friend Lee, and the complications brought on by a close friendship with a handsome, charismatic new classmate named Marco. When Noah grows close to a seemingly-perfect college girl, Elle will have to decide how much she trusts him and to whom her heart truly belongs.

## Plot

Elle Evans and Lee Flynn have been best friends all their lives due to their mothers growing up together and having a deep bond.

As the two grow up, they develop a love of dancing, specifically on an arcade dance machine modeled after Dance Dance Revolution. When Elle is 11, her mother becomes terminally ill and, three years later, passes away. As she grows up, Elle's crush on Lee's older brother, Noah, deepens, but she tries her hardest to ignore it.

On the first day of junior year, Elle's school uniform pants split. She has to wear her school uniform skirt from freshman year and becomes the centre of attention after reaching school. An older student, Tuppen, inappropriately slaps Elle's buttocks. Noah steps in and fights Tuppen. Tuppen, Noah, and Elle are served with detention, where Tuppen apologizes. Elle later accepts his request for a date. Tuppen does not show up though, later confessing to Elle that Noah has warned everyone to not pursue Elle romantically.

Elle and Lee dream up the idea of a "Kissing Booth" for their school fundraiser. During a party, Elle tells the popular OMG girls (Olivia, Mia and Gwyneth) that Noah will be part of the booth, despite Noah having already refused her request.

The Kissing Booth opens to a roaring crowd. Everything goes well until Lee serves as the Flynn family kisser instead of Noah, disappointing the girls. Rachel steps up to kiss Lee. Lee and Rachel leave the booth in Elle's hands as they enjoy the fair. Annoyed that Elle lied about Noah's participation, the OMG Girls set up Elle to kiss an undesirable student. At the last second, the student waves Noah ahead. Noah kisses the blindfolded Elle, and when she lifts her blindfold and sees Noah in front of her, they kiss again in front of the whole school.

Cleaning up the booth, Elle is upset to see Noah flirting with another girl. Noah offers her a ride on his motorcycle, but the rain forces them to take shelter in a park gazebo. Elle kisses Noah and tells him she cannot be just another sexual conquest. Hurt, Noah reveals he has feelings for her.

Near the end of a raucous beach party, Warren tries to convince Elle to go to a hot tub, much to Elle's objections. Noah comes to Elle's defense. Warren taunts Noah for his protectiveness and Noah body slams Warren while Elle runs away from the situation. Noah catches up to her and gives her a ride home. Along the way, he apologizes for his feelings for her as they detour to the Hollywood Sign. They establish rules for their relationship, most importantly that Lee never finds out.

Elle overhears Noah's mother say he has been accepted to an Ivy League school. Noah swears Elle to secrecy that he has been accepted to Harvard University.

While fixing Noah's motorcycle, Elle falls and cuts her face. Lee walks in while Noah is taking care of her wound. Lee accuses Noah of hurting Elle. Lee asks Elle if they are dating and Elle swears there is nothing going on. As Noah and Elle share a kiss after agreeing to tell Lee the truth, he walks in on them. Lee is furious that Elle has broken their friendship rules. Lee runs to his car, and tells Elle that their friendship is the one thing his brother never had, and that now he has nothing. Lee peels off in his car. Elle lashes out at Noah, blaming him for exposing their relationship. Noah rides off on his motorcycle.

The next couple of weeks Noah is MIA at school, risking not graduating, and Lee completely ignores Elle. She all of a sudden remembers Rule #7: "No matter how mad you are at your best friend, you have to forgive them if they give you ice cream." She offers him a chocolate ice cream cone, but he throws it in the garbage can. While sitting at the arcade, Elle sees Lee enter the arcade and he invites Elle to dance with him. Lee forgives Elle and they reconcile.

Elle goes to prom with Lee and his girlfriend Rachel. Huge black and white photographs adorn the walls of Memory Lane, a special prom exhibit. Deeper into Memory Lane lies the Kissing Booth. Noah emerges from the back of the Kissing Booth, inviting Elle up to the stage. Noah confesses his love for her publicly. Elle runs away. At home, Noah apologizes to Lee for everything and tells Lee that he is serious about Elle and will be leaving for Boston the next day to get settled in for college.

At Elle and Lee's birthday costume party the next day, a devastated Elle confesses her love for Noah to Lee. Lee relents and wants Elle to be happy and agrees to help her find Noah, who is likely en route to the airport. Driving Lee's car, Elle shares her true feelings for Noah with Lee, dressed in his Batman costume, only to find out that it's actually Noah who is underneath the Batman costume. Elle is ecstatic to find out that Lee has invoked Rule #18: "Always be happy for your bestie's successes".

Elle and Noah spend the following weeks together before he leaves for college. Watching him go, she is unsure if the relationship will last, but knows a part of her heart will always belong to him, and rides his motorcycle into the sunset.

## Cast

* Joey King as Elle Evans
* Joel Courtney as Lee Flynn
* Jacob Elordi as Noah Flynn
* Meganne Young as Rachel
* Stephen Jennings as Mike Evans
* Chloe Williams as Joni Evans
* Carson White as Brad Evans
* Molly Ringwald as Sara Flynn
* Morné Visser as Mr. Flynn
* Jessica Sutton as Mia
* Zandile Madliwa as Gwyneth
* Bianca Bosch as Olivia
* Michelle Allen as Heather

## Production

In June 2014, Vince Marcello was hired to write the film adaptation of teenage author Beth Reekles' young adult novel The Kissing Booth, which was originally published on Wattpad. Netflix had purchased rights to the film, with Marcello now set to help his screenplay in November 2016. The filming took place in Los Angeles, California, and in Cape Town, South Africa, with scenes shot at the University of Cape Town.

## Notes

* London- and LA-based Komixx Media is produced the drama with Vince Marcello who directed his own screenplay.
* The Kissing Booth was its most-re-watched original movie of 2018.

## Gallery

### Videos

The Kissing Booth Official Trailer HD Netflix
## Soundtrack

* Rip It Up by Greg Camp
* Bust a Move by Matt Dike, Luther Rabb and Marvin Young
* A Good Night by Sikora
* Run by Vampire Weekend
* You're So Damn Hot by Greg Camp
* Say Yeah! by Shapes of Race Cars
* Yippie Yai Yay by Roxane Lebrasse and Ian Starr Kalatzis
* Summer House by Gold Motel
* Heart Attack by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
* Just Our Style by Wayfarers
* Big Talk by Conway
* New Direction by Black Lips
* Twist Shake Shout by Best of Friends
* Swimming in Stars by The Hot Damns feat. Wayfarers
* Young at Heart by The Rondo Brothers
* Snak Shop by Lamont
* Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse
* Right Here, Right Now by The Neighbors feat. Greg Camp
* Don't You (Forget About Me) by Greg Camp
* That's the Way I Like It by Tim Myers and Two of Everything
* Mickey by Brooke Villanyi
* Like I Needed by Rogue Wave
* It's My Time by The Neighbors
* Happy Birthday by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

## References

1. ↑ ‘The Kissing Booth’ Getting Netflix Sequel - 'Deadline'
2. ↑ Netflix Announces 'The Kissing Booth 3' to Release in 2021 - 'Hollywood Reporter'
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 - Joey King & Molly Ringwald To Pucker Up In ‘The Kissing Booth’ - 'Deadline'
4. ↑ Netflix Orders ‘The Kissing Booth’; YA Adaptation To Be Produced By Komixx - 'Deadline'

## See also

* *The Kissing Booth 2*
* *The Kissing Booth 3*