You probably don't remember The Perfect Score. It’s okay. Most people don't. Released in early 2004, it was basically a mid-tier teen heist movie about six high schoolers trying to steal the answers to the SATs. It didn't break the box office. Critics weren't exactly kind. But if you look at the cast of The Perfect Score today, it feels like looking at a time capsule of Hollywood’s future royalty.
Think about it.
Before the billion-dollar contracts and the spandex, Captain America and Black Widow were just two kids trying to cheat on a standardized test. Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans lead a group that, honestly, had no business being in a movie this small, yet their chemistry is the only reason we're still talking about it twenty years later. It's weird. You watch it now and you see the sparks of what they would become, even if the script is just "The Breakfast Club" meets "Ocean's Eleven" but with less budget and more 2000s angst.
Why the Cast of The Perfect Score Was Secretly Brilliant
The movie centers on Kyle (Chris Evans), a guy who just wants to get into an architecture program but doesn't have the grades. He’s the ringleader. This was Evans in his "jock-next-door" phase, long before he became the moral compass of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s charming, a bit frantic, and has that specific kind of spiked hair that was mandatory for every male actor in 2004.
Then you have Francesca, played by Scarlett Johansson. She’s the rebellious daughter of the guy who owns the building where the SAT answers are kept. It’s funny seeing her here because she’s playing a character that is essentially "disaffected youth," yet she carries this undeniable screen presence that makes everyone else look like they’re trying too hard.
But it wasn't just them. The ensemble was actually quite diverse for a 2004 teen flick:
- Bryan Greenberg as Matty: He was the sensitive one. Greenberg was just starting his run on One Tree Hill around this time. He plays the guy who wants to get a high score to win back his girlfriend at an elite college.
- Erika Christensen as Anna: Fresh off her breakout role in Traffic, she played the overachiever who crumbles under the pressure of her parents' expectations.
- Leonardo Nam as Roy: The quintessential stoner character who happens to be a tech genius. Nam has since gone on to do great work in Westworld, but here he’s the comic relief who accidentally memorizes the answers while high.
- Darius Miles as Desmond: A real-life NBA player at the time. He played the star athlete who needed a certain score to stay eligible for a college scholarship. It was a meta-commentary on the actual pressures facing high school recruits, even if the acting was... well, he was a basketball player.
The Marvel Connection: Evans and Johansson
It is impossible to discuss the cast of The Perfect Score without acknowledging that this is where the Evans-Johansson friendship started. They’ve done about eight movies together now. Most people assume they met on the set of The Avengers or maybe Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Nope. It was a movie about stealing Scantron sheets.
In The Perfect Score, their characters aren't even a couple. They’re just part of this weirdly functional heist crew. But you can see the comfort level. When you watch their scenes together, there's a shorthand that feels real. It’s the kind of chemistry you can’t manufacture with a chemistry read; it’s just two young actors who actually liked each other.
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Honestly, the movie is worth a re-watch just for the "what if" factor. Imagine if the movie had been a massive hit. Would they have stayed in the teen comedy lane? Probably not, but it's a fascinating look at the "Before Times."
The Plot: More Than Just Cheating?
The stakes in this movie feel incredibly dated now. In 2026, the SAT is digital. In 2004, it was everything. The movie tries to frame the SAT as this villainous entity that decides your entire future. And for a lot of kids back then, it felt that way.
The group’s plan involves breaking into the Princeton testing center. It’s a low-stakes heist. They aren't stealing diamonds or millions of dollars; they're stealing a piece of paper. The tension comes from whether or not these kids, who aren't really criminals, can pull off a professional-grade burglary.
The movie was directed by Brian Robbins. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s now the CEO of Paramount Pictures. Talk about a glow-up. The cast of The Perfect Score wasn't the only part of this production destined for bigger things.
What Happened to the Rest of the Crew?
While Chris and Scarlett became global icons, the rest of the cast took different paths.
Bryan Greenberg became a staple of indie films and television. He’s one of those actors you see and think, "I know that guy," even if you can't name his last three projects. He’s stayed consistently busy, which in Hollywood is its own kind of victory.
Erika Christensen has had a massive career in TV, most notably on Parenthood. She was always the "serious" actor of the bunch, and it shows in her performance as Anna. She brings a weight to the role that the script probably didn't require.
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Darius Miles had a solid NBA career but struggled with injuries and some off-court issues later on. His appearance in the movie remains one of the more "2000s" things about it. It was that era where every teen movie needed a random celebrity or athlete cameo to feel "cool."
Leonardo Nam is perhaps the most underrated success story of the group. His role as Roy was a bit of a stereotype—the "cool Asian guy" who’s good with computers—but Nam gave him a soul. His later work in Westworld as Felix Lutz showed the range he really had.
The Critical Reception vs. Cult Status
Let's be real: critics hated this movie. It sits at about 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why? Because it’s predictable. It’s a bit cheesy. The dialogue feels like it was written by someone who heard a teenager talk once in a grocery store. But the audience didn't care as much. For a certain generation, this was a Friday night staple on cable.
It’s a "comfort movie." You know how it’s going to end. You know they’re going to learn a lesson about how "a test score doesn't define who you are." It’s predictable, but the cast of The Perfect Score makes it watchable. You’re not watching for the plot; you’re watching to see Captain America try to sneak through an air vent.
Is It Worth Watching Now?
If you’re a fan of the MCU, yes. Absolutely.
It’s a fascinating bit of trivia. It’s also a reminder that even the biggest stars had to start somewhere. They were doing the work, taking the roles, and building the friendships that would eventually define their careers.
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The film also features a soundtrack that is essentially a "Best of 2003" playlist. It’s pure nostalgia. From the fashion (the baggy jeans!) to the technology (bulky monitors and flip phones), it’s a portal back to a time when the biggest problem a teenager had was a four-hour test and a #2 pencil.
Practical Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're going to dive back into the filmography of the cast of The Perfect Score, don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Go in for the history.
- Watch for the Evans/Johansson scenes: See if you can spot the beginnings of the Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanoff dynamic. It’s there if you look for it.
- Note the direction: Brian Robbins has a very specific "MTV style" that defined that era of filmmaking. It’s fast-paced and slightly frantic.
- Check out the "Other" roles: Look at Erika Christensen and Leonardo Nam. They often get overshadowed by the big two, but they do the heavy lifting in the movie’s emotional beats.
- Look for the cameos: There are a few familiar faces in the background, including a young Patton Oswalt as the guy at the testing center.
Ultimately, the movie serves as a testament to the importance of casting. A mediocre script can be saved—or at least made memorable—by a group of actors who are clearly going places. The cast of The Perfect Score proved that you don't need a perfect movie to have a perfect start in the industry.
How to Find The Perfect Score Today
The movie isn't always on the major streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+, which is ironic given its stars. You can usually find it for rent on Amazon Prime or Apple TV. If you’re lucky, it’ll pop up on one of the free ad-supported services like Pluto TV or Tubi.
If you want to track the career trajectories of these actors, your best bet is to look at their follow-up projects:
- For Evans: Look at Cellular (2004) or Fantastic Four (2005).
- For Johansson: She went straight from this into Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring, which is a wild jump in tone.
- For Greenberg: Check out One Tree Hill Season 1.
The legacy of the film isn't in its box office numbers or its "fresh" rating. It’s in the fact that two of the most famous people on the planet started their journey together in a heist movie about the SATs.
To get the most out of your re-watch, pay attention to the scene in the architecture office. It’s one of the few moments where Chris Evans gets to show the earnestness that would eventually make him the perfect Steve Rogers. It’s subtle, but the seeds were planted way back in 2004.