Netflix sequels are usually a gamble. Most of the time, they feel like a rushed attempt to bottle lightning twice, but The Kissing Booth 2 actually managed to do something rare. It leaned into the absolute chaos of being seventeen. You remember that feeling? That specific, soul-crushing anxiety where a delayed text message feels like the end of the world? That is the heartbeat of this movie.
It's been years since it dropped, yet the discourse hasn't really died down. People still argue about Marco versus Noah. They still debate whether Elle and Lee’s "rules" are actually toxic. Honestly, they probably are. But that’s why it works. It isn't a polished, perfect romance. It is a messy, loud, colorful explosion of teenage insecurity.
The Long-Distance Nightmare of Elle and Noah
Long distance sucks. Everyone knows it, but The Kissing Booth 2 puts it under a microscope. When Noah Flynn heads off to Harvard, the physical gap between California and Massachusetts becomes a breeding ground for total paranoia. Elle is stuck finishing her senior year, while Noah is supposedly living his best life at an Ivy League school.
Then comes Chloe Winthrop.
Played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Chloe is everything Elle is afraid of. She’s sophisticated. She’s gorgeous. She shares an apartment building with Noah. When Elle finds an earring under Noah’s bed, the movie shifts from a lighthearted rom-com into a genuine exploration of trust—or the lack thereof. It’s a relatable gut punch. You see Elle spiraling, and even if you want to yell at her to just talk to him, you get it. You’ve been there.
Communication is the "final boss" of this movie. Neither of them is particularly good at it. Noah tries to hide his struggles at Harvard because he wants to be the "cool older boyfriend," and Elle hides her friendship with the new guy, Marco, because she’s scared of losing what she has. It’s a classic recipe for a train wreck.
Enter Marco Valentin Peña: The Ultimate Spoiler
Let’s talk about Taylor Zakhar Perez. When he showed up as Marco, the "new hot guy" at school, the fanbase split down the middle. Marco wasn't just a placeholder. He was a genuine threat to the Noah-Elle dynamic because he actually showed up.
He was there for the Dance Dance Mania rehearsals. He was there for the late-night venting sessions.
While Noah was a grainy face on a FaceTime call, Marco was right there in 4K. The chemistry during that arcade sequence? Electric. It forced the audience to ask a really uncomfortable question: Is your "soulmate" the person you have history with, or the person who is actually present in your life right now?
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A lot of fans argue that Marco was "robbed." He’s kind, he’s talented, and he doesn’t have the brooding, slightly aggressive baggage that Noah carries from the first film. But the heart wants what it wants, even when the heart is making a questionable choice.
The Friendship Problem: Lee and the Rules
We have to talk about Lee Flynn. Joel Courtney plays him with so much charm that you almost forget how incredibly needy Lee is. The friendship between Elle and Lee is the spine of the franchise, but in The Kissing Booth 2, it starts to feel a little claustrophobic.
Rule #19: Always go to the same college as your best friend.
That is a lot of pressure for an eighteen-year-old. Elle finds herself caught in this impossible tug-of-war between her boyfriend’s world at Harvard and her best friend’s dream of them going to Berkeley together. She’s lying to everyone. She’s applying to both schools and keeping the acceptances a secret. It’s exhausting to watch, but it captures that transition period where you realize you can’t please everyone without losing yourself.
- The Berkeley vs. Harvard Dilemma: It’s not just about schools; it’s about choosing a path.
- Rachel’s Breaking Point: Lee’s girlfriend, Rachel, finally stands up for herself, highlighting how intrusive the "Best Friend Rules" actually are.
- The Dance Competition: This serves as the literal and metaphorical stage where all the secrets finally boil over.
Why the Critics and the Fans Disagreed
If you look at Rotten Tomatoes, the critics weren't exactly kind. It sits at a fairly low percentage. But the "Audience Score"? That’s a different story.
Critics complained about the 2-hour-plus runtime. They called it bloated. They weren't wrong—the movie is long. It has about five different subplots going on at once. But for the fans, that was the point. They wanted to live in that world. They wanted the extra scenes of the "OMG girls" being ridiculous and the slow-burn tension of the dance rehearsals.
The movie thrives on "vibe." It’s bright, the soundtrack is catchy, and it feels like a fever dream of what high school should look like if everyone was wealthy and lived in a mansion in Los Angeles. It’s escapism.
Vince Marcello, the director, knew exactly what his audience wanted. He didn't try to make The Godfather. He made a movie about the terror of choosing a college and the agony of a first real heartbreak. He leaned into the tropes. The slow-motion walks, the dramatic airport reunions, the public declarations of love—it’s all there.
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The Reality of the Production
The filming process was actually pretty fascinating. Did you know they filmed most of the "California" scenes in South Africa? Cape Town stood in for LA, and they did a pretty seamless job of it.
The most impressive part, though, was the chemistry between Joey King and Jacob Elordi. By the time they filmed the sequel, they had actually broken up in real life. Can you imagine? Having to film intense, romantic scenes with your ex-boyfriend while the whole world watches and dissects your every move on Instagram.
Joey King spoke about this in several interviews, mentioning how it was a "wild experience" but also a professional challenge that she grew from. That added layer of real-world tension probably helped the performance. When you see Elle looking sad about Noah leaving, some of that might just be the reality of the situation bleeding through the screen.
Breaking Down the Ending (And That Cliffhanger)
The movie ends on a massive "what now?"
Elle gets into both Harvard and Berkeley. She stands on the beach, looking at the two acceptance letters, and the screen goes black. It was the perfect way to set up the third film, but it also sparked a massive debate online.
Choosing Harvard meant choosing Noah. Choosing Berkeley meant choosing Lee (and herself, arguably).
People forget that at eighteen, these choices feel permanent. They feel like the end of the chapter. The movie captures that paralysis of choice perfectly. You aren't just choosing a school; you’re choosing which version of your future self you want to meet.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning on diving back into the world of Elle Evans, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
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Pay attention to the background characters. The "OMG girls" (Olivia, Mia, and Gwyneth) actually have some of the funniest, most satirical dialogue if you listen closely. They are a parody of the very influencer culture the movie exists within.
Watch the "Dance Dance Mania" choreography again. Taylor Zakhar Perez and Joey King actually learned those routines. There’s very little stunt-double work there, and the physical exhaustion you see on their faces is pretty real.
Look at the color palettes. Notice how the lighting changes when Elle is at Harvard versus when she’s at the beach in California. Harvard is coded in cool blues and greys—stiff and intimidating. California is all warm golds and oranges. It’s a visual representation of Elle’s internal conflict.
Check out the soundtrack. The music supervisor for this film, Patrick Kirst, did a great job blending indie-pop with high-energy tracks that drive the pace. If the movie feels fast despite its length, it’s usually because the music is doing the heavy lifting.
Track the "Rules." Try to see how many of Lee and Elle’s rules are actually broken throughout the film. It becomes a game of seeing when their childhood bond finally starts to crack under the weight of adulthood.
The legacy of The Kissing Booth 2 isn't about being a cinematic masterpiece. It’s about being a touchstone for a specific generation of viewers who grew up alongside these characters. It’s about the realization that sometimes, the person you love might not be the person you’re supposed to be with right now—and that’s okay.
Whether you're Team Noah or Team Marco, you can't deny the impact this sequel had on the streaming landscape. It proved that the teen rom-com wasn't dead; it just needed a little bit of drama, a lot of dance moves, and a very complicated set of rules to follow.