It was 2018. Netflix was just starting to figure out that we all secretly—or not so secretly—missed the cheesy, high-drama energy of early 2000s teen movies. Then came The Kissing Booth. It didn’t have a massive theatrical rollout. It didn’t have an Oscar-winning pedigree. What it did have was a giant carnival, a very strict set of friendship rules, and a guy on a motorcycle.
Honestly? It changed everything for Netflix’s original content strategy.
People forget how much of a lightning rod this movie was. Critics basically hated it. Like, really hated it. But the audience? They couldn't stop watching. It’s one of those rare films that became a cultural phenomenon purely through word-of-mouth and social media memes. Based on Beth Reekles’ Wattpad novel—which she wrote when she was just fifteen—the movie tapped into a very specific kind of teenage wish fulfillment that felt both dated and oddly fresh.
The Plot That Launched a Thousand Ship Wars
The story is simple. Maybe too simple? No, it’s exactly as complex as high school feels when you’re in it. Elle Evans, played by Joey King, and Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney) have been best friends since birth. Literally. They were born at the same time in the same hospital. To keep their friendship "pure," they created a list of rules. Rule number nine is the big one: The Kissing Booth keyword here is loyalty, because the rule says relatives of your best friend are totally off-limits.
Enter Noah Flynn.
He’s the older brother. He’s played by Jacob Elordi. He’s moody, he rides a bike, and he’s constantly getting into fights. He is the ultimate "bad boy" trope draped in a Harvard-bound letterman jacket. When Elle and Lee decide to run a kissing booth for the school carnival to raise money, Elle ends up blindfolded, and—shocker—she kisses Noah.
What follows is a messy, secret relationship that threatens to blow up her lifelong bond with Lee. It’s a classic conflict. Do you choose the boy you're "destined" to be with or the friend who has been there for every single birthday?
Why We Are Still Talking About The Kissing Booth
There is a weird tension in this movie. On one hand, you have these bright, saturated California colors and high-energy dance sequences (that Dance Dance Mania scene is iconic, let's be real). On the other, the movie deals with some pretty toxic dynamics that sparked a million think pieces.
Noah Flynn isn't exactly a "soft" hero. He’s controlling. He’s aggressive. He spends a good chunk of the movie telling Elle what she can and can't do. Yet, the chemistry between King and Elordi—who were actually dating in real life during filming—was so palpable that it overshadowed the red flags for a lot of viewers. That real-world romance served as a massive marketing engine for Netflix.
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The Wattpad Factor
You can't talk about The Kissing Booth without talking about Wattpad. Beth Reekles didn't write this to be a cinematic masterpiece. She wrote it for other teenagers. That’s why the dialogue feels the way it does. It's why the tropes are dialed up to eleven.
- The "Best Friend's Brother" trope.
- The "Makeover" moment (though Elle's was more of a "growing up" moment).
- The "Secret Romance" hidden in closets and under bleachers.
When Netflix bought the rights, they kept that raw, fan-fiction energy. It’s a huge reason why the movie felt so "human" compared to the polished, cynical teen dramas we were seeing on network TV at the time. It felt like someone’s diary come to life.
The Critical Backlash vs. The Numbers
The gap between what critics thought and what the public wanted was a literal canyon. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie sat at a dismal percentage for a long time. Critics called it "sexist," "clichéd," and "regressive."
But Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, famously called it "one of the most-watched movies in the country, and maybe in the world."
Why? Because it gave people permission to enjoy something "cringe." There’s a certain comfort in the predictability of The Kissing Booth. You know exactly how it’s going to end. You know there will be a misunderstanding. You know there will be a grand gesture at the end. In a world of "prestige TV" where every show is a dark, gritty reboot of a childhood classic, this movie was unapologetically a rom-com. It didn't try to be "Euphoria." It just wanted to be a movie about a girl and a carnival.
Breaking Down the Friendship Rules
The rules are the backbone of the movie. They are also, if we’re being honest, kind of insane. Let’s look at a few that actually drive the plot:
- Rule #1: Only your best friend knows your birthday wish.
- Rule #2: Never share our secrets with anyone else.
- Rule #5: Pancakes are better than everything else. (Valid).
- Rule #9: Relatives are off-limits. This is the one Elle breaks, and it’s the catalyst for the entire trilogy.
The thing about these rules is that they represent the transition from childhood to adulthood. When you're six, rules are easy. When you're seventeen and falling in love, rules are barriers. The movie is essentially about Elle realizing that she can't live her life based on a list she wrote when she was a kid. It’s about the messy process of outgrowing people, even when you don't want to.
The Casting Was Lightning in a Bottle
Joey King is a powerhouse. People often forget she’s an Emmy-nominated actress because she did these movies. Her performance as Elle is what holds the whole thing together. She makes the character likable even when she’s making terrible decisions. She has this "girl next door" energy that feels authentic, not manufactured.
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Then there’s Jacob Elordi. Before this movie, nobody knew who he was. Afterward? He was everywhere. He has since been very vocal about his complicated relationship with the franchise—basically saying he didn't want to make those movies—but you can't deny he was perfect for the role of the brooding jock. He had the height, the look, and that specific stare that made the "Noah Flynn" character work.
And Joel Courtney as Lee Flynn. He provided the emotional stakes. If Lee wasn't so earnest and vulnerable, we wouldn't care if Elle broke the rules. We would just want her to be with Noah. But because Lee is so lovable, the betrayal actually hurts.
Legacy and What It Taught the Industry
The Kissing Booth didn't just spawn two sequels. It proved that the "Mid-Budget Rom-Com" wasn't dead; it had just moved to streaming. It paved the way for To All The Boys I've Loved Before and Purple Hearts. It showed Hollywood that there is a massive, underserved audience of young women who want stories about romance, friendship, and the awkwardness of growing up.
It also changed how movies are marketed. Netflix used the stars' social media presence to build hype in a way that felt organic. By the time the movie dropped, the "Kissing Booth" hashtag was already trending. It was a masterclass in building a fandom from scratch.
Fact-Checking the Common Myths
There are a few things people get wrong about this movie.
First, people think it was filmed in California. It wasn't. It was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa. That’s why the lighting looks a bit different than your typical Hollywood movie.
Second, many think the "Kissing Booth" was a real thing in American high schools. While some schools might have done them for fundraisers in the past, they aren't exactly a standard feature of the 21st-century high school experience. The movie treated it as a completely normal, non-weird thing to do, which is part of its charm.
Third, people assume the actors hated each other because of the breakup. While Elordi has been critical of the genre, he and King remained professional throughout the filming of the sequels, which is a feat in itself considering the intense public scrutiny they were under.
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Navigating the Controversy
We have to address the elephant in the room: the "toxicity" debate. Many psychologists and cultural critics pointed out that Noah’s behavior—following Elle, getting into fights, being possessive—isn't "romantic," it's a red flag.
Is the movie "problematic"? By 2026 standards, probably. But it’s also a reflection of a specific era of storytelling. It mirrors the "Twilight" and "50 Shades" energy where the "danger" of the love interest is part of the appeal. Understanding the movie means acknowledging that it’s a fantasy. It’s not meant to be a healthy relationship manual. It’s a heightened, dramatic version of a teenage crush.
How to Re-watch (or Watch for the First Time)
If you're going back to watch it now, you have to lean into the nostalgia. Don't go in looking for a deep philosophical treatise on the nature of friendship. Watch it for the soundtrack. Watch it for the 2018-era fashion (hello, high-waisted shorts).
The movie is a time capsule.
It captures a moment when Netflix was the "new" frontier for movies, and we were all just starting to get used to the idea that a movie could be a hit without ever playing in a theater.
Practical Steps for Fans and Creators:
If you’re a fan of the franchise or a writer looking to capture that same "viral" energy, here is what you should actually do:
- Study the Tropes: If you’re writing a story, don't be afraid of tropes. People like them for a reason. The trick is to give them a modern twist or a lead character who feels genuinely relatable.
- Analyze the Chemistry: Watch the scenes between King and Elordi. Notice how much of their "connection" is told through glances and body language rather than just dialogue. That’s a key lesson for any filmmaker.
- Look at the Source Material: Go back and read the original Wattpad version by Beth Reekles. It’s a fascinating look at how a story evolves from a hobbyist project to a multi-million dollar film franchise.
- Check Out the Soundtrack: The music played a huge role in the movie’s vibe. From "The Less I Know The Better" by Tame Impala to indie pop tracks, the soundscape helped define the "Netflix Aesthetic" that we see in so many shows today.
- Watch the Sequels with Perspective: If you watch all three, pay attention to Elle’s growth. While the first movie is about her first love, the third is about her choosing herself. It’s a surprisingly decent arc for a character that started at a carnival booth.
The "Kissing Booth" might not be high art, but it is high impact. It defined a generation of streaming content and proved that sometimes, all you need is a good trope and a lot of heart.
Actionable Insight: If you want to dive deeper into the world of teen rom-coms, compare this movie to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Notice how Netflix used two very different tones—one loud and dramatic, one soft and aesthetic—to capture the exact same demographic. It’s a lesson in brand diversification.