The Kissing Booth (2018)
Story overview
The Kissing Booth is a 2018 romantic comedy about a high school student whose life gets complicated when she starts dating her best friend's older brother. The film explores themes of friendship, first love, and navigating teenage relationships. It follows the protagonist as she deals with the consequences of breaking her own rules and keeping secrets from her closest friend.
Parent Guide
Teen romantic comedy focusing on high school relationships, friendship conflicts, and first love experiences.
Content breakdown
No physical violence or perilous situations depicted.
No scary or disturbing content present.
May contain mild language typical of teen conversations.
Contains kissing and romantic situations appropriate for teen audiences.
No substance use depicted.
Contains emotional scenes involving friendship conflicts, romantic tension, and teenage drama.
Parent tips
This movie is rated TV-14, indicating it may contain material unsuitable for children under 14. Parents should be aware that as a teen romantic comedy, it deals with typical high school relationship dynamics including dating, kissing, and friendship conflicts. The film portrays teenage characters making decisions that have consequences, which could provide opportunities for discussions about honesty, boundaries, and peer relationships.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- Did you see any friends in the movie?
- What colors did you like in the movie?
- Was there any music you enjoyed?
- Did you see people being kind to each other?
- What was your favorite part to watch?
- What makes someone a good friend in the movie?
- How do the characters show they care about each other?
- What rules did the friends have, and why were they important?
- How did the characters solve their problems?
- What did you learn about being honest with friends?
- Why do you think the main character kept her relationship a secret?
- How did the friendship change throughout the movie?
- What consequences did the characters face for their choices?
- What does the movie show about peer pressure in high school?
- How do the characters balance their feelings with their friendships?
- How realistically does the movie portray teenage relationships and friendships?
- What messages does the film send about consent and boundaries in relationships?
- How do social dynamics and peer expectations influence the characters' decisions?
- What could the characters have done differently to handle their situation better?
- How does the movie address the complexity of growing up and changing relationships?
🎭 Story Kernel
At its core, 'The Kissing Booth' is less about romance and more about the transactional nature of teenage social capital. Elle's journey isn't driven by authentic desire but by navigating the unspoken economy of high school status—where dating the popular boy is currency, friendship rules are binding contracts, and rebellion is carefully calculated for maximum social payoff. The film expresses how teenage girls often perform relationships according to peer expectations rather than genuine connection, with Elle's choices revealing how social survival often trumps emotional truth in adolescent hierarchies.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
The film employs a hyper-saturated California aesthetic that feels deliberately artificial—sun-drenched beaches and neon-lit parties appear more like Instagram filters than lived environments. Camera work favors tight close-ups during emotional moments, creating a claustrophobic intimacy that mirrors Elle's constrained choices. The kissing booth itself functions as visual metaphor: a literal stage for performative romance, framed like a reality TV confessional booth where private desires become public spectacle. Costume design sharply delineates social groups through color-coded wardrobes—Elle's vibrant patterns versus the monochromatic cool of the popular crowd.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
The film was shot in South Africa despite its California setting, with Cape Point standing in for Santa Monica beaches. Joey King (Elle) performed most of her own stunts, including the carnival games. Interestingly, the script was adapted from a Wattpad story written by Beth Reekles when she was 15, which explains the authentic-yet-heightened teenage voice. Jacob Elordi (Noah) and Joey King dated briefly during filming, adding genuine chemistry to their contentious scenes.
Where to watch
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Trailer
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