Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky romcom has strong language, teen drinking, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Kissing Booth
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 83 parent reviews
Parents say that the movie is highly divisive, eliciting strong reactions ranging from praise for its entertainment value to harsh criticism for its inappropriate content and damaging messages. While some enjoy its romantic comedy elements, many express concern over themes of misogyny, unhealthy relationships, and underage drinking and sexual behavior, warning against letting younger audiences view the film without parental guidance.
- entertaining yet concerning
- inappropriate for youth
- problematic themes
- unhealthy relationships
- encourages discussions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 252 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Best friends Elle (Joey King) and Lee (Joel Courtney) decide to put up THE KISSING BOOTH at their school's fundraising carnival their junior year. Lately Elle's been more and more attracted to Lee's bad-boy older brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi), who's strictly off limits thanks to Elle and Lee's friendship rules. When Elle takes a turn in the kissing booth, her first customer is none other than Noah, and the two quickly realize that they're falling for each other. How long can they keep their romance a secret?
Is It Any Good?
An appealing cast, idyllic setting, and of course, forbidden romance, provide lots of teen appeal in this quirky romantic comedy. The Kissing Booth keeps the tone light thanks to Elle's engaging narration, which also provides a few laughs along the way. There are some problems with pace, like taking way too long to get to the main conflict, some gaps in the story, and a pretty predictable resolution. But teen romance fans who can handle the edgy content and who can see past the stereotypes will enjoy watching events unfold to the refreshingly not-melodramatic but satisfying end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the romantic lead in The Kissing Booth is a "bad boy." Why is that appealing? What other movie bad boys have you seen, and which is your favorite? Why?
Do you believe that Noah will stop being violent and controlling? Why or why not? Have you ever tried to change for someone, or has someone tried to change for you? What happened?
Did you read the book this movie is based on? If so, do you like the book or the movie better? If not, would you like to now?
What did you think of the teen drinking? Was it realistic? Were there any consequences?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 11, 2018
- Cast : Joey King , Joel Courtney , Jacob Elordi , Molly Ringwald
- Director : Vince Marcello
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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