The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
September 10, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›The Kissing Booth
Entertainment • Film

The Kissing Booth

The Kissing Booth is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Vince Marcello and released by Netflix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Kissing Booth is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Vince Marcello and released by Netflix. Based on the young adult novel of the same name by Beth Reekles, the film follows a high school student whose crush on her best friend’s older brother complicates her friendship and love life. The film stars Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, and Molly Ringwald.

Plot

The film follows Elle Evans, a teenager who develops feelings for her best friend Lee’s older brother, Noah. Their relationship creates tension because of Elle and Lee’s long-standing friendship rules and the secrecy of Elle’s romance.

Production and release

The Kissing Booth was directed and written by Vince Marcello and released on Netflix on May 11, 2018. The production was filmed largely in Cape Town, South Africa, with some scenes shot in Los Angeles.

Source material

The film adapts Beth Reekles’s young adult novel The Kissing Booth. Reekles first wrote the story online before it was developed into a feature film.

Franchise

The success of the first film led Netflix to produce two sequels, released in 2020 and 2021. Together, the three films form The Kissing Booth film series.

Key facts

  • The Kissing Booth is a 2018 teen romantic comedy based on a Wattpad-originated novel by Beth Reekles.
  • Directed and written by Vince Marcello, the film stars Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, and Molly Ringwald.
  • The story revolves around Elle Evans, her best friend Lee, and Lee’s older brother Noah.
  • The film premiered on Netflix on May 11, 2018.
  • It was followed by two sequels: The Kissing Booth 2 (2020) and The Kissing Booth 3 (2021).
🍁
Canadian context

The film was available to Canadian audiences through Netflix, making it part of the streaming service’s widely viewed teen-romance catalog in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Kissing Booth about?
It is about a high school student, Elle Evans, whose crush on her best friend’s older brother leads to a secret romance and complications in her friendship.
Who directed The Kissing Booth?
Vince Marcello directed the film and also wrote the screenplay.
Is The Kissing Booth based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Beth Reekles’s novel of the same name, which originated online before being adapted for film.
When was The Kissing Booth released?
It was released on Netflix on May 11, 2018.
Did The Kissing Booth get sequels?
Yes. Netflix released The Kissing Booth 2 in 2020 and The Kissing Booth 3 in 2021.

References

  1. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kissing_booth
    Supports: Director, screenwriter, release date, runtime, genre, and basic synopsis.
  2. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/who-is-joey-king-kissing-booth-movies
    Supports: Franchise overview, cast focus, sequel dates, and adaptation from Beth Reekles’s novel.
  3. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-kissing-booth-netflix-joey-king-20180628-story.html
    Supports: Film background, adaptation from Wattpad, popularity, and director information.
  4. CafeMom — https://cafemom.com/entertainment/the-kissing-booth-facts
    Supports: Filming locations including Cape Town and Los Angeles.
  5. Bark — https://www.bark.us/content-review/kissing-booth-movie-review/
    Supports: Plot summary, source novel, and sequel context.
  6. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-kissing-booth
    Supports: Release date, director, cast, and general plot description.