Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Screenwise Verdict

Look, your teen has probably already watched this or heard about it—it was a massive Netflix phenomenon. The problem isn't that it exists; it's that it packages controlling, possessive behavior as dreamy romance and treats friendship betrayal as a minor speed bump on the road to true love.

The plot is paint-by-numbers: girl kisses bad boy at kissing booth, falls for him despite him being her best friend's older brother and explicitly off-limits, drama ensues, grand gesture fixes everything. It's been done a thousand times, and this version brings nothing new except a Wattpad origin story.

If your kid wants to watch it, fine—but this is absolutely a 'watch together and talk about it' situation. Use it as a teaching moment about what healthy relationships actually look like, because this movie won't do that work for you. The jealousy, possessiveness, and boundary violations are all presented as romantic rather than concerning.

Bottom line: It's harmless fluff in terms of graphic content, but the relationship modeling is genuinely problematic. There are so many better teen rom-coms out there that manage to be entertaining without normalizing red flags.

Age Fit

Best for teens 13-16 who are already consuming this kind of content and can hopefully recognize problematic relationship dynamics when you point them out. Younger kids won't get it; older teens will roll their eyes at how formulaic it is.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

35

This Netflix teen rom-com models problematic relationship dynamics including possessiveness, jealousy, and controlling behavior disguised as romance. The central relationship involves forbidden attraction and secret romance that breaks trust with a best friend. The 'bad boy' love interest exhibits toxic masculinity traits that are romanticized rather than examined. While there's no graphic content, the emotional messaging around healthy relationships is questionable.

Imaginative

25

Extremely formulaic teen romance that hits every predictable beat: girl next door, hot bad boy, forbidden love, best friend betrayal, grand gesture ending. Zero originality in premise, execution, or character development. Based on a Wattpad story, it feels like fan fiction of other teen rom-coms rather than something fresh. Offers no creative inspiration or invitation to explore ideas beyond the well-worn 'good girl falls for bad boy' trope.

Safe

60

No graphic violence, gore, or explicit sexual content, though there is kissing, teenage partying, and some sexual references/innuendo appropriate to the PG-13 world. The main safety concern is the modeling of unhealthy relationship patterns—possessiveness, controlling behavior, and boundary violations presented as romantic. Some underage drinking at parties. The relationship dynamics could normalize red flags for impressionable viewers, but there's no shocking or traumatic content.

Enriching

20

Offers minimal cognitive, ethical, or personal growth opportunities. The central message that breaking your best friend's trust for romantic attraction is acceptable (and will work out fine) is ethically questionable. No meaningful exploration of friendship, loyalty, consent, or healthy relationships. Entertainment value exists for the target demographic who enjoy predictable rom-coms, but there are no real takeaways about navigating adolescence thoughtfully. It's cotton candy—sweet in the moment, nutritionally void.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Wildly popular with teens—spawned two sequels and massive social media buzz, so your kid won't feel left out of conversations
Light, breezy entertainment that's easy to watch if you just want predictable rom-com fluff
Could spark conversations about what healthy vs. unhealthy relationships actually look like (if you're willing to do the work)
No graphic content or traumatic scenes—it's PG-13 territory throughout

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'bad boy' love interest is controlling, possessive, and jealous—traits presented as swoon-worthy rather than red flags
Central premise involves betraying your best friend's trust for romantic attraction, with minimal consequences
Some underage drinking at parties and sexual references/innuendo typical of teen rom-coms
Zero nutritional value—this is pure junk food cinema that won't teach anything meaningful about relationships or growing up

Conversation Starters

"Would you ever date someone your best friend told you was off-limits? What would that do to your friendship?"
"The guy in this movie gets pretty jealous and controlling—do you think that's romantic or a red flag?"
"If you were Elle's best friend, how would you feel about what she did? Would you forgive her?"
"What does a healthy teenage relationship actually look like? How is it different from what we just watched?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

The Kissing Booth