Booksmart

Name: Booksmart
Genre: Comedy
Released: May 24, 2019
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Beanie Feldstein, Billie Lourd, Diana Silvers, Eduardo Franco, Jason Sudeikis

2019

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 52 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 607 Ratings

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4.8

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 607 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Annapurna Pictures | Release Date: May 24, 2019 | R

Starring: Beanie Feldstein, Billie Lourd, Diana Silvers, Eduardo Franco, Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Williams, Kaitlyn Dever, Lisa Kudrow, Mason Gooding, Molly Gordon, Skyler Gisondo, Stephanie Styles, Victoria Ruesga, Will Forte

Summary: Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school friendships and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation.

Director: Olivia Wilde

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Johnny Oleksinski

May 24, 2019

It’s one of the funniest movies of the year. Read full review

Yolanda Machado

Mar 12, 2019

Booksmart is, by far, one of the most perfect coming-of-age comedies I have ever seen. Read full review

Emily Yoshida

Mar 14, 2019

What makes Booksmart land so delightfully is Wilde’s handle on exactly how seriously to take her neurotic heroines. ... Booksmart manages to be inclusive and progressive, without being precious about anything or sacrificing an ounce of humor. It feels at once like a huge moment for the teen movie genre, and also effortless, effortless enough to make one wonder what took so long. Read full review

David Sims

May 24, 2019

The film is simply intent on capturing the energy of that special “us against the world” connection that can exist only in high school and unleashing it onto the screen. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

May 25, 2019

When you’re a teenager, you project your feelings onto the world, sure that you’re in the right and everyone is out to get you. But in reality, your biggest enemy is usually yourself. Booksmart taps into that truth and makes it memorably relatable in a way that goes far beyond the cap, gown, and college acceptance letters. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

May 14, 2019

Actor-turned-director Olivia Wilde (shockingly, this is her behind-the-camera feature debut) shows off something rarer than technique or comic timing. She’s got loads of compassion and has somehow managed to make a high-school movie without villains. Read full review

Richard Brody

May 23, 2019

As a form of wish fulfillment, it’s fascinating if unpersuasive; as a vision of its subject—high-school life—it’s as faux-sweet and faux-innocent as the films of the Frankie Avalon era. Read full review

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User Reviews

kingfinn

Feb 8, 2020

It's hilarious, touching, and back to hilarious again. Outstanding throughout

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

MarshallCavalli

Aug 15, 2019

I personally love this film. This is very similar to Superbad and other coming of age comedies, but has it's own quirky sense of humor that really works fo the tone they're going for. Would highly recommend.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Stevenslabaugh

May 23, 2019

I saw an advance screening of this movie and I thought it was very good. I usually hate comedies but this movie is fresh, original and constantly funny throughout. Olivia Wilde did amazing for her directorial debut, there's an underwater scene that is absolutely beautiful. Whenever II saw an advance screening of this movie and I thought it was very good. I usually hate comedies but this movie is fresh, original and constantly funny throughout. Olivia Wilde did amazing for her directorial debut, there's an underwater scene that is absolutely beautiful. Whenever I thought this movie was going to do something cliche, it flipped the script and took me by surprise. This movie has a broad appeal and I highly recommend it.… Expand

21 of 46 users found this helpful2125

stezo2k

Jul 7, 2019

The trailer didn't do this any justice. Very enjoyable and funny. Loved the characters too. I'd easily say comparable to superbad.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

I quite liked the main characters in this film - their pretty likeable, quite quirky and will be relatable to some. The party scenes are a bit cliche and there are the inevitable sex references and strong language but there are one or two somewhat poignant moments and it felt a bit moreI quite liked the main characters in this film - their pretty likeable, quite quirky and will be relatable to some. The party scenes are a bit cliche and there are the inevitable sex references and strong language but there are one or two somewhat poignant moments and it felt a bit more genuine than other similar films. Its definitely primarily a comedy and its somewhat amusing but not especially hilarious. It felt, to me, overall, a relatively good film, with some nice moments and so I'd say its worth a watch but if your really not keen on teenage party based films then this may not be for you. For that type of film, this is one of the slightly better ones though, I'd say.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

dchipps1945

May 26, 2019

I knew this film was a comedy, and it's got a few hilarious bits. Still, as a coming-of-age study of friendship, I thought it would be more serious and thoughtful. Instead it's a mixture of Clueless, Animal House, and American Graffiti, only on speed and set to the beat of a jackhammer.I knew this film was a comedy, and it's got a few hilarious bits. Still, as a coming-of-age study of friendship, I thought it would be more serious and thoughtful. Instead it's a mixture of Clueless, Animal House, and American Graffiti, only on speed and set to the beat of a jackhammer. That is, until the third act, when we learn everybody's really a nice person. Oh, and it ends at an airport, which I've never seen a movie do before. To call the story formulaic would be understating the case. Not a bad film, but nothing special at all, in my opinion.… Expand

11 of 19 users found this helpful118

Trunker

Sep 5, 2022

I don't get it
Of course, as usual, the ten-star advance "user reviews" here are from people who "mysteriously" have never written a Metacritic review before--i.e. studio shills. But "Booksmart" has gotten great early reviews, and several people I know who saw early screenings really didI don't get it
Of course, as usual, the ten-star advance "user reviews" here are from people who "mysteriously" have never written a Metacritic review before--i.e. studio shills. But "Booksmart" has gotten great early reviews, and several people I know who saw early screenings really did love it. So I went in fully expecting to enjoy it, and was dismayed when immediately--I mean, even before the opening title--the film was making "Funny, huh? Wasn't that funny?!?" noises despite nothing particularly funny happening. I'll give Olivia Wilde points for making a very colorful and energetic movie that might indeed convince a lot of people through sheer high spirits that it's a great comedy. But instead it felt just strenuous to me, trying too hard to cover the fact that the funny, clever, witty material wasn't actually there.

The premise is ridiculous--bookworm protagonists are horrified to discover that after all their sacrifices for the future, all the party-hearty types at their high school ALSO got into Ivy League schools. This would make sense if it took place in a wealthy community where everyone was a "legacy" student thanks for their family's donations. But the movie makes a point of singling out two characters as the only "truly rich" ones here. Those two, like every character save the two lead girls, are complete "SNL"-style caricatures. What's worse, they all also seem to be played by actors who are about a decade too old, once again apart from the two lead girls.

Even so, the premise and the casting and everything might have worked if "Booksmart" were an outright farce. But it seems to be aiming to be sorta-kinda "real," while the characters nonetheless behave like no teenagers past or present. Everything here is so over-amped and contrived for effect, yet the ingenious comedy situations and bright lines that approach might have served are nowhere to be found.

Like I said, I don't get it--it's a very lively and well-crafted movie that nonetheless felt completely phony and unfunny to be. It's not boring, but I have no idea what people who like it are responding to, beyond the fact that "'Superbad' for high school senior girls" is probably good enough for many. But I liked "Superbad" well enough, and this movie just did nothing for me. You could say it aims for a mix of "Superbad" and John Hughes, but those movies do a much better job turning recognizable teenage life into farce with some heart, and if Wilde intended something similar (I'm not sure what she intended, beyond punching across every scene as if she might never be allowed to direct again), she misses the mark. A for effort, C for derivative/uninspired content, and D for over-effortfully trying to hide that empty content. It's like a student paper with a very splashy cover but nothing original or thoughtful inside.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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30	#30 Best Movie of 2019
40	#40 Most Discussed Movie of 2019
20	#20 Most Shared Movie of 2019