Booksmart
Two overachieving best friends embark on one chaotic pre-graduation night to reclaim the teenage fun they believe they missed.
Overview
Two overachieving friends embark on a wild night of adventure before graduation, determined to make up for lost time.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- movie night with friends
- teen sleepover
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrated the film as a fast-paced, funny, fresh, and smart reinvention of the high school coming-of-age comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Amy and Molly discover that their academic success has limited their experience of teenage social life.
The protagonists try to fit four years of missed fun into the single night before graduation.
Amy and Molly's best-friend bond drives the conflict, humor, and emotional resolution.
Amy's lesbian identity and romantic experiences are woven into the high school story without being reduced to a coming-out plot.
Films like Booksmart, and why
Lady Bird
female-led coming-of-age comedy centered on friendship, self-discovery, and a pivotal night of teenage misbehavior
Superbad
fast, raunchy high school buddy comedy driven by contrasting best friends and an escalating night out
The Edge of Seventeen
witty contemporary teen comedy about social anxiety, identity, and finding confidence before graduation
Eighth Grade
empathetic, funny coming-of-age story focused on adolescent identity, peer pressure, and emotional honesty
Movie Details
- Director
- Olivia Wilde
- Release Date
- 2019-05-24
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (2929)
Cast
- Kaitlyn Dever
- Beanie Feldstein
- Jessica Williams
- Jason Sudeikis
- Lisa Kudrow
- Will Forte
- Victoria Ruesga
- Mason Gooding
- Skyler Gisondo
- Diana Silvers
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Booksmart about?
- Two overachieving best friends embark on one chaotic pre-graduation night to reclaim the teenage fun they believe they missed.
- What is Booksmart like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Booksmart as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Booksmart violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Booksmart.
- What did critics think of Booksmart?
- Critics broadly celebrated the film as a fast-paced, funny, fresh, and smart reinvention of the high school coming-of-age comedy.
- Which films are like Booksmart?
- Films with a similar feel include Lady Bird, Superbad, The Edge of Seventeen, and Eighth Grade.
- How long is Booksmart?
- Booksmart runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Booksmart?
- In United States, Booksmart streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
