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Comedy

Booksmart (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Booksmart (2019) movie poster

Booksmart is a 2019 comedy starring Kaitlyn Dever as Amy, Beanie Feldstein and Jason Sudeikis. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $25 million worldwide on a $6 million budget. It won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2020. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$25M
award won
1
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Booksmart (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$6M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Booksmart About?

The premise of Booksmart without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two academically driven best friends, Amy and Molly, realize they’d missed out on many high school experiences. Determined to make up for lost time before graduation, they embark on a hilarious and chaotic night filled with wild adventures. Their quest to cram four years of partying into a single evening tests the limits of their friendship and their carefully cultivated reputations.

Booksmart Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • awkward flirting
  • lesbian
  • last day of school
  • female high school student
  • teen movie
  • teen comedy
  • teenage lesbian
  • gender neutral bathroom
  • high school
  • night on the town
  • lesbian interest
  • sexual humor
+38 more
  • teenager
  • teen party
  • friendship between girls
  • lesbian crush
  • house party
  • valedictorian
  • teenage girl as protagonist
  • one word title
  • female protagonist
  • feminism
  • lesbian joke
  • lesbian flirting
  • coming of age
  • high school clique
  • directorial debut
  • high school graduation
  • puking on someone
  • lyft driver
  • party
  • skateboard
  • wanted poster
  • pizza delivery guy
  • female friendship
  • reference to pablo picasso
  • watching lesbian porn
  • slut shaming
  • reference to avril lavigne
  • dance scene
  • female best friend
  • nerdy girl
  • girl wears short shorts
  • girl wears shorts
  • hallucination
  • best friend
  • classmate
  • strawberries
  • drug trip
  • friendship
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Cast & crew

Booksmart Cast & Characters

Kaitlyn Dever leads the cast as Amy, with Beanie Feldstein as Molly and Jason Sudeikis as Principal Brown.

Ratings

Booksmart Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Booksmart 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in story & flow (78).

85 /100

Booksmart Echo Score Breakdown

Booksmart stands out for its energetic direction and heartfelt comedic tone. Drawing on critics’ praise for its nimble pacing and vibrant visual style, the film maintains a balanced mix of gross-out humor and sincere emotional moments. While some fault its reliance on familiar teen-comedy tropes, most praise the chemistry of its leads and the sharpness of its dialogue. Across multiple reviews, Olivia Wilde’s debut is seen as both spirited and thoughtful, yielding a comedy that feels fresh yet grounded in teenage authenticity. Overall, Booksmart achieves an engaging blend of humor and warmth.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Booksmart delivers a visually dynamic experience. Reviewers highlight eye-catching cinematography, swift editing, and bold production design infused with neon energy. Olivia Wilde’s direction is commended for balancing kinetic camera work with measured framing. While its style occasionally opts for safe genre conventions, the film’s polished visuals and cohesive editing create a consistently engaging viewing experience.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film excels at portraying authentic friendship. The two leads are praised for their chemistry and nuanced performances, conveying both humor and vulnerability. Observers note depth in the protagonists’ bond and the film’s empathetic gaze toward adolescent foibles. Although a few supporting roles verge on caricature, the central duo anchors the story with genuine warmth and relatability.

  • Story & Flow 78

    In terms of story and flow, Booksmart follows a familiar coming-of-age structure with measured pacing. Many appreciate its blend of crowd-pleasing set pieces and emotional beats, especially during the party climax. Critics note that the plot does not radically deviate from genre norms and occasionally relies on well-worn tropes. Nonetheless, its coherent progression and spirited energy keep the audience engaged throughout the journey.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    When evaluating sensory experience, the film’s soundtrack and visual style stand out. Reviews emphasize the danceable score, vibrant color palette, and slick sound design that amplify the comedic tone. Cinematography and production design work in concert to underscore both high-energy party scenes and quieter emotional moments. Though it largely adheres to genre aesthetics, its cohesive audiovisual approach provides an invigorating backdrop to the narrative.

  • Rewatch Factor 86

    Regarding rewatch factor, many find Booksmart highly rewatchable thanks to its witty dialogue and vibrant energy. Observers highlight memorable one-liners, dynamic party sequences, and emotional nuances that reveal new layers on repeat viewings. While a minority suggest some material loses its novelty after the first watch, the majority agree that the film’s charm and spirited performances invite multiple viewings. Overall, it sustains lasting appeal for fans of high-school comedy.

Plot

Booksmart Plot Summary

What happens in Booksmart from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Amy, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, and Molly, played by Beanie Feldstein, are two inseparable high school seniors who have navigated life as best friends since childhood. Despite their close bond, they often find themselves labeled as pretentious by their peers. As they approach the final day of high school, both girls are set for Ivy League schools next year. Molly, taking her role as class president to heart, is serious about her responsibilities, while their principal, Jason Sudeikis, and Miss Fine, their devoted teacher Jessica Williams, look on.

Full summary

The whole story of Booksmart, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Booksmart Box Office & Budget

Booksmart grossed $25 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, 4.2 times what it cost. $22.7 million came from the US and Canada and $2.3 million (9%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$25M

4.2× its budget

US & Canada
$22.7M
International
$2.3M
Budget
$6M
US & Canada 91% Rest of the world 9%
Awards

Booksmart Awards & Nominations

Booksmart won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2020. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2020, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win4 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

Booksmart Trailers & Videos

23 videos: 5 trailers, 4 teasers, 3 clips, 10 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 23 videos
Official Restricted Trailer
  • Trailer Official Green Band Trailer
  • Trailer Final Trailer
  • Trailer Final Restricted Trailer
  • Trailer UK Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Booksmart?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What Ivy League school does Molly get into?

Cars

Cars in Booksmart

15 cars on screen, including the 1978 Pontiac Firebird and the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan.

All 15 cars
  • 1978 Pontiac Firebird in Booksmart 1978 Pontiac Firebird Main role
  • 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan in Booksmart 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Important role
  • 2001 Honda Civic in Booksmart 2001 Honda Civic Important role
  • 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Booksmart 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Important role
Details

Booksmart Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “북스마트” and “A+瞎妹”.

Also known as
  • 북스마트
  • A+瞎妹
  • ブックスマート 卒業前夜のパーティーデビュー:2019
  • Súper empollonas
  • Зубрачките
  • חורשות את הלילה
  • Éretlenségi
  • Premières de classe
  • Šprtky to chtěj taky
  • Fora de Série
  • Розумниці
  • La Noche De Las Nerds
+12 more
  • Szkoła melanżu
  • 高材生
  • Образование
  • La rivincita delle sfigate
  • Паметнице
  • Šprtky to chcú tiež, ჭკვიანები
  • Đêm Trước Lễ Tốt Nghiệp
  • Examen de (i)maturitate
  • Išsilavinimas
  • ブックスマート 卒業前夜のパーティーデビュー
  • Zubrilas
  • เนิร์ดได้ก็ซ่าส์ได้

Seen Booksmart?

FAQ

Booksmart FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Booksmart, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Booksmart?

Booksmart runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Booksmart released?

Booksmart was released on May 24, 2019.

Who is in the cast of Booksmart?

Booksmart stars Kaitlyn Dever as Amy, Beanie Feldstein as Molly and Jason Sudeikis as Principal Brown, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Booksmart make at the box office?

Booksmart grossed $25 million worldwide ($22.7 million domestic, $2.3 million international) on a budget of $6 million.

How is Booksmart rated?

Booksmart has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

What awards did Booksmart win?

Booksmart won 1 award from 4 nominations, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2020.

Does Booksmart have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Booksmart has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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