Everyone forgets The Kissing Booth movies are bad as fans (and co-stars) rush to defend them from Jacob Elordi

Here’s one poorly-reviewed film trilogy you might not have expected to be making headlines again: The Kissing Booth. Ignited by some recent less-than-favorable remarks by trilogy star Jacob Elordi, who is currently on a press run for his buzzy new movies Priscilla and Saltburn, The Kissing Booth has been yanked back into the spotlight as fans take umbrage with his apparent distaste for the movies. Even a couple of his Kissing Booth co-stars chimed in to provide their feedback to his comments.

To that, I say: does everyone have selective memory? The Kissing Booth movies have been pretty universally dunked on since their initial release date. I recall reading dozens of near identical tweets and watching countless TikToks saying things like: “Netflix has the budget to make a bunch of Kissing Booth movies, but can’t renew *insert your favorite canceled show here.*”

But the reaction to the Euphoria actor’s comments would make you think these were some beloved trilogy of films.

As a quick refresher, The Kissing Booth is a trilogy of Netflix Original films released from 2018 to 2021 starring Joey King, Jacob Elordi, and Joel Courtney as the three corners of a love triangle. King plays a popular girl named Elle who has never been kissed and long nursed a crush on her best friend Lee’s (Courtney) bad boy older brother Noah (Elordi).

Jacob Elordi calls The Kissing Booth movies ‘ridiculous’

So, what did Jacob Elordi actually say? During his GQ Man of the Year cover issue he was quoted saying:

"“I didn’t want to make those movies before I made those movies. Those movies are ridiculous. They’re not universal. They’re an escape.”"

Variety reports that he did later say he was “incredibly grateful to everybody” in the movies.

To be fair to fans of The Kissing Booth trilogy, I would argue that the trilogy’s entire point is, actually, to be an escape. But I digress. If the guy didn’t like them then he didn’t like him. It’s weird that we think actors need to love every project they’ve ever done just because, as a viewer, we might personally hold some reverence for the property. Let’s not forget that Robert Pattinson is partly beloved because of his unabashed disdain for the Twilight franchise.

And yeah, I think there is a conversation in there about how it’s seen as “cool” to diss projects geared toward young women. I just don’t think The Kissing Booth films are the hill to die on when it comes to that. You’re not a misogynist because you don’t like them (and I’ll point out that the first movie caught flack for touting several sexist tropes when they it came out).

But the internet got kinda peeved at him for calling the films ridiculous. Note he didn’t say people who like The Kissing Booth are ridiculous, just that the movies themselves are. He’s entitled to that opinion. Imagine the internet getting mad at you because you said something bad about one of your first jobs.

What really caused some of the current back-and-forth over this is that Elordi’s co-stars chimed in and apparently do not feel the same way that he does about those movies.

Joey King and Taylor Zakhar Perez respond to Jacob Elordi’s comments

Taylor Zakhar Perez, who is coming off of a hot streak after starring in the Prime Video rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue, told a Variety representative that he thought it was a “shame” that Elordi felt that way about making the movies. Perez played Marco Peña in the second and third Kissing Booth films.

"“It’s a shame that was his experience on the set. Especially when those movies came out, it was a time when we really needed something like that,” he said, alluding to the COVID pandemic. “I know from our fan interactions, getting stopped everywhere I go, what ‘Kissing Booth’ means to people and what it brought them during such a dark time. I guess the silver lining is he still made people laugh and feel good.”"

Also chatting with Variety, star Joey King said:

"“I think it’s unfortunate anyone would feel that way. I had a great time making those movies no matter what anyone says.”"

Joey King has an idea for The Kissing Booth 4

With The Kissing Booth making headlines again, could there ever be another addition to the franchise? It doesn’t seem likely, but Joey King still has some ideas of how it could work out. She mentioned to Variety that if there were going to be a new movie in the franchise, it would have to pick up far into the future to see what Elle and her friends are doing in their 50s.

"“If there were to be a fourth installment it would be picking up where Elle and the gang are in their fifties or something, just to drop back in with them and see where they’re at.”"

All three of The Kissing Booth films are streaming on Netflix.