Cheats

Handsome Davis and Sammy Green start by stealing teachers' test answer keys to cheat on tests. As they move into middle school, they rely on a classmate named Evan to do their homework, paying him with illicit media obtained by Handsome's father.

Evan's mother discovers that Handsome supplied her son with an inappropriate recording, triggering a major backlash at home. The incident threatens to bring the group's cheating operation to light.

In high school, Handsome and Sammy recruit Victor Barone and Jon Applebee, expanding their network and gaining access to a janitor's master key. They start trading answers for money and favors with other students.

Principal Stark publicly announces that all school locks will be changed after the master key is stolen, heightening the danger for the cheating crew. The operation must adapt to increased surveillance and risk.

Handsome and his team attempt a break-in to access a psychologist's file about Teddy Blue; Applebee hesitates and is caught by the janitor, but the group lies their way out of trouble.

To steal Mr. Harkin's physics key, Handsome feigns a personal confession while Victor copies the key. The plan leads them to decide to keep Applebee out of the upcoming midterm.

Sammy begins tutoring a principled classmate, Julie Merkel, and hints he might quit cheating. Handsome pressures him to stay involved in the scheme for the group's continued advantage.

Handsome, Sammy, and Victor cheat on the physics midterm. Mr. Harkin confronts them, and Handsome delivers a dramatic denial while pulling off his shirt; Sammy and Victor are reprimanded.

Before the world history final, Sammy withdraws from cheating; Victor and Handsome recruit Greedy and Horny to memorize the material with a song rather than crib sheets. Principal Stark decides not to punish Sammy and Victor for the moment.

Towards the end of senior year, Mrs. Herman uses her grade book to leverage students for college admissions. Handsome and Victor steal and destroy the grade book, risking the class's final grades.

An anonymous letter blames Victor for stealing the grade book. Principal Stark asks Sammy, a student court member, to verify guilt while Handsome, Victor, and Sammy act as double agents.

Handsome tries to intimidate Julie to suppress exposure; Victor pushes Applebee to testify, and Applebee ultimately names Victor, shaping the investigation's outcome.

Victor accepts a plea bargain to retake world history in summer school and still graduate, revealing Handsome's involvement. Sammy offers Handsome the same plea bargain, which Handsome accepts.

At graduation, Mr. Harkin awards Handsome a physics achievement amid a skeptical crowd, and Handsome maintains he earned it without cheating. The credits reveal a series of after-effects and twists for the main players.