Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2021 · English
Echo score 42
JustWatch #34,866 1
Directed by
Vince Marcello
Starring
Joey King, Bianca Amato, Camilla Wolfson, Frances Sholto-Douglas, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney

As high school comes to an end, Elle faces a difficult decision. She's deeply in love and presented with the opportunity to move forward with her relationship, but that means leaving behind her close friendship with her best friend. Torn between love and loyalty, she must choose a path that will shape her future and impact the lives of those she cares about most. The decision she makes will have lasting consequences for everyone involved.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like The Kissing Booth 3
  9. 9 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)

Where can you watch The Kissing Booth 3? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Kissing Booth 3 Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Kissing Booth 3 (2021), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Elle Evans (Joey King)

    Elle is a passionate and determined young woman who finds herself at a crossroads between love and personal ambition. Throughout the film, she navigates her feelings for Noah and the challenges of choosing the right college for her future. Her growth is characterized by her commitment to her friends and her journey towards self-acceptance.

    • 👩‍🎓 Student
    • ❤️ Romantic
    • 🌟 Ambitious
  • Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi)

    Noah is a protective and caring boyfriend who ultimately desires what is best for Elle. His struggles with jealousy and his own aspirations create tension in their relationship. Noah's character embodies the challenges of balancing love with personal growth, especially as he supports Elle's decisions.

    • 💘 Boyfriend
    • 🎓 Student
    • 🚴‍♂️ Adventurous
  • Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney)

    Lee is Elle's loyal best friend who values their friendship but struggles with feelings of abandonment as Elle prepares to leave for college. His desire to strengthen his relationship with Rachel highlights his growth throughout the film. Lee's journey emphasizes the importance of communication in maintaining friendship amidst change.

    • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Best Friend
    • ❤️ Loyal
    • 🎓 Student
  • Marco Peña (Taylor Zakhar Perez)

    Marco is a charming and confident character who introduces tension between Elle and Noah. Despite his playful nature, he displays genuine feelings for Elle, which complicates the existing relationship dynamics. Marco's character explores the themes of jealousy and romantic rivalry.

    • 💔 Rival
    • 🎭 Charming
    • 🎉 Fun-loving
  • Rachel (Meganne Young)

    Rachel is Lee's girlfriend who grapples with her own future choices while supporting Lee. Her character highlights the emotional challenges of young relationships faced with uncertainty. Rachel's eventual decision to end her relationship with Lee reflects the show's complexities of love and friendship.

    • 💑 Girlfriend
    • 🎓 Student
    • 😔 Emotional

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:09

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does The Kissing Booth 3 Take Place?

The setting of The Kissing Booth 3 (2021): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present Day

The film unfolds in contemporary times, capturing the uncertainties and challenges faced by young adults post-graduation. This period highlights important transitions in life such as pursuing higher education, navigating relationships, and finding one's identity. The decisions made during this summer greatly influence the characters' futures and their paths.

Location

Berkeley, Harvard, California coastline

The movie takes place across several key locations, including Berkeley and Harvard, known for their prestigious academic programs. The cherished beach house serves as a nostalgic retreat where the characters bond over their shared summer experiences. The vibrant California coastline symbolizes freedom and adventure, especially during Elle and Noah's motorcycle ride at the film's conclusion.

  • 🏖️ Beach House
  • 🎓 College
  • 🌊 Coastline

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:09

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

The Kissing Booth 3 Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love and Heartbreak

    The movie explores the complexities of young love, as Elle grapples with her feelings for Noah while navigating potential relationships with Marco. Their struggles reflect real-life challenges of prioritizing personal happiness, friendship, and romantic interests. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of self-discovery in the context of love.

  • Life Choices

    Elle's journey encapsulates the theme of making significant life choices, especially regarding her university decisions. The film illustrates the pressures young adults face in deciding their futures while balancing friendships and relationships. It highlights the idea that personal happiness should take precedence over fulfilling others' expectations.

  • Friendship

    The dynamics of friendship are central to the story, particularly between Elle and Lee. As they navigate their individual romantic interests, their bond experiences strain and growth. The film underscores the importance of loyalty, communication, and the complexities of evolving friendships amidst changing life circumstances.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:09

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

The Kissing Booth 3 Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Kissing Booth 3 (2021): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The Kissing Booth 3 is set across several key locations including Berkeley and Harvard, representing prestigious academic settings. A cherished beach house serves as a nostalgic summer retreat for the characters, while the California coastline symbolizes freedom and adventure, particularly during the film's concluding motorcycle ride.

  • locations
  • berkeley
  • harvard
  • beach house
  • california
Q2

When is the movie set?

The film takes place in present day, during the summer after high school graduation. This contemporary setting captures the uncertainties and challenges young adults face post-graduation, including pursuing higher education, navigating relationships, and finding their identity.

  • time period
  • present day
  • summer
  • post-graduation
Q3

What are the main themes?

The movie explores three core themes: Love and Heartbreak, focusing on the complexities of young romantic relationships; Life Choices, examining the pressures of deciding one's future while balancing friendships and relationships; and Friendship, highlighting the dynamics of loyalty and communication between Elle and Lee as their lives begin to diverge.

  • themes
  • love
  • heartbreak
  • life choices
  • friendship
Q4

Who are the main characters?

The main characters include Elle Evans, the passionate protagonist at a crossroads between love and ambition; Noah Flynn, her protective boyfriend struggling with jealousy; Lee Flynn, Elle's loyal best friend dealing with feelings of abandonment; Marco Peña, a charming character who creates romantic tension; and Rachel, Lee's girlfriend navigating her own future choices.

  • characters
  • elle evans
  • noah flynn
  • lee flynn
  • marco penna
  • rachel
Q5

What is Elle's role in the story?

Elle Evans serves as the protagonist navigating the central dilemma of choosing between her relationship with Noah and her best friendship with Lee. She is portrayed as a passionate, determined young woman on the verge of significant life decisions about her future and personal happiness.

  • elle evans
  • protagonist
  • main character
Q6

What does the beach house symbolize?

The beach house serves as a nostalgic retreat where characters bond over shared summer experiences. It symbolizes the transition period between high school and adulthood, representing both freedom and the bittersweet nature of endings as characters prepare to leave for college.

  • beach house
  • symbolism
  • summer retreat
  • nostalgia
Q7

How does the film portray young love?

The movie explores young love as complex and challenging, showing Elle torn between her feelings for Noah and potential connections with Marco. It emphasizes that prioritizing personal happiness, maintaining friendships, and pursuing romantic interests often create difficult conflicts during this life stage.

  • young love
  • romance
  • relationships
  • elle
  • noah
  • marco
Q8

What major life choices does Elle face?

Elle must decide which university to attend, effectively choosing between her relationship with Noah and her deep friendship with Lee. The film illustrates the pressures young adults face in making these decisions while balancing personal happiness against others' expectations.

  • college decision
  • university
  • life choices
  • future
Q9

How is friendship portrayed in the movie?

Friendship, particularly between Elle and Lee, is central to the story. Their bond experiences strain as Elle prepares to leave for college and navigates her romantic relationship. The film emphasizes loyalty, communication, and the challenges of maintaining friendships through major life transitions.

  • friendship
  • elle
  • lee
  • loyalty
  • bond
Q10

What defines the movie's setting?

The setting combines academic environments (Berkeley and Harvard) with leisure spaces (beach house and California coastline). The California coastline particularly symbolizes freedom and adventure, creating a contrast between the seriousness of college decisions and the carefree summer experiences.

  • setting
  • california
  • coastline
  • locations
Q11

What motivates Noah in the story?

Noah Flynn is motivated by his desire to protect and support Elle while also managing his own personal growth. His struggles with jealousy and his aspirations create tension in their relationship, as he learns to balance love with allowing Elle to make her own decisions.

  • noah flynn
  • motivation
  • character
  • jealousy
Q12

What role does Marco play?

Marco Peña serves as a charming, confident character who introduces romantic tension between Elle and Noah. Despite his playful exterior, he displays genuine feelings for Elle, complicating the existing relationship dynamics and exploring themes of jealousy and romantic rivalry.

  • marco penna
  • romantic tension
  • love triangle
  • rivalry

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Kissing Booth 3, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Kissing Booth 3 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about summer life choices like The Kissing Booth 3

Stories where a pivotal summer forces a choice between love and friendship. If you liked the nostalgic, heartfelt dilemma in The Kissing Booth 3, you'll enjoy these movies about young adults facing pivotal summer decisions. This collection features similar stories where characters must choose between love and loyalty, set against a backdrop of sun-soaked fun and bittersweet goodbyes.

  • nostalgic
  • heartfelt
  • melodramatic
  • optimistic
  • bittersweet
  • sentimental
  • Tone: hopeful, sentimental
  • Pacing: steady, event-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear timeline across a single, defining summer. The central conflict arises from an ultimatum or a looming deadline (like college) that forces the protagonist to pick a path, creating tension between their romantic partner and their best friend. The story builds through a series of shared experiences and escalating emotional stakes, leading to a climactic decision.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared mood of nostalgic optimism and their core thematic conflict: the difficult but necessary choice between two equally important relationships. The pacing is steady, driven by a 'last summer' bucket list or events, and the tone remains hopeful despite the melodramatic tension.

Movies about friendship vs romance like The Kissing Booth 3

Emotional stories about the delicate balance between a best friend and a new love. Fans of The Kissing Booth 3 who enjoyed the core conflict between Elle's love for Noah and her loyalty to Lee will find more movies like it here. These films explore the classic 'friendship vs romance' dilemma with a heartfelt, optimistic tone, focusing on the growing pains of young love and enduring friendship.

  • heartfelt
  • melodramatic
  • sentimental
  • optimistic
  • jealousy
  • growing up
  • Tone: hopeful, melodramatic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose long-term best friend often harbors unrequited feelings or whose new romantic relationship causes jealousy and distance from the best friend. The plot revolves around misunderstandings, moments of jealousy, and heartfelt conversations as the character tries to keep both relationships intact, leading to a crisis point that forces a resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies share a very specific emotional mix: high romance scores paired with medium sadness and tension, stemming from a relatable internal conflict. They have a straightforward complexity, a steady pacing focused on character emotions, and an ultimately hopeful tone that resolves the love triangle in a satisfying, happy way.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Kissing Booth 3

Similar movies to The Kissing Booth 3: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The Kissing Booth 3 (2021) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Kissing Booth 3 in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app