The Girl Next Door (released on April 9, 2004) arrived at a time when the teen genre was largely defined by low-brow gross-out gags. However, director Luke Greenfield delivered something far more sophisticated—a slick, genre-bending hybrid that fused the hormonal energy of a coming-of-age story with the tension of a crime thriller.
Elevated by a standout cast and a surprisingly soulful core, the film remains a definitive mid-2000s classic that dares to ask what happens when your wildest dream moves in next door and brings a complicated past with her.
Matthew Kiddman (Emile Hirsch) is a straight-laced high school senior and aspiring politician whose life is planned out to the minute.
His world is upended when a stunning woman named Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves into the house next door to housesit while her aunt is in Africa..
With the encouragement of his socially awkward best friends, Eli (Chris Marquette) and Klitz (Paul Dano), Matthew strikes up a romance with Danielle, discovering a spontaneity he never knew he possessed.
Just as he begins to fall in love, he learns from Eli that Danielle is a world-famous former adult film star.
The situation spirals from a high school romance into a dangerous underworld odyssey when Danielle’s former producer and ex-boyfriend, Kelly (Timothy Olyphant), arrives in town to bring his “star” back to Los Angeles.
Matthew finds himself way out of his depth, navigating a series of high-stakes conflicts involving a legendary adult film producer named Hugo Posh (James Remar) and a chaotic trip to a trade convention.
Olivia Wilde, Autumn Resser, Harris Laskawy and Timothy Bottoms round out the cast.
To win the girl and secure his future, Matthew must abandon his rigid rules and embrace a “trip at the plate,” risking everything to prove that Danielle is more than her past while outsmarting the ruthless Kelly in a climactic game of wits.
Elisha Cuthbert in The Girl Next Door (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for The Girl Next Door
The Girl Next Door grossed $6.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing tenth at the box office.
The film would gross $30.4 million worldwide.
Legacy
The legacy of The Girl Next Door is defined by its refusal to be a one-dimensional comedy, instead offering a heartfelt meditation on the transition to adulthood.
It is widely regarded as the film that solidified Cuthbert’s status as a generational icon and showcased the incredible versatility of Olyphant, whose charismatic and menacing performance as Kelly remains a highlight of the genre.
The film’s soundtrack, featuring a mix of indie rock and classic hits, became a staple of the era, perfectly capturing the bittersweet nostalgia of graduation.
Beyond the performances, the movie is celebrated for its sharp screenplay and its influence on later R-rated comedies that sought to balance raunchiness with genuine character growth.
Today, the film maintains a robust cult following, praised for its stylish cinematography and its enduring message that the best things in life happen when you stop playing it safe and start living.
