14 Great Movies Like The Girl Next Door You Won't Want To Miss

Rising in popularity in the '90s and '00s, teen sex comedies consistently deliver outrageous moments and hilariously awkward situations. There is no denying that they're a great form of escapism, but let's face it, experiencing the second-hand embarrassment of characters on-screen is much more enjoyable than facing those same situations ourselves.

Released in 2004, "The Girl Next Door" saw Canadian actress, Elisha Cuthbert — following her breakout role in the television series "24" – playing the titular character, who becomes the object of nerdy teenager Matthew Kidman's (Emile Hirsch) affections. However, things take a complicated turn when he discovers she is an adult film star. While the film had a disappointing theatrical turnout when it was released, it has amassed a surprising cult status over the years as a late-night cable favorite. In a retrospective piece for the Huffington Post, writer Christopher Rosen called it "a diamond in the rough people remember with some level of familiarity and fondness."

Perhaps one of the reasons the film is now more highly regarded is the cast, which includes the likes of Paul Dano, Olivia Wilde, and Timothy Olyphant alongside Cuthbert and Hirsch — actors who have gone on to have varied and successful careers. If you loved "The Girl Next Door's" mismatched relationship, raunchy antics, and often outrageous set-pieces, here are 14 equally great films that you will definitely want to check out.

Creating an instant cinematic icon in the form of Christopher Mintz-Plasse's "McLovin," 2007's "Superbad" focuses on two inseparable buddies as they try to have one night of debauchery before they go away to college. Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) reluctantly team up with fellow classmate Fogel (Mintz-Plasse) after he obtains a fake ID. As they attempt to acquire liquor to take to a party, things take a turn, but they remain determined to celebrate in style with the ultimate aim of losing their virginity.

Much like Matthew and his buddies in "The Girl Next Door," Seth and Evan are sex-obsessed and view losing their virginity as an important rite of passage. While the raunchier side of these films brings the biggest laughs, both also have surprisingly sweet conclusions. Just as Matthew and Danielle eventually find love and happiness together, Seth and Evan's friendship also becomes stronger, and they even make some positive progress with their respective love interests, Jules (Emma Stone) and Becca (Martha MacIsaac).

Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the pair loosely based the events in the film "on their own experiences of trying to buy booze and pick up girls" (via CBC News) while adding some embellishments to make things even more outrageous.

Considered one of the benchmarks for the teen sex comedy resurgence in the '90s, "American Pie" focuses on four buddies who make a pact to try and lost their virginity before they go to college. Taking a familiar premise and dialing the awkwardness levels up as far as they'll go, the film combines crass and outrageous scenarios with a relatable coming-of-age story.

While the majority of people will remember the raunchier elements of this film, "American Pie" has more going for it than just a teenager trying to make love to an apple pie: the adorable romance between Jim (Jason Biggs) and the dorky band geek Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), for example. We can see the influence it had on films like "The Girl Next Door," particularly in its focus on horny teenage boys with seemingly only one thing on their minds. Both films prove that even with the outrageous and awkward situations providing much of the comedy, the main characters don't need to be entirely mean-spirited or unlikeable, and this makes them much more relatable.

"American Pie" was a huge box office success, making over $235.5 million off a budget of just $11 million. While it isn't without its problematic elements when viewed through a modern lens, "American Pie" nonetheless proved to be hugely influential to the genre, sparking a number of sequels and spin-offs.

Sex forms the basis of so many teen comedies, but "Easy A" takes a very different approach, taking a scathing look at how the obsession over who is sleeping with who can spiral out of control. Choosing to address her classmates' fascination with her purported promiscuity head-on, feisty Olive (Emma Stone) inadvertently creates her own bad reputation but chooses to capitalize on it for financial gain and to increase her social standing.

In part inspired by the novel "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne — a book Olive herself studies in the film — "Easy A" is a smart and sassy teen comedy with a star-making performance from Emma Stone that dissects the unstoppable power of the rumor mill and how your entire reputation can be intrinsically linked to your sexual activity. It also addresses the gender imbalance, with boys treated as heroes following their fake sexual exploits with Olive, while Olive herself is labeled a harlot.

Similarly, "The Girl Next Door" looks at the idea of reputation and perception, with many of the characters making a judgment about Danielle because of her background in the adult film industry, while Matthew represents the ideal — his opinions of her unclouded by her career as he falls for her before he knows the truth. "Easy A" was a smash hit with audiences, making $75 million worldwide off a budget of just $8 million.

While the initial premise of "The Girl Next Door" makes it seem like just another raunchy comedy, it ends on a surprising note about the importance of proper sex education that sets it apart from others in the same genre. Similarly, "Friends With Benefits" takes a very different approach to a romantic comedy, with sex spoken about in a refreshingly honest way.

Jamie (Mila Kunis) and Dylan (Justin Timberlake) have both recently broken up with their partners, and when Jamie headhunts Dylan for a new job in New York, the pair strike up a friendship. Missing the physical aspect of a relationship, they agree to help each other scratch that itch — with the stipulation that they won't form an emotional attachment. This being a romantic comedy, there is an element of predictability that these two friends might just end up falling in love, but the playful chemistry between Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake ensures they are a believable duo as both friends and more.

The strength of a rom-com is found in the central pairing, and just as Matthew and Danielle's relationship is based on flirtatious, friendly banter — beginning with Matthew being coerced into running naked down the street — Jamie and Dylan's relationship has an undeniable spark, born out of a fiery and often competitive friendship. "Friend With Benefits" was a commercial and critical success, with Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter calling it "a crisply contemporary, notably grown-up romantic comedy."

The majority of sex comedies seem to focus on horny teenage boys — something that certainly works in "The Girl Next Door — but there is a new crop of raunchy rom-coms that flip the script and show things from a female perspective. "Blockers" falls under this category, employing the tried and true trope of a group of teens making a pact to lose their virginity. In "Blockers," complications arise for Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan), Julie (Kathryn Newton), and Sam (Gideon Adlon) when their group text is intercepted by their parents, who race to thwart their plans. 

"Blockers" is a sex-positive film that succeeds in giving the characters an emotional arc as well as delivering outrageous big laughs. The parents — played by Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz — aren't just one-dimensional overbearing parents, either. Instead, they are layered and well-written characters, with their own reasons for being so protective of their daughters. And underneath the comedy, "Blockers" has a message about the benefits of more honest conversations between teens and their parents.

Striking the perfect balance between wild humor and heartfelt sentiment, "Blockers" is easily one of the best sex comedies in recent years, with a talented cast of romantic comedy stalwarts and exciting newcomers. Critics agreed, with Detroit Free Press critic Katie Walsh saying, "this raunchy teen sex comedy radically places teen girls in the driver's seat of their own sexual agency, but it never sacrifices the dumb, weird or gross moments that make the genre what it is."

With comedic giants in front of and behind the camera, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" has all the ingredients for a successful sex comedy. Directed by Kevin Smith, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as the titular roommates/friends who decide to make an explicit film when they are struggling to pay their bills.

Hilariously lampooning the adult film industry with their parody movies, the two friends discover they might share more of a connection than they first realized. With both "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" and "The Girl Next Door" exploring the porn industry, it isn't hard to spot the similarities between the two. They both have undeniably crass and outrageous elements, but there is much more to them than that, and they become less about porn and more about the genuine warmth and love between the characters.

The film is undoubtedly bolstered by the strength of the performances, with Rogen and Banks having natural and fun chemistry. For fans of Kevin Smith, his script really shines here — it's biting and shocking at times, occasionally sentimental, but always outrageously funny. While it received a mixed reception from critics, many agreed that the performances sold it, with Peter Travers for Rolling Stone saying, "Rogen and Banks, both terrific, bring out the sweet and spicy best in each other."

If you like the fun and flirtatious dynamic between Matthew and Danielle in "The Girl Next Door," then you'll love the central relationship in the Shakespearean-inspired teen comedy, "10 Things I Hate About You." Based on "The Taming of the Shrew," the film sees bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) coerced into wooing the feisty and apparently "un-dateable" Kat (Julia Stiles) after her overprotective father states that younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) will only be allowed to date when Kat does.

While both films have happy endings, the relationships are not without their troubles and misunderstandings. In "The Girl Next Door," Matthew misreads the situation with Danielle when he learns she is an adult film star, threatening their blossoming romance. Similarly, Patrick upsets Kat when she tries to kiss him and he doesn't reciprocate — something that we later learn she is particularly hurt by, due to previous failed relationships and being told she is difficult to date. Both Matthew and Patrick make grand gestures to win over their love interests, with Matthew traveling to Las Vegas to rescue Danielle from her past, and Patrick performing a memorable musical number to publicly apologize to Kat.

Over the years, "10 Things I Hate About You" has become a classic of the teen rom-com genre, with Entertainment Weekly placing it on their list of the best high school movies. The film also made stars of its cast, as Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt all went on to have hugely successful careers.

When valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) makes an ill-advised declaration of love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere) during their high school graduation, things take a surprising turn when she and her friends show up at his house for a party. Having had a long-term crush on Beth, Denis shocks everyone with his emboldened announcement and uses the opportunity to divulge some more bold statements about their classmates.

Like Matthew and Danielle in "The Girl Next Door," Denis and Beth are certainly a mismatched pairing. Still, both Matthew and Denis have a charming willingness to shoot their shot with girls who are seemingly out of their league. Both films also have fun, madcap energy to them, and a youthful exuberance that propels them through some of their more predictable elements.

Directed by Chris Columbus – best known for his family-friendly films like "Home Alone" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" — "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is a distinctly more grown-up affair from the acclaimed filmmaker. While not all of the film works — something that was reflected in the largely negative critical reception – there is still fun to be had, and few people play a perky cheerleader with a bit of an edge as well as Hayden Panettiere.

As the title "She's Out Of My League" would suggest, this 2010 romantic comedy focuses on airport worker Kirk (Jay Baruchel) who admits he is punching above his weight when he starts dating Molly (Alice Eve). With his slightly unhelpful friend Stainer (T.J. Miller) calling Kirk a "5" and Molly a "10," Kirk has to deal with his own insecurities and overcome his feelings of inadequacy in this new relationship.

There are some clear similarities between the relationships seen in this film and "The Girl Next Door." In both films, the friends and families of each couple cast doubt over the unlikely matches, considering one to be too good for the other and thinking the relationships won't last because of this. Both male leads in "The Girl Next Door" and "She's Out Of My League" prove their worth and show they're willing to stand up for their love interests — Matthew providing a better future for Danielle outside of the adult film industry and Kirk rescuing Molly from the unwanted advances of his boss and providing the security she was craving.

The blend of vulgarity and heartfelt romance in 'She's Out Of My League" didn't work for all critics, however. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times — riffing on the scoring system used in the film — said, "the movie is not a comedy classic. But in a genre where so many movies struggle to lift themselves from zero to one, it's about, oh, a six point five."

With its reputation only growing over time, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" delivered a warts-and-all account of teenage life. While flitting between a number of different stories and subplots, the key one involves 15-year-old Stacy's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) introduction to sex. The film has a bold approach and doesn't shy away from the complexities of the subject, favoring a realistic exploration of the messiness of life over a romanticized version.

It's a common trope for a teen comedy to focus on this rite of passage moment, and it is something that is similarly handled in "The Girl Next Door." Both films acknowledge the awkwardness of being a teenager and how losing your virginity is seen as such a key step into adulthood, and, crucially, neither talks down to their audience. "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" in particular, feels very much like a teen film made for teenagers, and films like these paved the way for the hugely successful sex comedies of the '90s and '00s.

Packed with recognizable archetypes — one of the highlights being Sean Penn's memorable stoner, Jeff Spicoli — this film offers a relatable experience, with themes and ideas relevant to today. While some critics at the time didn't see the charm of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," audiences loved it and it made $27 million worldwide off a budget of just $5 million.

Underseen indie gem "Yes, God, Yes" approaches the subject of sex and pleasure in a really interesting way, exploring the natural curiosity that comes with growing up and how the repression of those instincts affects people in different ways. Alice (Natalia Dyer) attends a strict Catholic high school, where the students are taught that sexual desires without the intention of procreation are sinful — something that Alice struggles to reconcile with her burgeoning hormones.

While very different in tone, "The Girl Next Door" and "Yes, God, Yes" both effectively tap into the teenage mindset and how voyeurism — whether watching your attractive neighbor undress or inadvertently witnessing an explicit act — can lead to an awakening of sorts. Where the characters differ is also interesting, with Matthew buoyed by the encouragement from his friends to seduce Danielle, and Alice essentially forced not to act on her urges. For Alice, religion plays a key part in her story and throughout the film, she wrestles with feelings of guilt and shame, and the natural desire to explore her own body.

With a breezy runtime of only 78 minutes, "Yes, God, Yes" is an astute comedy-drama with an endearing performance from Natalia Dyer — proving she has talent beyond "Stranger Things," for which she is best known. Missing out on a cinema release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Yes, God, Yes" still impressed critics, with Keli Williams for Little White Lies calling it, "a humorous yet powerful statement on female body empowerment."

In a similar vein to "10 Things I Hate About You," the relationship in "She's All That" begins with a slightly cruel wager between a group of friends, when the handsome jock, Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.), bets that he can turn any girl at school into a prom queen. Deliberately selecting awkward art student Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook), Zack's buddy Dean (Paul Walker) believes there is no chance he will succeed, but what he doesn't bet on is the pair forming a genuine connection.

A mismatched relationship between the attractive, popular kid and the nerdy, awkward one is a frequently used trope, and "She's All That" gives us the gender-swapped version of pairing in "The Girl Next Door." As is so often the case, opposites attract, and both films thrive on the differences between the characters and how they are able to bring out the best in each other.

While "She's All That" is painfully formulaic at times — there's even the oft-seen makeover moment for Laney when her beauty is revealed beneath her glasses — but it's a true guilty pleasure with a cast list that reads like a who's who of '90s teen movies. With a production budget of between $7-10 million, the film made over $103 million at the box office, and was remade in 2021 as the gender-swapped, "He's All That."

In addition to the sweet relationship between Matthew and Danielle, "The Girl Next Door" is packed with some wild plot points and plenty of double-crossing — something it has in common with the gloriously trashy "Cruel Intentions." Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) are conniving and privileged stepsiblings who have a thirst for dangerous sexual conquests. When Kathryn challenges Sebastian to sleep with their new headmaster's daughter (Reese Witherspoon), the mind games really begin.

Motivated by revenge and full of malice, Sarah Michelle Gellar's Kathryn is a deliciously evil character that you'll love to hate. Besides the soap opera melodrama and backstabbing, there is also a thrilling sense of unpredictability to "Cruel Intentions" that makes it so oddly compelling, and you're never quite sure what is going to happen next. Based on the 1782 novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" — a source material adapted many times, including 1988's "Dangerous Liaisons" — "Cruel Intentions" effectively updates its period setting, and succeeds in bringing the erotic thriller genre to the attention of a younger audience.

While it received a mixed critical reception, "Cruel Intentions" has gone on to become a cult classic since its release, and it is notable for launching the careers of its stars, including Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. Some critics at the time did see merit in it, including Roger Ebert who said it "has style and wit, and a lot of devious fun with its plot."

One of the quintessential sex comedies, "There's Something About Mary" is packed with so many memorable moments that you could say to someone "hair gel," and they would get the reference. Directed by the Farrelly brothers, this 1998 classic sees Cameron Diaz as Mary, with four men competing for her affections. Of these four, the main focus is on Ted (Ben Stiller), who had to cancel a date with Mary in high school following an unfortunate zipper-related incident but still holds a candle for her 13 years later.

The humor in this film is undeniably crass, and while it won't be to everybody's tastes, if you like the combination of lewd jokes and surprising heart in "The Girl Next Door," then you're guaranteed to love this. There are elements that haven't aged particularly well — a recurring theme for many '90s sex comedies, unfortunately — but the effervescent performance from Cameron Diaz rescues it every time.

The film was hugely successful when it came out, making more than $369 million worldwide, and was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1998, just behind blockbuster behemoths "Titanic," "Armageddon," and "Saving Private Ryan." Raunchy comedies can be a bit hit-or-miss when it comes to the critical response, but "There's Something About Mary" is one of the rare examples that was well-received. Critics including Kenneth Turan for the Los Angeles Times praised it, calling it, "A giddy symphony of rude and raucous low humor."