Raunchy teen comedies were all the rage in the early 2000s, and Luke Greenfield’s “The Girl Next Door” had all the hallmarks of becoming an instant classic. It tells the story of high school senior Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) who falls in love with the girl next door, Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert), whom he discovers used to be an adult star. The film also features a star-studded supporting cast including Timothy Olyphant, Paul Dano, and Olivia Wilde.
Despite the promise and premise, “The Girl Next Door” didn’t turn into the “Pretty Woman” of the 2000s. Instead, it labored to $31.6 million from a $25 million budget and received a mixed reception from critics. The film washed away into the sea of 2004’s releases, failing to raise any of the cast’s profiles at the time.
Yet, time proves to be the great equalizer, as “The Girl Next Door” developed a cult following in the years since then, with fans believing it deserved more recognition and success than it did upon release. Speaking about the resurgence in popularity for the movie and some of her other work, Cuthbert told The AU Review, “Maybe it means the work is a little more timeless as opposed to being ‘in the moment pop culture.’ Maybe the work is becoming something that can always be revisited. I think it’s a great thing because it keeps the work alive.”
