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The Perfect Score
The Perfect Score
The Perfect Score
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The Perfect Score
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian Robbins
Screenplay byMarc Hyman
Jon Zack
Mark Schwahn
Story byMarc Hyman
Jon Zack
Produced byRoger Birnbaum
Jonathan Glickman
Brian Robbins
Michael Tollin
StarringErika Christensen
Chris Evans
Scarlett Johansson
Darius Miles
CinematographyJ. Clark Mathis
Edited byNed Bastille
Music byJohn Murphy
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • January 30, 2004 (2004-01-30) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$10.9 million[1]

The Perfect Score is a 2004 American teen comedy-heist film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Chris Evans, Erika Christensen, Bryan Greenberg, Scarlett Johansson, Darius Miles, and Leonardo Nam.

The film focuses on a group of six New Jersey high school students whose futures will be jeopardized if they fail the upcoming SAT exam. They conspire to break into a regional office of the Lawrence Township, New Jersey–based Educational Testing Service (ETS), which prepares and distributes the SAT, and steal the answers to the exam, so they can all get perfect scores. The film deals with themes of one's future, morality, individuality, and feelings.

The Perfect Score has similarities to other high school films, including The Breakfast Club (1985) and Dazed and Confused (1993), which are often referenced throughout the film. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $10 million.

Plot

[edit]

Everyman high school student Kyle needs a high score on the SAT to get into Cornell University's architecture program. He constantly compares himself to his older brother Larry, who is now living above his parents' garage. Kyle's best friend, Matty, wants to get a high score to go to the same college as his girlfriend, but he is an underachiever who had previously received a low score on his PSAT. They feel the SAT is blocking their futures.

The two boys realize fellow student Francesca Curtis' father owns the building that houses the regional office of ETS, where the SAT answers are located. She initially doesn't want to help but reconsiders, saying "What the hell? It sounds like fun." Meanwhile, Kyle is attracted to Anna Ross, the second-highest-ranked student in the school, and he tells her about the plan. Anna had bombed a previous SAT and needs a good score to get into Brown University.

Matty doesn't like the fact that Anna now knows about the plan and rants, right in front of stoner Roy, who then has to be included in the heist. Finally, Anna tells the school basketball star Desmond Rhodes, who needs a score of 900 or better to join the basketball team at St. John's University.

An early attempt to break into the ETS offices fails, but they then devise another plan. On the eve of the exam, Francesca will arrange for Kyle and Matty to have a meeting near the top floor, staying after closing. The other three will wait outside and watch the night guard until Francesca, Kyle, and Matty have successfully stolen the answers.

The plan initially goes well, with Francesca, Kyle, and Matty successfully avoiding security cameras and the night guard. However, the answers are located on a computer, and only the technical genius Roy can crack the password; he and the other two get into the building, and Roy correctly guesses the password after seeing a photograph of an employee. Still, the answers can't be printed, so the group decides to take the test with their combined knowledge and get the answers that way. In the early hours of the morning, they are finished and have all the answers written down.

Just then, the guard comes up the stairs, and they try to escape through the ceiling; however, Francesca is left behind and is about to be discovered, so Matty sacrifices himself to save her. Everyone else escapes, but each faces a certain confrontation before the exam. Kyle's brother asks him if he's really worse than a thief, Matty is bailed out by Francesca, Anna finds independence from her parents, and Desmond's mother convinces Roy to quit drugs.

Before the SAT testing begins, the group realizes that, although it will help get them what they want, they would be better off without cheating. Roy grabs the answers and randomly distributes them in the bathroom. After the decision, Matty comments that "this whole thing was for nothing." Kyle replies, "I wouldn't say nothing", as he glances at Anna. Matty and Francesca also share a look, as they have also presumably started a relationship.

Each person eventually gets their desired test score without the answers: Kyle's dream of becoming an architect is still alive by attending Syracuse University, Desmond ends up going to St. John's, Matty becomes an actor, Francesca writes a novel (which is about six kids who conspire to steal the answers to the SAT), and Anna decides to travel to Europe for a while before starting college. Roy explains that he earned the highest SAT in the county, and, guided by Desmond's mom, he gets a GED. He then puts his untapped intelligence to use through programming, becoming a successful video game designer.

Cast

[edit]
The Perfect Score marks the first of nine movies Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson star in together.

Production

[edit]

In February 1998, it was announced Paramount Pictures had acquired the project from Caravan Pictures for a low six figures.[2]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 15% based on 108 reviews, with an average rating of 3.8/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Neither funny nor suspenseful, this heist/teen flick also fails to explore its potentially socially relevant premise."[3] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 35 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[4] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[5]

Slant Magazine critic Keith Uhlich called it an "MTV film that extreme right-wing moralists can be proud of, as it posits a quintessentially American world of racial, intellectual, and sexual conformity."[6] Many compared the film unfavorably with The Breakfast Club, and many even called it a rip-off. Entertainment Weekly wrote the film off as being "like The Breakfast Club recast as a video game for simpletons."[7] Likewise, Roger Ebert awarded the film two stars out of four, calling the film "too palatable. It maintains a tone of light seriousness, and it depends on the caper for too much of its entertainment value." Ebert's review went on to point out that The Perfect Score was given a wide release, but that Better Luck Tomorrow, a teen drama film that received much more acclaim, was given a very limited release.[8]

Box office

[edit]

The film opened in 2,208 theaters and grossed $4.8 million, making for a $2,207 per-theater average.[9] Placing fifth over the weekend, the film saw sharp declines in the following weeks and ended its domestic run with $10.3 million.[1]

Soundtrack

[edit]
The Perfect Score (Original Motion Picture Score)
Film score by
John Murphy
Released2004
The Perfect Score (Original Motion Picture Score)
No.TitleArtistsLength
1."Everything"Fefe Dobson 
2."Teenage Alien Nation"American Hi-Fi 
3."Paranoia"Sam Roberts 
4."Because I Got High"Afroman 
5."Unforgiven"Fefe Dobson 
6."The World Outside"Paloalto 
7."Get Low"Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins 
8."Rush Hour Soul"Supergrass 
9."Force Marker"Brian Eno 
10."All My Life"Foo Fighters 
11."Burning"Benny Cassette 
12."Last Way Out of Here"Paloalto 
13."Crash & Burn"Simple Plan 
14."Just So You Know"Holly Palmer 
15."In This Diary"The Ataris 

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Perfect Score

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Perfect Score is a American teen comedy-heist film directed by and written by , , and Jon Zack. The movie stars , , Chris Evans, , , and . Released on January 30, , by , it runs for 93 minutes and centers on a group of high school seniors who plan to steal the answers to exam to improve their college prospects. The film grossed $10.4 million at the North American amid mixed , earning a 15% approval rating on based on 107 reviews. Critics noted its lighthearted take on teen angst but criticized elements like pacing and character development. The film features early performances by rising stars like Johansson and Evans.

Narrative

Plot summary

Six high school seniors in , each facing intense pressure from the upcoming SAT exam that could determine their futures, band together to steal the test answers from the (ETS) building in Princeton. Kyle, an aspiring architect who dreams of attending Cornell but has consistently scored poorly on practice tests, initially proposes the idea after realizing a high score is his only path to admission. He recruits his best friend Matty, a laid-back desperate to score well enough to join his at the University of . The group expands to include Francesca, a rebellious teen whose father is a high-ranking ETS executive, giving her potential insider access to the secure facility; Anna, a straight-A overachiever who suffers from and risks missing out on despite her perfect GPA; Desmond, a talented player whose prospects at St. John's depend on at least a modest SAT score; and Roy, a laid-back, tech-savvy stoner who provides the group's hacking and gadget expertise but joins more for the thrill than necessity. As they plan the heist, tensions arise among the diverse personalities—Kyle's determination clashes with Matty's apathy, while Francesca's anger toward her family fuels her commitment, and Anna's perfectionism leads to second-guessing. Roy hacks into security systems to map the building's layout, and Francesca uses her connection to obtain a keycard and schedule details for the weekend when the answers are stored there. The group rehearses their roles: Desmond acts as lookout with his athletic agility, Matty handles distractions, and Anna memorizes escape routes. On the night of the break-in, they infiltrate the ETS headquarters using Francesca's access and Roy's technical skills to reach the computer system containing the answers. Unable to print them, they take a practice version of the test together on the computer to compile the answers. Complications mount when a security guard interrupts, forcing a chase; Matty creates a distraction to allow the others to escape with the compiled answers. In the aftermath, as they pore over the stolen answers in a , the group grapples with a profound moral dilemma. What begins as a pragmatic solution to systemic pressures evolves into soul-searching debates about , the value of honest effort, and whether would truly secure their dreams or haunt them. Influenced by their growing bonds—romantic sparks ignite between Kyle and Francesca, and Matty and Anna—they ultimately decide to destroy the answers, choosing instead to retake legitimately. This choice leads to personal growth: Kyle strengthens his application and attends Syracuse University's architecture program, Anna overcomes her anxiety through practice, Desmond earns his spot at St. John's through improved performance, and the others find motivation in their authentic abilities. By the film's end, the seniors achieve their respective futures with renewed confidence and without the shadow of deception.

Themes

The film The Perfect Score centers on the intense pressure exerted by standardized testing, particularly the SAT, which shapes the protagonists' sense of identity and future prospects, as high school seniors grapple with scores that determine access to prestigious colleges like Cornell and Brown. This pressure manifests in characters' fears that a single test score encapsulates their potential, with one declaring, "the SAT is not about who you are, it's about who you'll be," underscoring how it reduces complex aspirations to numerical benchmarks. A core moral tension revolves around the of versus personal , exemplified by the group's plan to steal SAT answers, which they ultimately reject in favor of honest effort, affirming that true achievement cannot be bought at the expense of one's principles. The narrative illustrates this through the characters' debates on the value of shortcuts amid high stakes. The story emphasizes individuality and against , as diverse teens—ranging from the punkish Francesca to the laid-back —unite to challenge the rigid expectations of academic success, prioritizing personal dreams over societal molds. This is contrasted with the homogenizing force of admissions, where unique talents risk being overlooked in favor of standardized metrics. Family dynamics and peer relationships profoundly influence the characters' decisions, with parental expectations amplifying stress—such as Desmond hiding his ambitions from his worried —and friendships providing both motivation and ethical grounding during the heist. For instance, Francesca's vulnerability stems partly from her father's , while peer bonds encourage collective support for individual goals like Kyle's architectural pursuits. Underlying these elements is a subtle critique of the education system and admissions process, portraying standardized tests as an unfair gatekeeper that fosters desperation and undervalues long-term potential over one-time performance. The film suggests that such systems prioritize quantifiable success, potentially justifying unethical actions, yet ultimately advocates for integrity as the path to genuine fulfillment.

Cast and characters

Principal cast

The principal cast of The Perfect Score features a group of young actors portraying high school seniors united by their desire for perfect SAT scores. Chris Evans stars as Kyle, a dedicated straight-A student whose academic excellence is overshadowed by mediocre test scores, hindering his dream of studying architecture at . plays Anna Ross, the school's overachieving near-valedictorian under intense parental pressure to secure admission to after a previous poor performance on the exam. portrays Francesca Curtis, a bold and resourceful student whose family connection to the (ETS)—as her father owns the building housing the regional ETS office—provides crucial access to the test answers. Bryan Greenberg appears as Matty Matthews, Kyle's laid-back best friend and a working-class who reveals unexpected resourcefulness during the group's scheme, motivated by his goal to attend the University of Maryland to be near his girlfriend. Leonardo Nam is Roy, a laid-back stoner with hidden technical expertise who hacks security systems and decodes passwords essential to the heist. Darius Miles debuts as Desmond Rhodes, a talented high school player whose athletic prospects depend on achieving a qualifying SAT score to maintain eligibility for college recruitment. This film represents the first of nine on-screen collaborations between Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson, who would later co-star in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.

Supporting cast

The supporting cast of The Perfect Score features several actors in secondary roles that bolster the film's ensemble dynamics, providing familial support, authority figures, and peripheral tension within the heist narrative. Matthew Lillard portrays Larry, Kyle's overprotective older brother, whose manic energy injects comic relief through his frantic attempts to intervene in his sister's life, including awkward confrontations that highlight the group's risky scheme. Vanessa Angel as Anita Donlee, an ETS office employee whose interactions with the group heighten the heist suspense. Other ensemble members include Tyra Ferrell as Mrs. Rhodes, Desmond's stern mother, whose familial pressure underscores the stakes for the basketball prodigy character and contributes to scenes of domestic conflict. Lorena Gale appears as Ms. Proctor, an ETS exam supervisor representing the bureaucratic authority the group targets, heightening the heist’s suspense through her vigilant presence. Additional brief roles enhance the film's tension and humor, such as Bill Mackenzie as the Lobby Guard at the ETS , whose checks create pivotal moments of evasion during the break-in, and Dan Zukovic as , a minor or tutor who briefly advises the students on academic pressures. Family members like Iris Quinn as Kyle's Mother and Fulvio Cecere as Mr. Curtis (Francesca's ) offer glimpses into the protagonists' home lives, reinforcing themes of parental expectations without dominating the central plot.

Production

Development

The screenplay for The Perfect Score was originally written by , Jon Zack, and , with the story credited to Hyman and Zack. The project was initially set up at with before being sold to in 1998. was attached to direct, leveraging his prior success with teen films such as Varsity Blues (1999). The producers were , , , and . The film's concept drew inspiration from real SAT cheating scandals in the 1990s, highlighting the intense pressure surrounding standardized testing. These events underscored the high stakes of college admissions, mirroring the movie's premise of students plotting to steal test answers for perfect scores. Casting decisions were shaped by the script's requirements for a ensemble of relatable high school archetypes representing diverse socioeconomic and personal motivations.

Filming

Principal photography for The Perfect Score commenced on July 10, 2002, and wrapped in September 2002. The production primarily took place in , , , doubling for the film's and Princeton locales. Key sites included the Chemistry Building at the University of 's Robson Square Campus, which served as the exterior and interior for the (ETS) headquarters. High school sequences were captured at Lord Strathcona Elementary School in . To achieve authenticity in the story's urban elements, additional shooting occurred in , notably at for pivotal transit and crowd scenes. J. Clark Mathis oversaw the visual capture, utilizing 35mm film to convey the narrative's energetic pace.

Release

Theatrical release

The Perfect Score was released theatrically in the United States on January 30, 2004, by , following a limited premiere screening on January 27, 2004. The film had a standard theatrical rollout without premiering at major film festivals, aligning with its positioning as a mid-budget teen targeted at a young audience during the post-holiday season. Internationally, the film saw a limited rollout throughout , beginning with North American markets and expanding to select European countries, such as the and on March 19, , and on June 10, . This staggered release strategy focused on key territories with strong teen demographics, though it did not achieve wide global distribution during its initial year. Marketing efforts highlighted the film's teen heist comedy elements, with trailers showcasing the ensemble cast's scheme to steal SAT answers and emphasizing themes of rebellion against academic pressure. Promotional posters prominently featured the young stars, including , Chris Evans, and , to appeal to youth audiences, alongside tie-ins that played on college preparation anxieties, such as taglines critiquing standardized testing. The campaign was modest, relying on traditional media like TV spots and print ads rather than extensive cross-promotions. The film received an MPAA rating of PG-13 for language, sexual content, and drug references, making it suitable for its intended teenage viewers while including mature elements. Its running time was 93 minutes, providing a brisk pacing for theatrical screenings.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and VHS in the United States on June 29, 2004, distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment. The DVD edition featured a widescreen anamorphic presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and French Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, along with English subtitles. Special features included an audio commentary by director Brian Robbins and screenwriter Mark Schwahn, five deleted scenes with optional director commentary, a 21-minute making-of featurette titled "The Dating Scene: The Making of The Perfect Score," the theatrical trailer, and previews for other Paramount films such as Mean Girls and The Prince & Me. A full-screen DVD variant was also issued concurrently. No official Blu-ray Disc edition has been released as of 2025. As of November 2025, The Perfect Score is available for streaming on Paramount+ and , with options for digital rental or purchase on and .

Reception

Critical response

The Perfect Score received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics upon its release, earning a 15% approval rating on based on 107 reviews. The site's consensus described the film as "neither funny nor suspenseful," criticizing its failure to explore the socially relevant premise of standardized testing pressures. On , it holds a score of 35 out of 100 from 28 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reception. Critics who found merit in the film often praised the chemistry among its young cast and the nostalgic appeal of its teen ensemble dynamics. Variety highlighted the "energetic" performances, particularly Scarlett Johansson's "effortlessly winsome" role and Leonardo Nam's "hilarious" contributions, noting the cast's modest profile added charm to the caper comedy. However, these positives were overshadowed by widespread complaints about the film's formulaic plot and lack of originality, with reviewers drawing unfavorable comparisons to classics like The Breakfast Club for its superficial treatment of high school pressures and to heist films like Ocean's Eleven for failing to generate suspense or wit. Roger Ebert awarded it 2 out of 4 stars, acknowledging the cast's potential and a light seriousness akin to John Hughes' work but faulting the execution for being "too palatable" and overly reliant on predictable caper tropes without deeper moral bite. Audience response was more mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes users giving it a 43% score, though the film has since developed a cult following among fans of 2000s teen movies for its early showcase of stars like Chris Evans and Johansson.

Box office

The Perfect Score opened in 2,208 theaters across the on January 30, 2004, earning $4.8 million during its debut weekend and placing fifth at the . This performance came amid competition from holdover hits like , which continued to draw audiences in its third weekend. The film ultimately grossed $10.4 million domestically over its theatrical run. International earnings were limited, totaling under $1 million, primarily from select markets in such as . This brought the worldwide total to approximately $10.9 million. Produced on a budget of $20 million, The Perfect Score underperformed relative to expectations for a teen comedy, resulting in a financial loss for the studio.

Music

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for The Perfect Score consists of a compilation of contemporary songs spanning pop, hip-hop, and rock genres, designed to resonate with the film's teenage protagonists and audience. This eclectic mix underscores the narrative's themes of rebellion and , with tracks like "Everything" by , "Because I Got High" by , "All My Life" by , and "Get Low" by & the East Side Boyz providing energetic backdrops to key sequences. No official soundtrack album was commercially released for the film, limiting its availability to the in-movie usage and individual song purchases at the time. The music selection was overseen by the production team, reflecting a typical approach for early 2000s teen comedies where licensed popular tracks enhanced the film's contemporary feel without a dedicated compilation product. In addition to the licensed songs, the original score was composed by John Murphy. The film The Perfect Score incorporates several contemporary songs from to underscore its themes of teen and high-stakes adventure, enhancing key scenes with energetic , and hip-hop tracks that resonate with the young audience. These selections, licensed from major labels, feature hits from artists like , , and , contributing to the movie's lighthearted yet tense atmosphere. The feature Fefe Dobson's upbeat "," which establishes the tone of teen and determination as the protagonists grapple with academic pressures. In the central heist sequence, & the East Side Boyz's high-energy hip-hop track "Get Low" (featuring ) amplifies the tension and excitement, syncing with the group's daring break-in to heighten the pulse-pounding action. Montage scenes benefit from humorous and reflective music choices; Afroman's "Because I Got High" plays during the planning phase, providing amid the characters' chaotic preparations and mishaps. Later, in the resolution, ' "All My Life" underscores the emotional payoff, emphasizing themes of growth and consequence as the story wraps up. The end credits close with another Fefe Dobson track, "," tying back to the film's title and themes of perfection and redemption through its anthemic energy. These songs, drawn from 2004's popular charts, were strategically licensed to appeal to the teen demographic, blending diegetic elements in party and driving scenes with non-diegetic cues to propel the narrative.

References

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  4. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-perfect-score-2004
  5. https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/perfect-score-the
  6. https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/the-perfect-score-1200536734/
  7. https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2004/01/film-review-the-perfect-score
  8. https://www.deseret.com/2004/1/29/20090438/film-review-perfect-score-the/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314498/plotsummary/
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  37. https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Score-Erika-Christensen/dp/B000I9X9LA
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  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314498/soundtrack/
  43. https://www.tunefind.com/movie/the-perfect-score-2004
  44. https://qwipster.net/2005/08/14/the-perfect-score-2004/
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