Joel Courtney

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We're Unreasonably Shocked That Lee From The Kissing Booth Was in Super 8

From PopSugar


Image Source: Netflix

No one's going to deny that bad boy Noah has his charms, but if you are one of the many who preferred The Kissing Booth's Lee to his weirdly angsty older brother, then it's time to get to know Joel Courtney. There's actually an excellent chance that you're already familiar with the adorable 22-year-old who played Elle's lifelong BFF, though, even if you don't realize it. His big break came in the form of a Summer blockbuster called Super 8 way back in 2011 — you may have heard of it, since it was pretty big deal at the time.

Before everyone was raving about the cast of Stranger Things and the It kids, Hollywood was all about the young cast of Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams's Super 8. The '70s-set movie about a group of sci-fi-loving kids who stumble across an alien mystery in their hometown put Courtney on the map, and for good reason.

SUPER 8, from left: Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, 2011, ph: Francois Duhamel/Paramount Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Image Source: Everett Collection

In his first film role, he was tasked with heading up an ensemble while also conveying the deep sense of loss his character felt in the wake of his mother's death. The actor absolutely nailed it, and his time spent as a child star has paved the way for him to take on a number of roles in projects ranging from the teen movie F*&% the Prom to dramas like The River Thief. And, of course, that all led to The Kissing Booth's Lee, your new fictional Summer crush.