From Movie Web : "These Movies & TV Series Are Based on Wattpad Stories"

In 2018, Netflix released The Kissing Booth with Joey King taking the lead role as the quirky, lovable Elle Evans. The high school rendezvous were originally written by a then-15-year-old Beth Reekles, who published chapter by chapter online. It gained over 19 million readers and won the 2011 award for Most Popular Teen Fiction on Wattpad. The Kissing Booth follows the classic “best friend’s brother” trope, with Elle falling for Noah (Jacob Elordi), the sibling to her especially codependent bestie/partner-in-crime/birthday twin/dance partner and more, Lee (Joel Courtney). The movies might not be considered magnum opuses of cinema, but, even so, each film accumulated groundbreaking ratings, with the first one being one of the most watched Netflix movies in the world.

From Geek Tyrant : "Kelsey Grammer is Set To Star in Lionsgate's JESUS REVOLUTION"

Kelsey Grammer, Anna Grace Barlow, and Jonathan Roumie have joined the cast of Lionsgate’s upcoming film Jesus Revolution. The film is inspired by the true story of “a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California.”

The movie also stars Joel Courtney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Ally Ioannides, Julia Campbell, Nic Bishop, and Jolie Jenkins.

In the story, “young Greg Laurie (Courtney) sets out to redefine truth through all means of liberation, and instead, meets Lonnie Frisbee (Roumie), a charismatic hippie street preacher. Laurie and Frisbee, along with Pastor Chuck Smith (Grammer), open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival by way of rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith leading to a Jesus Revolution that changed the world. Laurie went on to start Harvest Christian Fellowship, one of the largest congregations in America, with over 15,000 regular members. Over the years, six million people have attended Harvest Christian Fellowship.”

It’s explained, “Modern-day cause-related crusades and rallies for change are everywhere. Jesus Revolution is the story of one such movement that not only set a model for changemakers thereafter, but that sparked a revival with ripple effects that still matter today.”

Grammer will play Chuck Smith, the real-life pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, “who served as a mentor to Greg Laurie. Chuck famously opened his church to a generation of hippies and seekers, helping to launch the last great spiritual revival in America.”

The film was written by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog) and Jon Gunn, and Erwin will also direct the film. Erwin said in a statement, “The movie is set in a very specific time and place, but the theme of finding a deeper meaning to life, in the midst of a fractured and broken world, is timeless. In his iconic performances, Kelsey has a proven ability to connect with audiences in a real, vulnerable way, which will make him a tremendous presence in this film.”

Grammer added, “Jesus has been a profound influence in my life. I am proud to be a part of this film.”

From Oregon Faith Report : "Top Hollywood Stars Set for “Jesus Revolution”, True 1970s Story"

Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate announced that Kelsey Grammer, Anna Grace Barlow, Jonathan Roumie, and more have joined the cast of Jesus Revolution, a film inspired by the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California.

Grammer (“Frasier”) will star alongside bSuper 8”), previously announced, as well as newly joining cast members Anna Grace Barlow (“The Big Leap”), Jonathan Roumie (“The Chosen”), Kimberly Williams-Paisley (“According to Jim”), Ally Ioannides (“Parenthood”), Julia Campbell (Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion), Nic Bishop (“Truth Be Told”), and Jolie Jenkins (“Alexa & Katie”).

In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) sets out to redefine truth through all means of liberation, and instead, meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie street preacher. Laurie and Frisbee, along with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival by way of rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith leading to a Jesus Revolution that changed the world.

Laurie went on to start Harvest Christian Fellowship, one of the largest churches in America, and the Harvest Crusade events, which have been attended by over six million people.

Modern-day cause-related crusades and rallies for change are everywhere. Jesus Revolution is the story of one such movement that not only set a model for change-makers thereafter, but that sparked a revival with ripple effects that still matter today.

Grammer will play Chuck Smith, the real-life pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, who served as a mentor to Greg Laurie. Chuck famously opened his church to a generation of hippies and seekers, helping to launch the last great spiritual revival in America.

Barlow will play Cathe, who finds a connection with Greg as they both search for purpose in a changing world. Roumie will play Lonnie Frisbee, the young hippie preacher who brings thousands into the movement with his charismatic and vulnerable messages. Williams-Paisley will play Charlene, Greg’s struggling mother. Campbell will play Kay, Chuck’s wife, with Ioannides playing Janette, his daughter. Bishop will play Dick, Cathe’s father, and Jenkins will play Pilar, her mother.

Written by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn, the film will be directed by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog) and Brent McCorkle (Unconditional) and produced by Kevin Downes (I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog) and Jon and Andrew Erwin (I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog), along with Josh Walsh (The Jesus Music) and Daryl Lefever (Woodlawn).

“We’re thrilled by the incredible cast that has come together,” said Jon Erwin. “The movie is set in a very specific time and place, but the theme of finding a deeper meaning to life, in the midst of a fractured and broken world, is timeless. In his iconic performances, Kelsey has a proven ability to connect with audiences in a real, vulnerable way, which will make him a tremendous presence in this film.”

Grammer added, “Jesus has been a profound influence in my life. I am proud to be a part of this film.”

From Looper : "50 Best Space Movies Of All Time Ranked"

And #30 is Super 8!

This 2011 thriller from director J.J. Abrams lovingly pays tribute to nostalgic classics such as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Stand by Me," while also being a celebration of the art of moviemaking in itself. In the film, a group of friends are shooting their own zombie movie when they witness a horrific train crash and an alien creature emerging from the chaos. While the action in "Super 8" may take place on Earth, the focus is on the alien invaders and particularly how this is seen through young eyes.

With excellent performances from Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney in particular, "Super 8" evokes the feeling of some of Steven Spielberg's early work, (the director has a producer credit for this film) giving equal importance to blockbuster spectacle and genuine heart and warmth. The film proved to be a surprise commercial success, making over $260 million at the box office, and was praised by critics, including Total Film critic Jamie Graham who remarked, "Only a young Spielberg at the top of his game could beat it."

From Deadline : "Kelsey Grammer Joins Lionsgate’s ‘Jesus Revolution’"

Kelsey Grammer, Anna Grace Barlow, Jonathan Roumie and Nicholas Cirillo have joined the cast of Jesus Revolution, the Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate film inspired by the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California. Grammer will star alongside Joel Courtney as well as Barlow and Roumie, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Ally Ioannides, Julia Campbell, Nic Bishop, and Jolie Jenkins.

In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) sets out to redefine truth through all means of liberation, and instead, meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie street preacher. Laurie and Frisbee, along with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival by way of rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith leading to a Jesus Revolution that changed the world. Laurie went on to start Harvest Christian Fellowship, one of the largest churches in America, and the Harvest Crusade events, which have been attended by over six million people.

Modern-day cause-related crusades and rallies for change are everywhere. Jesus Revolution is the story of one such movement that not only set a model for changemakers thereafter, but that sparked a revival with ripple effects that still matter today.

Grammer will play Chuck Smith, the real-life pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, who served as a mentor to Greg Laurie. Chuck famously opened his church to a generation of hippies and seekers, helping to launch the last great spiritual revival in America.

Written by Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn, the film will be directed by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog) and Brent McCorkle (Unconditional) and produced by Kevin Downes  and Jon and Andrew Erwin, along with Josh Walsh and Daryl Lefever.

“The movie is set in a very specific time and place, but the theme of finding a deeper meaning to life, in the midst of a fractured and broken world, is timeless,” said Erwin.. “In his iconic performances, Kelsey has a proven ability to connect with audiences in a real, vulnerable way, which will make him a tremendous presence in this film.”

Grammer added, “Jesus has been a profound influence in my life. I am proud to be a part of this film.” He is repped by UTA and Vault Entertainment.

From J-14 : "Celeb Costars Who Became Best Friends in Real Life"

Joey King and Joel Courtney

“Truly, every day with Joel was belly-laughs to the point where I’d be like, ‘I’m gonna pee.’ So, it’s hard to pinpoint any specific moment, but just being his friend is a constant flow of laughter,” Joey told J-14 exclusively in August 2021 about working with her Kissing Booth costar. “He makes everyone he’s around so happy. I just feel really lucky to have shared all those laughs with him and that people can see that we really care about each other.”

From Screen Rant : “Kissing Booth: Lee Is Secretly In Love With Elle - Theory Explained”

Lee may be supportive of Elle and Noah's relationship, but based on few factors in The Kissing Booth, he might also be in love with his best friend.

The Kissing Booth ended with Elle (Joey King) and Noah (Elle) getting back together, but it's also possible that Lee (Joel Courtney) is secretly in love with his best friend. Based on the novels of the same name written by Beth Reekles, Netflix's rom-com trilogy follows a trio of life-long pals navigating love and life in California. The franchise has recently wrapped up with The Kissing Booth 3 where all three main characters were revealed to have been established adults after a six-year time jump. But while Lee is seen happily reunited with Rachel (Meganne Young) after splitting up before college, she might not be who he truly loves.

Premiering in 2018, The Kissing Booth actually kicked off Netflix's rom-com trend, with films like Set It Up and To All The Boys I've Loved Before following suit. While the movie was a miss with critics, it became popular with viewers, and soon after, the sequels were greenlit. The Kissing Booth 2 was released in 2020, and just a year after, The Kissing Booth 3 dropped on the platform, rounding up the trilogy. While the movie's premise focused on Elle and Lee's friendship, her romance with Noah eventually took over, effectively becoming the movies' primary narrative.

Belatedly, The Kissing Booth also gave Lee his own love interest — Rachel. While introduced in the first film, she's the most prominently featured in The Kissing Booth 2. Like Elle and Noah, they, too, end up back together at the end of The Kissing Booth 3, although the threequel entirely skipped how. Still, based on some of Lee's reactions and actions, one can't help but wonder if he's harboring secret feelings for Elle.

Lee And Elle’s Relationship Explained

Lee and Elle's relationship started with their moms being best of friends. The Flynn and Evans matriarchs first met when they were both at U.C. Berkeley, and from there, they became inseparable. Not only did Lee and Elle grew up with each other, but they also share birthdays, so it was easy for them to become best friends. By the time Elle's mother died due to some illness, Sara Flynn (Molly Ringwald) stepped in to be her pseudo-mom, making her almost like a family. Spending time together, Elle and Lee created all sorts of fun lists such as a friendship rule guide, as well as, a bucket list — both of them factored into The Kissing Booth movies. While the former helped them establish some ground rules, it was also a source of friction, especially after Elle's relationship with Noah and her subsequent decision to go to Harvard broke some of those promises.

Lee Became More Controlling When Elle Started Dating Noah

The whole primary premise of the original The Kissing Booth movie revolved around Elle coming to terms with her growing crush for Noah. But knowing full well that dating family members of her best friend is prohibited according to their list, she tried to control her attraction. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Noah is also quite smitten with her. After learning about this, the pair started dating in secret, delaying the inevitable about coming clean. Before they could decide how to do it, however, Lee caught them, which, expectedly caused a massive conflict between the brother and the best friends. Interestingly, however, even after the younger Flynn came to terms with the idea of Elle and Noah as a couple, it continued to be a problem for him in The Kissing Booth 2 and subsequently, The Kissing Booth 3. It doesn't make that much sense - considering the fact that he, too, had his own love life - to be seemingly jockeying for Elle's attention.

Lee Is More Concerned With Elle Than Rachel

Admittedly, Lee started to loosen up in The Kissing Booth 2 as he officially started dating. In fact, it was Elle who's overly clingy at this point as she struggled with her long-distance set-up with Noah. So, it's was surprising when he became much more controlling in The Kissing Booth 3, especially after his best friend decided to choose to go to Harvard with her boyfriend than to U.C. Berkeley. For starters, it didn't feel right that Lee had such a massive reaction to Elle's choice - after all, everyone knew that she applied to both schools. After her harrowing experience during Noah's first year away, it's almost predictable that she was going to choose Harvard. In any case, the fact that she even tried getting into the East Coast-located university was already a massive sign. But what makes Lee's aggressive reaction more dubious is the fact that he didn't have any problem with Rachel going to Rhode Island for college — which is also on the other side of the country. If he's able to give his girlfriend the liberty to make a life far from him, how can he not do that with Elle?

Why Wouldn’t Lee Confess His Feelings For Elle? 

If Lee was in love with Elle, why couldn't he simply confess his feelings? Ultimately, it may have to be because of his real feeling about Noah. It's possible that Lee has long been in love with Elle, but since they're good friends, he was hesitant to make a move, afraid that it would ruin their relationship and make it awkward if she doesn't reciprocate. Lee could've chosen to settle being her buddy since it's the safest way to keep her close to him. Things changed, however, when she and Noah started dating. It's clear from the get-go in the original The Kissing Booth that the Flynn brothers don't have the best dynamic. Noah is often regarded as the hotshot in high school, while Lee was forced to live in his shadows. But, that didn't bother him at first since he was happy minding his own life with Elle. Now, when Noah started a romance with her, it further triggered Lee's inferiority complex, feeling as if the older Flynn was taking Elle away from him. This couldn't be farther from the truth since she was already harboring feelings for Noah long before she found out that they were mutual. He tried shifting his focus elsewhere in found Rachel, who has had her eyes on him earlier. Between that and Noah's absence in The Kissing Booth 2, Lee was able to effectively bury his feelings for Elle. But once his brother was back in The Kissing Booth 3, he started acting up once again.