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{{other uses|Perfect score (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Missing information|the film's production|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = The Perfect Score
| image          = TPSposter.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Brian Robbins]]
| producer       = [[Roger Birnbaum]]<br />[[Jonathan Glickman]]<br />Brian Robbins<br />[[Michael Tollin]]
| screenplay     = [[Marc Hyman]]<br />Jon Zack<br />[[Mark Schwahn]]
| story          = Marc Hyman<br />Jon Zack
| starring       = [[Erika Christensen]]<br />[[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]]<br />[[Scarlett Johansson]]<br />[[Darius Miles]]
| music          = [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]]
| cinematography = [[Clark Mathis|J. Clark Mathis]]
| editing        = Ned Bastille
| studio         = [[MTV Films]]<br />[[Tollin/Robbins Productions|Tollin/Robbins]]
| distributor    = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|2004|01|30|United States}}
| runtime        = 93 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = $10.9 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=perfectscore.htm "The Perfect Score (2004)"]. ''[[Box Office Mojo]]''. [[IMDb]]. Retrieved July 12, 2012.</ref>
}}
'''''The Perfect Score''''' is a 2004 American [[Teen film|teen]] [[comedy]]-[[heist film]] directed by [[Brian Robbins]] and starring [[Chris Evans (actor)|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, Mercer County, New Jersey|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 (film)|Dazed and Confused]]'' (1993), which are often referenced throughout the film. The film received negative reviews from critics and grossed $10 million.

==Plot==
[[Everyman]] high school student Kyle needs a high score on the SAT to get into [[Cornell University]]'s [[Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning|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 [[Slacker|underachiever]] who had previously received a low score on his [[PSAT/NMSQT|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 [[Educational Testing Service|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 [[Cannabis consumption|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 (New York City)|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 [[metafiction|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==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Chris Evans by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| width1 = 130
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = Scarlett Johansson by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| width2 = 137
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| footer = ''The Perfect Score'' marks the first of nine movies [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]] and [[Scarlett Johansson]] star in together.
}}

* [[Chris Evans (actor)|Chris Evans]] as Kyle
* [[Erika Christensen]] as Anna Ross
* [[Bryan Greenberg]] as Matty 
* [[Scarlett Johansson]] as Francesca Curtis
* [[Darius Miles]] as Desmond Rhodes
* [[Leonardo Nam]] as Roy
* [[Matthew Lillard]] as Larry
* [[Fulvio Cecere]] as Mr. Curtis
* [[Vanessa Angel (English actress)|Vanessa Angel]] as Anita Donlee
* [[Lorena Gale]] as Ms. Proctor
* [[Tyra Ferrell]] as Mrs. Rhodes

==Production==
In February 1998, it was announced [[Paramount Pictures]] had acquired the project from [[Caravan Pictures]] for a low six figures.<ref name="ParZeroesScore">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/par-zeros-in-on-big-score-1117468197/|title=    Par zeros in on big 'Score'  |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Critical response===
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."<ref name="RottenTomatoes">[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/perfect_score "The Perfect Score"]. ''[[Rotten Tomatoes]]''. [[Flixster]]. Retrieved March 10, 2025.</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 35 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-perfect-score |title = The Perfect Score Reviews - Metacritic| website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Perfect Score" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date= February 9, 2021}}</ref>

''[[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."<ref>[http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=962 "Film Review: The Perfect Score"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107152248/http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=962 |date=2007-01-07 }}. ''[[Slant Magazine]]''. Retrieved July 12, 2012.</ref> 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."<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,6115,584306_1_0_,00.html "The Perfect Score Review"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved July 12, 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050904200158/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,6115,584306_1_0_,00.html |date=September 4, 2005 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=The Perfect Score movie review (2004)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-perfect-score-2004 |website=rogerebert.com |access-date=19 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

===Box office===
The film opened in 2,208 theaters and grossed $4.8&nbsp;million, making for a $2,207 per-theater average.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=05&p=.htm "Weekend Box Office Results for January 30 – February 1, 2004"]. ''[[Box Office Mojo]]''. [[IMDb]]. Retrieved July 12, 2012.</ref> Placing fifth over the weekend, the film saw sharp declines in the following weeks and ended its domestic run with $10.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name       = The Perfect Score (Original Motion Picture Score)
| type       = [[Film score]]
| artist     = [[John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy]]
| cover      = 
| caption    = 
| alt        =
| released   = 2004
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      =
| length     =
| label      =
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| prev_title =
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}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = The Perfect Score (Original Motion Picture Score)
| extra_column    = Artists
| total_length    =

| all_writing     = 
| all_lyrics      = 
| all_music       =

| title1          = [[Everything (Fefe Dobson song)|Everything]]
| note1           = 
| writer1         = 
| lyrics1         = 
| music1          = 
| extra1          = [[Fefe Dobson]]
| length1         =

| title2          = Teenage Alien Nation
| note2           = 
| writer2         = 
| lyrics2         = 
| music2          = 
| extra2          = [[American Hi-Fi]]
| length2         =

| title3          = Paranoia 
| note3           = 
| writer3         = 
| lyrics3         = 
| music3          = 
| extra3          = [[Sam Roberts (singer-songwriter)|Sam Roberts]]
| length3         =

| title4          = [[Because I Got High]]
| note4           = 
| writer4         = 
| lyrics4         = 
| music4          = 
| extra4          = [[Afroman]]
| length4         =

| title5          = Unforgiven
| note5           = 
| writer5         = 
| lyrics5         = 
| music5          = 
| extra5          = Fefe Dobson
| length5         =

| title6          = The World Outside
| note6           = 
| writer6         = 
| lyrics6         = 
| music6          = 
| extra6          = [[Paloalto (band)|Paloalto]]
| length6         =

| title7          = [[Get Low (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz song)|Get Low]] 
| note7           = 
| writer7         = 
| lyrics7         = 
| music7          = 
| extra7          = [[Lil Jon]] & the East Side Boyz featuring [[Ying Yang Twins]]
| length7         =

| title8          = [[Rush Hour Soul]]
| note8           = 
| writer8         = 
| lyrics8         = 
| music8          = 
| extra8          = [[Supergrass]]
| length8         =

| title9          = Force Marker
| note9           = 
| writer9         = 
| lyrics9         = 
| music9          = 
| extra9          = [[Brian Eno]]
| length9         =

| title10         = [[All My Life (Foo Fighters song)|All My Life]] 
| note10          = 
| writer10        = 
| lyrics10        = 
| music10         = 
| extra10         = [[Foo Fighters]]
| length10        =

| title11         = Burning
| note11          = 
| writer11        = 
| lyrics11        = 
| music11         = 
| extra11         = [[Benny Cassette]]
| length11        =

| title12         = Last Way Out of Here
| note12          = 
| writer12        = 
| lyrics12        = 
| music12         = 
| extra12         = Paloalto
| length12        =

| title13         = Crash & Burn
| note13          = 
| writer13        = 
| lyrics13        = 
| music13         = 
| extra13         = [[Simple Plan]]
| length13        =

| title14         = Just So You Know
| note14          = 
| writer14        = 
| lyrics14        = 
| music14         = 
| extra14         =  [[Holly Palmer]]
| length14        =

| title15         = [[In This Diary]]
| note15          = 
| writer15        = 
| lyrics15        = 
| music15         = 
| extra15         =  [[The Ataris]]
| length15        = 
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0314498|title=The Perfect Score}}
* {{YouTube|WdRvXVNgOss|''The Perfect Score'' film trailer}}

{{MTV Films}}
{{Brian Robbins}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perfect Score, The}}
[[Category:2004 crime comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s heist films]]
[[Category:2000s high school films]]
[[Category:2000s teen comedy films]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:American crime comedy films]]
[[Category:American heist films]]
[[Category:American high school films]]
[[Category:American teen comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about academic scandals]]
[[Category:Films about examinations and testing]]
[[Category:Films directed by Brian Robbins]]
[[Category:Films produced by Roger Birnbaum]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Murphy (composer)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]]
[[Category:Films set in New Jersey]]
[[Category:MTV Films films]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Spyglass Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Marc Hyman]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language crime comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language teen comedy films]]