The New Guy

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The New Guy

PG-13

2002

1h 24m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

7%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison (D.J. Qualls) has finally gotten lucky - he has a second chance to be the guy with no past in The New Guy, a hilarious story about wiping the slate clean and reinventing yourself. Transforming from dud to stud at his new school with the help of inmate Luther, geeky Dizzy becomes the cool Gil Harris and sets out to destroy the popularity-obsessed social system, boost school morale and win the heart of Danielle (Eliza Dushku).

Critics Consensus

Incoherent, silly, and unoriginal, The New Guy offers up the same old teen gross-out comedy cliches.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

01/12/2018

Lyle Lovett plays the hero's dad: money must be tight. DJ Qualls: aiming at the dumb and dumber crowd.

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

06/11/2013

A comedy just funny enough to make viewers wish it were far funnier.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

1/5

The New Guy is a waste of talent and time.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

11/13/2019

The latest in the never ending saga of ugly duckling-becomes- beautiful swan films, The New Guy flails and flaps in these well charted waters, never really going with the current or finding good solid footing on which to rest its weary plot.

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Steve Head

IGN Movies

06/11/2013

3/5

It's a fun, upbeat movie, and there are scenes that are downright hilarious.

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Total Film

06/11/2013

2/5

So what's new about The New Guy? Not much, actually.

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Tayla T

@RT86352159 May 18

This is such a great movie. Hard to understand all the hate it gets on this app.

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LINUS L

@RT26901074 Aug 26

A whole lot dumber than I remember.

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Anthony G

@RT22683951 Jul 20

This movie is a classic funny and iconic the actors and actresses were perfect from this generation at looks at the high school days not the most popular movie but it grows on you it’s not meant to be a brilliant comedy it’s meant just for comedy to whoever enjoys this type of movie so people who don’t understand the movie these critics are a joke and need to be fired you’re too old if you find this movie not hilarious and it not your cup of tea

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Scott N

@RT33256662 03/31/2025

This is by far one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen and I've seen Super Troopers 2. Whoever thought up the part where they release this so called criminal into a public high school should never find work again

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Alexander S

@RT61935749 02/05/2025

The New Guy is a dumb movie that still offers a chance to laugh and reminisce about the good old days of 2000’s campy comedy. Grading: C-

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Jonathan O

@RT41230270 08/31/2024

This movie is so unfunny and cringe it really felt like a bucket of blood scene from Carrie is definitely not recommended and I feel bad for all the actors who are in it and shame on the director and writer for make this movie offensive to everybody.

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Ed Decter

Director

DJ Qualls

Dizzy

Eliza Dushku

Danielle

Zooey Deschanel

Nora

Lyle Lovett

Bear

Jerod Mixon

Kirk

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Synopsis

Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison (D.J. Qualls) has finally gotten lucky - he has a second chance to be the guy with no past in The New Guy, a hilarious story about wiping the slate clean and reinventing yourself. Transforming from dud to stud at his new school with the help of inmate Luther, geeky Dizzy becomes the cool Gil Harris and sets out to destroy the popularity-obsessed social system, boost school morale and win the heart of Danielle (Eliza Dushku).

Director: Ed Decter
Producer: Todd Garner, Gordon Gray, Mark Ciardi
Screenwriter: David Kendall
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Bedlam Pictures, Revolution Studios, Frontier Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Crude Humor|Mild Drug References|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.0M
Runtime: 1h 24m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)