How a R-rated comedy about sixth-graders achieved a cinematic look inspired by the eighties

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2019 film Good Boys follows three pre-teens on a chaotic mission to learn how to kiss before a party. While the premise is built on profanity and misadventure, the production team intentionally avoided the typical look of juvenile comedies, aiming for a visual scope that feels surprisingly expansive.

Directed by Gene Stupnitsky in his directorial debut, Good Boys centers on friends Max, Lucas, and Thor as they navigate the social pressures of sixth grade. When a plan to use a drone to spy on a neighbor goes awry, the boys find themselves in possession of ecstasy and forced into a series of frantic escapades. The film, produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, balances its crude humor with a narrative about the shifting dynamics of childhood friendships.

Cinematographer Jonathan Furmanski sought to bridge the gap between 2019 and the aesthetic of 1986 classics like Stand By Me. To achieve this, he utilized Arri Alexa SXT and Alexa Mini cameras with Master Anamorphic lenses, opting for a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. This choice provided the film with a wide, cinematic scope, characterized by sharp contrast and depth, which contrasted with the tight, intimate nature of the boys' personal dilemmas.

The production faced significant technical hurdles, most notably a highway sequence that required five days of work. Because filming on an active road was impossible, the crew constructed a 300-foot makeshift highway on an unused airport runway. The scene relied heavily on visual effects and precise camera placement, with the crew drilling small washers into the tarmac to ensure consistency across multiple units.

Critical reception was generally positive, with the film holding an 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While some reviewers praised its heart and the cast's performance, others criticized its reliance on shock humor. Despite mixed reviews regarding its narrative depth, the film was a financial success, grossing $111.2 million worldwide against a $20 million budget and becoming the first R-rated comedy in three years to top the box office upon its debut.

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