The Girl Next Door 2004

Ambitious high school senior Matthew Kidman, portrayed by Emile Hirsch, has his sights set on a promising political career. Recently accepted to the prestigious Georgetown University, he realizes that his dreams will only come to fruition if he secures a significant scholarship. As graduation approaches, he finds himself reflecting on his high school years, yearning for a more memorable experience.

Everything changes when he encounters his stunning next-door neighbor, Danielle. This intriguing and bold woman proves to be the perfect counterpart for the more reserved Matthew, and they quickly develop a deep mutual attraction. However, the foundation of their relationship is tested when Matthew learns from his adult film aficionado friend, Eli, that Danielle has a past as an adult film actress, famously known by her stage name “Athena.”

In a misguided attempt to navigate this revelation, Matthew follows Eli’s dubious advice and invites Danielle to a run-down motel. Sensing that her secret is out, Danielle retaliates by putting on an alluring striptease and attempting to seduce him. When Matthew, troubled by the situation, questions her decision to degrade herself for him, Danielle challenges his motivations and abruptly ends their romance. The following day, Matthew confronts Danielle at her home, only to discover that she plans to return to the adult film industry and is leaving for Las Vegas with her former boyfriend, Kelly, a porn producer.

Filled with guilt and regret, Matthew takes matters into his own hands, chasing after Danielle to Las Vegas, where he finds her performing at an adult film convention. There, he faces a menacing Kelly, who warns him to stay out of business that doesn’t concern him. In a heartfelt resolution, Matthew persuades Danielle not to return to that lifestyle, but their triumph is short-lived when Kelly retaliates, abducting Matthew and physically assaulting him over a hefty financial loss incurred due to Danielle’s absence.

In a twisted turn of events, Kelly offers Matthew a deal to erase his debt—by breaking into the home of rival producer Hugo Posh to steal a valuable statuette. However, in a shocking betrayal, Kelly calls in a robbery report as Matthew enters the house, forcing him to narrowly escape the police’s grasp. The chaos continues as Matthew rushes to a scholarship dinner high on what he thinks is aspirin, yet in a heartbreaking twist, he loses the scholarship to a bland student who embodies the pre-Danielle version of himself.

Kelly’s manipulations don’t end there; he steals $25,000 that Matthew had raised to sponsor Samnang, a bright Cambodian student, by masquerading as his student advisor. With mounting pressure and the looming threat of expulsion or legal consequences, Matthew seeks Danielle’s aid. In an audacious plan, she rounds up friends from her previous career in adult films to shoot a video on prom night, turning it into a progressive sex education project rather than a mere adult film. The success of their efforts culminates in a night of passion between Matthew and Danielle as they share their first intimate moment in a limousine.

The morning after proves to be a shock, as an enraged Kelly confronts Matthew in front of his parents and the school principal, brandishing the tape he has stolen from Eli’s home. He demands half of the profits, aiming to exert control over Matthew. However, guided by Danielle’s advice to embrace the situation, Matthew refuses to give in, reaffirming that the profits rightfully belong to Samnang. As the tape begins to play, it reveals an enlightening educational project instead of explicit content, leading to Kelly’s ultimate defeat.

The resolution turns favorable for Matthew as he and Hugo Posh capitalize on the success of the video, paving the way for funding Samnang’s education and granting Matthew the resources he needs to attend Georgetown University alongside Danielle. The film concludes with Matthew driving triumphantly into Georgetown’s campus in a sleek BMW Z4, signifying not only his personal victories but also a chance to build the future he has always aspired to, alongside the girl of his dreams.