The Perfect Date

Brooks Rattigan, a quick thinking high school student with big plans for college, wants to avoid debt and craft a smarter path to independence. To raise tuition money, he dreams up a dating app that lets him serve as a stand in boyfriend for paying clients, letting him practice social confidence while avoiding real romance at first. He keeps the operation small and discreet, hoping to juggle school, family obligations, and his own ambitions. As Brooks tests the service, he teams up with his tech-savvy classmate Celia Lieberman, and his awkward sideline dating life begins to spill into real life. Along the way he faces friends, rivals, and the temptation to pretend forever. Friendships and family complicate his choices too.

Directed by Chris Nelson, The Perfect Date premiered on Netflix on April 12, 2019. It presents original screenplay by Randall Green and Steve Bloom, not adapted from a prior work, but crafted as teen dating comedy with a light tone.

There is no theatrical box office to report since the film was released on Netflix. As a streaming release there were no widely reported grosses in cinemas, focusing attention instead on its streaming audience and overall reception among viewers online.

Among Centineo's growing lineup of rom com leads, The Perfect Date helped cement his appeal to teens and streaming audiences, reinforcing a trend of easygoing misfit charm. It also showcases Laura Marano stepping into a buoyant ensemble against a confident, high achieving heroine who matches him beat for beat today.

Critics offered mixed notes, praising the chemistry between Centineo and Marano while noting a familiar, tidy rom com structure. The film questions what counts as a real connection while exploring entrepreneurship and self reliance, delivering a light dose of optimism without losing the heart of a simple romance for viewers.