The New Guy

Play trailer

The New Guy

PG-13

2002

1h 24m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

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).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

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

Jan 12, 2018

Full Review

Nathan Rabin

AV Club

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

Jun 11, 2013

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

The New Guy is a waste of talent and time.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

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.

Nov 13, 2019

Full Review

Steve Head

IGN Movies

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

Rated: 3/5

Jun 11, 2013

Full Review

Total Film

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

Rated: 2/5

Jun 11, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

LINUS L

A whole lot dumber than I remember.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/26/25

Full Review

Anthony G

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

Full Review

Scott N

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

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Alexander S

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-

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/05/25

Full Review

Jonathan O

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.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

Full Review

Ed R

Pretty terrible movie, haha. Thankfully the beautiful Eliza Dushku saves the movie with her looks.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ed Decter

Director

DJ Qualls

Dizzy

Eliza Dushku

Danielle

Zooey Deschanel

Nora

Lyle Lovett

Bear

Jerod Mixon

Kirk

White Chicks

15%

55%

White Chicks

Watchlist

Anger Management

42%

59%

Anger Management

Watchlist

Stealing Harvard

9%

39%

Stealing Harvard

Watchlist

The Benchwarmers

13%

64%

The Benchwarmers

Watchlist

Man of the House

9%

46%

Man of the House

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now