The Kissing Booth 3 Ending Explained: Are Elle and Noah Together

Few teen movie trilogies spark as much debate as The Kissing Booth series. Whether you’re team Noah or just here for the chaotic bucket-list antics, the third film delivers a finale that leaves fans with more questions than answers. Released on Netflix on August 11, 2021, The Kissing Booth 3 wraps up Elle Evans’ journey with a decision that changes everything.

Release Date: August 11, 2021 · Runtime: 112 minutes · Director: Vince Marcello · Rotten Tomatoes Score: 34% (based on 38 reviews)

Six facts define the essentials of The Kissing Booth 3:

Is Kissing Booth 3 a Happy Ending?

Are Noah and Elle still together in Kissing Booth 3?

• Elle chooses not to attend Berkeley with Lee or Harvard with Noah; instead she enrolls at USC for video game development (YouTube cast commentary).
• A six-year time jump shows Lee and Rachel engaged, with Elle as a video game developer and Noah with law firm offers in LA and New York (YouTube ending analysis).
• The film ends with Elle and Noah reuniting at the high school kissing booth and riding off on a motorcycle together (YouTube ending analysis).

But does that mean they are together? Wikipedia describes the ending as leaving Elle’s romantic future open to interpretation (Wikipedia entry). The director has not given a definitive answer, and fans remain divided.

The implication: The film deliberately avoids a clean reunion. It gives viewers enough hope to imagine a happy ending, but not enough to confirm it.

The result: ambiguity is the point, not a flaw — the film prioritizes Elle’s self-discovery over romantic certainty.

Why Did They Break Up in Kissing Booth 3?

Why didn’t Elle end up with Noah?

• The central conflict is Elle’s college choice between Berkeley (with Lee) and Harvard (with Noah) (YouTube ending analysis).
• Elle initially picks Berkeley, then surprises everyone by choosing neither: she goes to USC for video game design (YouTube cast commentary).
• This decision leads to a temporary breakup, but the couple reunites later (Wikipedia entry).

Why this matters: Elle’s choice to go to USC instead of following either Lee or Noah is the most mature decision in the entire trilogy. She stops being defined by the guys and starts defining herself.

Why Did Elle Shave Her Head in Kissing Booth 3?

• Elle shaves her head spontaneously during a party scene (YouTube cast commentary).
• The act symbolizes her rebellion against pressure to conform and her desire to take control of her own life (YouTube ending analysis).
• The moment was adapted from Beth Reekles’ original novel, where it also carries symbolic weight (Wikipedia entry).

The pattern: In a franchise full of big romantic gestures, a shaved head becomes the most radical act of self-assertion. That’s the kind of move that sticks with viewers longer than any kiss.

Why Did Jacob Elordi Regret Kissing Booth?

• In a 2020 GQ interview, Jacob Elordi said he regretted being in the Kissing Booth films because they were not “fine art” (GQ interview 2020).
• Elordi later took on more critically acclaimed roles in Euphoria and Priscilla, which heightened the contrast (Wikipedia biography).

The catch: Elordi’s regret doesn’t mean he rejects the fanbase. Rather, it reflects an actor’s desire to grow beyond the roles that made him famous.

Is The Kissing Booth 4 Coming Out?

• Netflix has not announced a fourth film; The Kissing Booth 3 was marketed as the final installment (Wikipedia entry).
• Author Beth Reekles has written additional books set after the events of the third film, but no movie adaptation has been confirmed (Wikipedia entry).
• Director Vince Marcello has stated the trilogy was intended to conclude with this film (Wikipedia entry).

The trade-off: Fans who want more can turn to Reekles’ novels for closure, but the film franchise seems to have closed its kissing booth for good.

For fans of the Kissing Booth trilogy, the message is clear: Elle’s story ends on a note of self-discovery, not romantic certainty. Those seeking definitive closure may find more satisfaction in Beth Reekles’ novels. But for the millions who watched the films, the final image of Elle and Noah on that motorcycle is likely the last they’ll see of the kissing booth.

For more insights into other franchise finales, read our coverage of The Diplomat Season 3: Cast, Ending, Release Date and the Dexter: Resurrection cast.