1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The New Guy
"A zero will rise."
2002 1h 28m EN
😐
6.0
MID
🥫
7%
ROTTEN
😬
24
METACRITIC
⭐
5.8
IMDB
★6.0TMDB · 684🥫7%Rotten Tomatoes●24Metacritic★5.8IMDB · 38,348
Comedy
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison has finally gotten lucky -- after purposely getting expelled, he takes lessons in 'badass cool' from a convict and enrolls at a new school. But can he keep up the ruse?
“A zero will rise.”
Cast
DJ Qualls
Dizzy Harrison / Gil Harris
Eliza Dushku
Danielle
Zooey Deschanel
Nora
Lyle Lovett
Bear Harrison
Jerod Mixon
Kirk
Illeana Douglas
Kiki Pierce
Parry Shen
Glen
Kurt Fuller
Mr. Undine
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Ed Decter
- Writers
- David Kendall
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 24 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Ed Decter, shot by Michael D. O'Shea. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Ralph Sall. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor David Rennie shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku and Zooey Deschanel carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A zero will rise.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Ed Decter directs. Michael D. O'Shea behind the camera. Ralph Sall scores. David Rennie cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Released 24 years ago.
- 3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
- 4Directed by Ed Decter, shot by Michael D. O'Shea. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Ralph Sall. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor David Rennie shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku and Zooey Deschanel carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "A zero will rise.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0241760 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 11 themes, including "prison", "high school", "dual identity", "identity".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Michael D. O'Shea
- Original score
- Ralph Sall
- Editing
- David Rennie
- Production design
- Dina Lipton
- Costume design
- Susie DeSanto
- Makeup / hair
- Kelly Nelson
- Sound
- David E. Fluhr
- Stunt coordinator
- Richard Humphreys
- Runtime
- 88 min · 1h 28m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $13,000,000
- Box office
- $31,200,000
- Return
- 240% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG-13
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 7% 🥫 Rotten
- Metacritic
- 24/100
- IMDB rating
- 5.8/10 · 38,348 votes
- MPAA
- PG-13
Awards
1 nomination
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- BE
Bedlam Pictures
US
Revolution Studios
US
- FR
Frontier Pictures
US
Key crew
- EditorDavid Rennie
- ProstheticsGary Archer
- CastingNancy Nayor
- Production DesignDina Lipton
- Art DirectionMichael Atwell
- Set DecorationSuzette Sheets
- Costume DesignSusie DeSanto
- Script SupervisorGina Grande
- Stunt DoubleAustin Anderson
- Executive Music ProducerRalph Sall
- Executive ProducerJohn J. Strauss
- Executive ProducerEd Decter
- Executive ProducerGreg Silverman
- Executive ProducerMichael Fottrell
- ProducerMark Ciardi
- ProducerGordon Gray
- ProducerTodd Garner
- Unit Production ManagerMichael Fottrell
- Additional EditingRonald Roose
- Stunt CoordinatorRichard Humphreys
- Production SupervisorCatherine S. McComb
- Camera OperatorSteven H. Smith
- First Assistant CameraWally Sweeterman
- "B" Camera OperatorMichael A. Chavez
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- prison
- high school
- dual identity
- identity
- cheerleader
- loser
- bullying
- jock
- bully
- duringcreditsstinger
- senior high school students
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2002-05-10PG-13
Also known as
International titles
- El Chico NuevoMX
- The New Guy - Auf die ganz coole TourDE
- Los Feos También MojanES
- Novo no PedaçoBR
- ПродвинутыйRU
- НовичокRU
- Крутий хлопецьUA
- Просунутий новачокUA
