FILM · 2004 · USA
The Girl Next Door
24 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
24 Interesting Facts About The Girl Next Door
Interesting Facts (20)
- #001
In the strip club scene where Emile Hirsch tries to figure out how to smoke a cigar, his dropping the cigar was a happy accident rather than part of the script. The director liked it so much that he kept it.
- #002
When Emile Hirsch was beaten by Timothy Olyphant in the car, he was genuinely injured because Olyphant's rings kept scratching him.
- #003
According to commentary, Eli is based on writer/director Eli Roth.
- #004
The drawing Danielle gives Matthew in the café was drawn by Elisha Cuthbert.
- #005
The Georgetown University seen at the end was not the real Georgetown University but Gallaudet University, the only deaf university in the world.
- #006
The original concept was a remake of Risky Business (1983) that eventually became its own film, although similarities between the two films remain.
- #007
The prom in the film takes place in a cafeteria, just like the director's own.
- #008
The film not only shares a similar plot to Risky Business (1983), but composer Paul Haslinger is also a former member of Tangerine Dream, the group that provided the score for Risky Business.
- #009
The video Eli discovers about Danielle (and shows to Matthew) features Steven St. Croix, a real-life porn actor.
- #010
The Cougars lion costume seen in many scenes of the film is the same one shown in Old School (2003), this time under the name "Harrison Cougars."
- #011
The character Katır is played by Matthew Wiese. He is better known as the professional wrestler Luther Reigns; when he slams into a table in the film, it is a nod to the many times he did so in WCW and WWE.
- #012
Both Briana Banks and Jenna Jameson were initially planned to appear in the film.
- #013
The "Vivid Video" hat Eli wears belongs to a real porn production company.
- #014
Although Klitz's first name is never revealed in the film, the director stated that it is Tim.
- #015
The woman shown in the magazine at the beginning of the film is Briana Banks.
- #016
The cigar box Kelly eventually gets from Matthew is Romeo y Julieta vintage cigars.
- #017
A photo release form that falls into place during the film's thrilling filming scene reveals that the production company's name is Passion Pit.
- #018
At around the 51st minute of the film, the boys have just arrived at the AVNs. Shortly after being confronted by security saying "No Press," there is a brief shot of a poster featuring Stormy Daniels of the notorious Hush Money case brought against Donald Trump.
- #019
David Daskal of Average Joe (2003) appears at the beginning of the film with a group of students and later as a student in the classroom.
- #020
There is an Alien poster in the school's video room. Timothy Olyphant later appeared in the series Alien: Earth.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #021
Jay Mohr auditioned for the role of Kelly but was told the role had been given to Matt Dillon. Kelly was to be played by Timothy Olyphant, Mohr's Go (1999) co-star, who turned the role down twice before agreeing to take it.
- #022
Emile Hirsch and Paul Dano later appeared in different films alongside actor Bruce Willis, both released in 2006: Hirsch in Alpha Dog (2006) and Dano in Fast Food Nation (2006). Hirsch would later write the film Fortress, in which Willis starred, and its sequel.
Easter Eggs & References (1)
- #023
Perhaps as a nod to Risky Business (1983), the musical cues from the song Love On A Real Train can be heard when both Elisha Cuthbert's and Emile Hirsch's characters first see each other.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #024
Risky Business (1983) and American Pie (1999) are the inspirations behind the film.
Related pages
- Heart Eyes — The Girl Next Door comes up in the facts on that page
- Christopher Rodriguez Marquette — The Girl Next Door comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work