Surprising Age Gaps in Films and TV That We Can't Ignore

Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Guzman

Jennifer Lopez stars as a high school teacher in the 2014 thriller *The Boy Next Door*. Her character, Claire, becomes entangled in a risky one-night stand with an eighteen-year-old student, played by Ryan Guzman. The age gap between the actors—Jennifer was born nearly two decades before Ryan—adds an unsettling layer to the storyline. While Hollywood often romanticizes such controversial themes, this plotline feels particularly inappropriate and creepy

Why does the industry continue to push narratives that blur ethical boundaries? At least this time, they cast an actor who wasn’t technically a teenager, but the premise still raises eyebrows. The movie’s success highlights how audiences remain captivated by taboo topics, even when they’re uncomfortable. It’s surprising that such a concept made it to the big screen, but it’s a reminder of Hollywood’s fascination with pushing boundaries, no matter how controversial.