EuroTrip (2004)

Last updated:
August 13, 2025

EuroTrip is a 2004 teen comedy directed by Jeff Schaffer, Alec Berg, and David Mandel. Known for its outrageous humor, absurd situations, and a soundtrack that screams early-2000s youth culture, it’s a cult favorite for fans of raunchy road-trip comedies.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Scott’s Breakup and the Wrong Email

The story begins with Scott Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz) graduating high school. During the ceremony, his girlfriend Fiona (Kristin Kreuk) breaks up with him—right before the school’s rock band performs the infamous song “Scotty Doesn’t Know” about her affair with the lead singer. Scott then gets an email from his German pen pal Mieke, but mistakenly assumes “Mieke” is a man hitting on him. Offended, he blocks the contact.

The Truth About Mieke

Scott’s best friend, Cooper (Jacob Pitts), tells him that “Mieke” is actually a very attractive German girl. Realizing his mistake, Scott decides to go to Europe to find her. Cooper insists on joining him, turning it into a spontaneous overseas trip.

Meeting Jamie and Jenny in London

In London, they reunite with their high school friends, twins Jamie (Travis Wester) and Jenny (Michelle Trachtenberg), who are traveling Europe on a cultural adventure. The group teams up for the trip, despite having little money and zero preparation.

Misadventures Across Europe

Their travels take them through multiple European cities:

London – They encounter a rowdy Manchester United football hooligan group led by a cameo from Vinnie Jones.
Paris – They visit the Louvre, but Jamie’s obsession with taking photos almost gets them into trouble.
Amsterdam – Cooper mistakenly believes he’s entered a sex club but ends up in a dominatrix dungeon.
Bratislava – They arrive penniless, but the weak local currency makes them “rich.” They stay in a luxury hotel for just a few cents.

The Forbidden Kiss in Rome

In Rome, they search for Mieke, who is about to leave on a school trip. The twins share an accidental kiss while making out with strangers at a wild party, leading to one of the movie’s most infamous gags.

Movie Ending

The climax happens in the Vatican. The group crashes a guided tour to find Mieke, who is there with her school group. Scott ends up accidentally dressing like the Pope’s assistant and causes chaos during an official event, ringing the Papal alarm bell.

In a mad dash through the Vatican corridors, Scott finally catches up to Mieke just as she’s boarding her bus. He confesses his feelings and apologizes for the misunderstanding. They kiss passionately, with the bus full of students cheering.

The epilogue reveals that Scott and Mieke begin a long-distance relationship, and she later surprises him by enrolling at his university. However, in the final comedic twist, Cooper admits he hooked up with Mieke during the trip (though in a comedic, clearly fabricated “brag”). Fiona ends up with the band’s singer, who is still performing “Scotty Doesn’t Know.”

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. During the credits, there are short comedic follow-ups showing what happened to some of the characters, including a continuation of “Scotty Doesn’t Know” performances and more football hooligan antics.

Type of Movie

Teen sex comedy / road trip adventure. Expect slapstick humor, absurd misunderstandings, and over-the-top cultural stereotypes.

Cast

Scott Mechlowicz as Scott Thomas
Jacob Pitts as Cooper Harris
Michelle Trachtenberg as Jenny
Travis Wester as Jamie
Jessica Boehrs as Mieke
Kristin Kreuk as Fiona
Vinnie Jones as Mad Maynard
Matt Damon as Donny (uncredited cameo as the band singer)

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack is a huge part of the film’s identity. “Scotty Doesn’t Know” by Lustra became a viral hit after the movie’s release. The film also features songs from The Dandy Warhols, FEEDER, and Harvey Danger. The score was composed by Charles Fox.

Filming Locations

While the story covers much of Europe, the film was mostly shot in Prague, Czech Republic, with additional scenes filmed in London, Amsterdam, and Bratislava. Prague’s diverse architecture allowed it to double for multiple European cities, which helped keep the production budget relatively low.

Awards and Nominations

The film didn’t win major awards but became a cult favorite in the DVD era. It’s often ranked among the top guilty-pleasure comedies of the 2000s.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Matt Damon filmed his cameo in one day while touring with his band friends.
Michelle Trachtenberg took the role because she wanted to break away from her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” image.
Many “European” extras were actually locals from Prague.
The “Scotty Doesn’t Know” sequence was shot live with the crowd actually hearing the song for the first time.

Inspirations and References

The movie borrows heavily from the American teen sex comedy tradition (Porky’s, American Pie) while parodying classic “gap year” backpacking stories.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Deleted scenes include extended Amsterdam sequences, more footage of Jamie’s photography obsession, and a longer Bratislava party scene. No alternate endings are known.

Book Adaptations and Differences

No official book adaptation exists.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Matt Damon’s surprise performance of “Scotty Doesn’t Know”.
The Manchester United fan bus scene.
Cooper’s dominatrix dungeon misadventure.
The “luxury” stay in Bratislava for just a few cents.
Scott’s frantic chase through the Vatican.

Iconic Quotes

“Scotty doesn’t know!”
“This isn’t where I parked my car!”
“I’ve never been on a train before.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Matt Damon’s bald look was because he shaved his head for The Brothers Grimm, which was filming in Prague at the same time.
The Vatican chase references National Lampoon’s European Vacation.
The Bratislava “rich for a dime” gag was inspired by a real currency exchange story from the writers’ backpacking trip.

Trivia

Lustra’s “Scotty Doesn’t Know” was never meant to be a full song, but was recorded in entirety due to fan demand.
The directors appear as background extras in multiple scenes.
The movie was almost titled Europe Sucks.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy unapologetically crude humor, absurd stereotypes, and a non-stop series of ridiculous travel mishaps, EuroTrip delivers exactly that. It’s outrageous, quotable, and still oddly charming in its stupidity.

EuroTrip (2004)