A version of the song titled "The Co-Ed Remix" and featuring guest vocals from Williams was released as the fifth single from Britney on June 24, 2002.

Spears has performed "Boys" a number of times including at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, on Saturday Night Live, and on several of her concert tours.

[2] For the song's single release, it was re-recorded as "The Co-Ed Remix", with a slightly different sound, and added featured vocals from Pharrell Williams.

[2] While the original version of the song was performed by Spears in a cameo appearance in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember, "The Co-Ed Remix" was included on its soundtrack.

"[3] The release also stated that the song and video "stays true to the fractured funk [at] the heart of the film.

[5] While the original Britney version features Spears solely, "The Co-Ed Remix" which was released as a single, sees the singer and the song's co-producer, rapper Pharrell Williams trading lines.

"[6] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that The Neptunes' productions on the album, "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys" "swaddle her in writhing, kick-the-can beats, but never have a groove and a verse been so betrayed by a limp chorus.

"[9] Nicki Tranter of PopMatters said that the remainder of the album was "tried and tested" dance-pop, noting "Boys" and "Cinderella" revisiting "old Britney territory exploring predictable issues including her love being irreplaceable, her use of the dance floor as an appropriate courting place, and her much-loved girl-ness.

"[13] The staff from Entertainment Weekly placed "Boys" at number 21 on their ranking of Spears' songs, writing that "anyone who ever fantasized about a mash-up of Britney and Janet Jackson got their wish with this track.

[17] Spin's Caryn Ganz ranked it as the singer's 20th greatest song; "the Neptunes' magical collaborations with the Princess of Pop – a chic bass line, bare-bones beat, and three and a half minutes of Spears cooing about those nasty boys".

[18] Complex magazine listed "The Co-Ed Remix" as the 33rd best R&B song by a white artist from the 2000s decade, deeming it "another creative success for The Neptunes and Britney who gave each other more credibility in the hip-hop and pop worlds, respectively".

When the security guards refuse to grant him access because he's not on the guest list, he begins to scream for Spears (after shouting that he had Fruity Pebbles with P. Diddy).

As the music starts, Spears, readying herself for the party in one of the castle's towers, is dancing with a group of women.

The scene shifts to a castle courtyard, where Spears and a man are sit at opposite ends of a long table.

Actors Jason Priestley, Justin Bruening and Taye Diggs also make cameo appearances in the video.

"[35] On 2011's Femme Fatale Tour, Spears wears a golden cape for a snake charming number of the song.

[37] The song has been performed in a mashup with Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" by Kevin McHale and Darren Criss (respectively as their characters Artie Abrams and Blaine Anderson) in the musical TV series Glee in the second episode of season four, "Britney 2.0" (aired on September 20, 2012), the show's second tribute episode to Spears.