This was an extremely hard list to compile mainly because the topic is so broad. However, I want to make it very clear what this article is about. It’s not about High School movies. It’s about movies that focus on life in high school. Know what I mean? There are tons of high school movies out there but I don’t think too many do a great job of capturing what high school life is truly like. So I decided to span generations and try to gather what I thought were great representatives of the culture.
Here are my picks for the 10 best movies about high school…..
Dazed and Confused
If had to choose a number one I would probably pick this movie. Linklater does an excellent job of directing this movie and capturing the lives of high school students in rural Texas in the 70s. The soundtrack kicks ass and the characters absolutely rule. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
This was one of the first movies that truly explored sex in high school. Cameron Crowe writes a bold movie here and Amy Heckerling had the balls to direct it. Naturally it was a smash hit and probably changed the high school movie from that point on.
Heathers
Of all the movies on this list I’d say that Heathers is the weirdest. However it was a pretty bold movie when you think about it. It explored high school suicides and the pressures of school in a way no movie ever had. It may not have won at the box office but it was definitely a great movie.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
There’s no way I was leaving this one off. If you haven’t seen this movie then you have no business reading this article.
Napoleon Dynamite
I might get reamed for this one but think about it. How often do we explore the geeky side of high school in films? Sure we have your geeky characters and what not but the weirdos actually make up a pretty large majority of students, something that’s overlooked in movies.
The Breakfast Club
Other than Dazed and Confused this one ranks pretty high up on my list. What differentiates this movie is that all facets of high school are pretty much represented here: The geeks, athletes, criminals, princesses, and basket cases.
Grease
I can only assume this is how high school life was in the 60s? One giant musical? Other than all the characters looking like they were in their 30s, this movie has to be on this list.
Election
Totally underrated movie and totally awesome if you ask me. They take a funny crack at teachers being attracted to students as well as attempt to classify groups, rivalries, subcultures, etc etc.
American Pie
You didn’t think I’d leave this off did you? Probably the funniest movie of all these by far.
Can’t Buy Me Love
If only for the amazing line of “You shit on my house!” All you high school kids out there have to see this movie. I know it was made in 1987 but trust me, you’ll love it.
Honorable Mention: Can’t Hardly Wait, Lucas, Cooley High, Pretty in Pink, Clueless, Superbad, Pump up the Volume, To Sir with Love, She’s All That
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