My Favorite School Movies

Since it’s almost back-to-school time, I got to thinking about high school. Like many people, I don’t have the fondest memories of it. There were definitely some good times had, but also a lot of cliques and drama. What I do have very fond memories of are high school movies.

The great high school movies of the 80s, 90s, and Double Aughts (many of them by John Hughes) give you a sense of all the cliqueyness and drama, but at a distance. And the zany hijinks in the movies are much zanier than any real-life zany hijinks I was privy to.

So here are some of my favorite high school movies, with comments where appropriate:

The John Hughes Collection
John Hughes set the standard for high school movies in the 80s (and also made a lot of other fantastic movies). He defined both a genre and a generation. He will be missed.

The Breakfast Club
This is the consensus number-one high school movie as rated by anyone who has ever rated that on the internets. I don’t disagree.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
This is actually one of my favorite movies, period.

Sixteen Candles
The Donger makes this movie, as far as I’m concerned.

Pretty In Pink
Duckie forever, y'all.

Weird Science
Not only is this an awesome movie, but it’s just so plausible.

Other Greats
American Graffiti
American Pie
Better Off Dead
Can't Hardly Wait
To me, this ushered the high school movie into the 21st century (followed shortly by American Pie).
Dazed and Confused
Excellent movie, and it was shot in Austin, one of the greatest cities in all the world.
Election
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Spicoli is one of the heroes of American cinema.
Napoleon Dynamite
Fun Napoleon Dynamite Fact #1: I met Pedro at a special showing of the movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin. Jealous?
Fun Napoleon Dynamite Fact #2: I always thought that ND was set in some sort of alternate reality where the 80s and the present collided. But I met a girl from Idaho once, and she said that’s actually how it is there.
Rushmore
Risky Business
Say Anything
Superbad


Reminisce about your own high school experience with our School Days Poll.