The Best College Movies Ever

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated January 10, 2021 14.4k votes 2.0k voters 121.9k views141 items

List RulesFilms about / set in college or featuring university students, classes, dorms, etc.

Any true college student should watch each of these college movies at least once. However we recommend watching each movie several times in order to be able to quote them on command. Some are so classic they're being made into musicals. These are the best college movies ever and they feature things that every college student would understand: booze, ditching class and chasing the opposite sex. These are movies every college student should see at least once. If you are out of college and you miss it, these films about college life may just transport you back to your student days. These are the best college movies ever.

What is your favorite university film? Also be sure to see Ranker's list of All College Movies.

Photo:

...more

1
434
155
Old School
Elisha Cuthbert, Snoop Dogg
Released: 2003
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks Pictures and The Montecito... more
2
421
160
Revenge of the Nerds
John Goodman, James Cromwell
Released: 1984
Directed by: Jeff Kanew
Revenge of the Nerds is a 1984 American comedy film about social life on a college campus. The... more
3
379
129
Good Will Hunting
Ben Affleck, Robin Williams
Released: 1997
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and starring Matt... more
4
580
117
National Lampoon's Animal House
Kevin Bacon, John Belushi
Released: 1978
Directed by: John Landis
National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The... more
5
313
120
Back to School
Robert Downey Jr., Rodney Dangerfield
Released: 1986
Directed by: Alan Metter
Back to School is a 1986 comedy film starring Rodney Dangerfield, Keith Gordon, Sally... more
More Back to School
#205 of 372 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime#43 of 314 The Funniest '80s Movies
6
312
144
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid
Released: 2002
Directed by: Walt Becker
National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan... more
7
286
134
The Waterboy
Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates
Released: 1998
Directed by: Frank Coraci
The Waterboy is a 1998 American sports/comedy film directed by Frank Coraci, starring Adam... more

8
275
136
Accepted
Blake Lively, Jonah Hill
Released: 2006
Directed by: Steve Pink
Accepted is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Steve Pink and written by Adam Cooper,... more
9
304
166
Road Trip
Amy Smart, Andy Dick
Released: 2000
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Road Trip is a 2000 American road-comedy film written by Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong and... more
10
181
73
22 Jump Street
Channing Tatum, Anna Faris
Released: 2014
Directed by: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
22 Jump Street is a 2014 American action comedy film directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller,... more
More 22 Jump Street
#85 of 117 Movies That Need Sequels#325 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
11
275
137
Rudy
Vince Vaughn, Sean Astin
Released: 1993
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life... more
More Rudy
Things About The Real Rudy That The 'Rudy' Movie Purposely Misrepresents#170 of 480 The Greatest Movies For Guys
12
279
144
Legally Blonde
Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson
Released: 2001
Directed by: Robert Luketic
Legally Blonde is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic, based on the novel... more
13
218
123
PCU
David Spade, Jeremy Piven
Released: 1994
Directed by: Hart Bochner
PCU is a 1994 American comedy film written by Adam Leff and Zak Penn and directed by Hart... more
14
174
88
Monsters University
Helen Mirren, Kelsey Grammer
Released: 2013
Directed by: Dan Scanlon
Monsters University is a 2013 animation adventure comedy film directed by Dan Scanlon.... more
More Monsters University
#31 of 105 The Best Halloween Movies for Kids#92 of 575 The Best Animated Films Ever
15
200
143
Real Genius
Val Kilmer, Chevy Chase
Released: 1985
Directed by: Martha Coolidge
Real Genius is a 1985 satirical comedy film directed by Martha Coolidge. It stars Val Kilmer... more
More Real Genius
'Real Genius' Is A Bizarre Relic Of The '80s That's Way Darker Than You Remember#6 of 49 The Very Best Movies About Hackers
16
230
178
The Social Network
Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones
Released: 2010
Directed by: David Fincher
The Social Network is a 2010 American drama film directed by David Fincher and written by... more
More The Social Network
#144 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books#51 of 275 The Best Movies Based On True Stories
17
209
135
Pitch Perfect
Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks
Released: 2012
Directed by: Jason Moore
Pitch Perfect is a 2012 American musical comedy film directed by Jason Moore. Featuring an... more
More Pitch Perfect
The Best Songs in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2#149 of 206 Musical Movies With the Best Songs
18
159
141
St. Elmo's Fire
Demi Moore, Rob Lowe
Released: 1985
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
St. Elmo's Fire is a 1985 American coming-of-age film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film,... more
More St. Elmo's Fire
#157 of 200 The Best Teen Romance Movies#415 of 836 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made
19
64
41
Scream 2
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Courteney Cox
Released: 1997
Directed by: Wes Craven
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed... more
More Scream 2
#8 of 105 The Best Horror Movie Sequels#42 of 88 The Goriest Movies Ever Made
20
78
34
A Beautiful Mind
Jennifer Connelly, Russell Crowe
Released: 2001
Directed by: Ron Howard
A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American biographical drama film based on the life of John Nash, a... more
More A Beautiful Mind
#72 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#38 of 46 Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
21
120
123
Son in Law
Tiffani Thiessen, Brendan Fraser
Released: 1993
Directed by: Steve Rash
Son in Law is a 1993 American comedy film starring Pauly Shore, Carla Gugino, Lane Smith,... more
More Son in Law
#73 of 252 The Funniest '90s Movies#9 of 32 The Best Movies About Thanksgiving, Ranked
22
113
111
Wonder Boys
Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes
Released: 2000
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Wonder Boys is a 2000 Romantic comedy film directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Steve... more
23
130
134
21
Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth
Released: 2008
Directed by: Robert Luketic
21 is a 2008 American drama film directed by Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin... more
More 21
#15 of 64 The Greatest Movies About Making Money#28 of 54 The Best Movies "Loosely" Based on True Stories
24
109
136
How High
Jeffrey Jones, Tracy Morgan
Released: 2001
Directed by: Jesse Dylan
How High is a 2001 stoner film starring Method Man and Redman, written by Dustin Lee Abraham,... more
More How High
#122 of 629 The Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked#1498 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies
25
102
123
Dead Man on Campus
Alyson Hannigan, Poppy Montgomery
Released: 1998
Directed by: Alan Cohn
This filmd is a 1998 dark comedy film starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tom Everett Scott. It... more