Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the best intelligent movies, or those that are smart, clever, etc.
In everyday life, we don't always view teenagers as the most intelligent beings—and a lot of movies follow the same lines. While there are plenty of movies with smart teens, the movies themselves aren't always these clever masterpieces. More often than not, they focus on things like teen angst, those teenage romances, high school and so on, and at most teach fellow teens not to ditch class or disobey their parents. However, plenty of intelligent teen movies do exist. That is, films with clever plots, well-thought-out dialogue, and even deep insight into the lives and minds of teenagers.
In this sense, movies like Mean Girls are prime examples of intelligent teen movies. While it's certainly a goofy comedy, it also takes a close look at the effect of cliques, bullying, and other common issues post-pubescent kids. Of course, these smart teen films don't have to focus on high school, and you'll find plenty of great teen movies below that really make the viewer think. Whether that's a great coming-of-age flick or harrowing family film, you'll find the best of them right here.
Check out the list below and vote up the best intelligent teen movies, or those you feel are most clever, insightful, etc. You can also vote down any films you don't find as smart as the next, and add your own to the list. Then, check out our list of movies about smart people.
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285Heathers
Winona Ryder, Shannen DohertyReleased: 1988
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
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29910 Things I Hate About You
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle UnionReleased: 1999
Directed by: Gil Junger
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3416Easy A
Emma Stone, Amanda BynesReleased: 2010
Directed by: Will Gluck
4
237Stand by Me
Kiefer Sutherland, Corey FeldmanReleased: 1986
Directed by: Rob Reiner
5
226The Breakfast Club
Judd Nelson, Molly RingwaldReleased: 1985
Directed by: John Hughes
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207The Outsiders
Tom Cruise, Nicolas CageReleased: 1983
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
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2111Flipped
Stefanie Scott, Rebecca De MornayReleased: 2010
Directed by: Rob Reiner
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3226Mean Girls
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdamsReleased: 2004
Directed by: Mark Waters
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189The Edge of Seventeen
Hailee Steinfeld, Woody HarrelsonReleased: 2016
Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
10
179Sixteen Candles
John Cusack, Molly RingwaldReleased: 1984
Directed by: John Hughes
11
148Say Anything...
John Cusack, Jeremy PivenReleased: 1989
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
12
148Almost Famous
Zooey Deschanel, Kate HudsonReleased: 2000
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
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148Dope
Shameik Moore, Tony RevoloriReleased: 2015
Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
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1612Can't Buy Me Love
Paula Abdul, Patrick DempseyReleased: 1987
Directed by: Steve Rash
15
128She's All That
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anna PaquinReleased: 1999
Directed by: Robert Iscove
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1310Lady Bird
Saoirse Ronan, Laurie MetcalfReleased: 2017
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
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129Saved!
Mandy Moore, Macaulay CulkinReleased: 2004
Directed by: Brian Dannelly
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119Splendor in the Grass
Natalie Wood, Warren BeattyReleased: 1961
Directed by: Elia Kazan
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1212Superbad
Emma Stone, Seth RogenReleased: 2007
Directed by: Greg Mottola
20
66It's Kind of a Funny Story
Emma Roberts, Viola DavisReleased: 2010
Directed by: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
21
55Booksmart
Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie FeldsteinReleased: 2019
Directed by: Olivia Wilde
22
67Rushmore
Bill Murray, Alexis BledelReleased: 1998
Directed by: Wes Anderson
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78Sing Street
Aidan Gillen, Jack ReynorReleased: 2016
Directed by: John Carney
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1521Juno
Jennifer Garner, Ellen PageReleased: 2007
Directed by: Jason Reitman
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35The Fits
Royalty Hightower, Alexis NeblettReleased: 2015
Directed by: Anna Rose Holmer
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