Ranker FilmList RulesFilms that are great to have on at a party
The party movie. While similar in concept to a movie good for drinking games, it is an altogether different animal (though there are some crossovers that play to both). It is a fine art to choosing a flick to play in the background of your party, and there are many factors to consider. For starters, what movies play well without sound (or drowned out by music and party chatter)? What movies have you and your guests seen so many times that they know them by heart?
Sometimes a party needs a movie. What type are you throwing? Theme, frat, or holiday? Consider your guests. Are they friends and family, or co-workers and acquaintances? Teens? Adults? Frat guys? What vibe do you want for the party? Comedy? Introspection? Class? Nostalgia?
As you can see, there are endless variables to weigh when choosing the right party movie for your big shindig. This list of the best party movies should help get you started. Vote up the films you think are best for parties or add one you always put on during a big bash.1
6319Toy Story
1995Actors: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Penn Jillette, Annie Potts
Directed by: John Lasseter
Before CG and animated films were everywhere, there was Toy Story and it was good. This movie holds up so well. Enjoy it with friends!Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated buddy-comedy adventure film produced by Pixar... more2
4852Actors: Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Kristy Swanson, Ben Stein
Directed by: John Hughes
A definitive high school film, for the nostalgic half-watching party-goer.Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John... more3
2220Actors: Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Chris Tucker, Ian Holm
Directed by: Luc Besson
Crazy visuals, Bruce Willis doing his John McLane thing in the future AND both Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker. What more could you want?The Fifth Element is a 1997 English-language French science fiction action film directed and... more4
3945Old School
2003Actors: Elisha Cuthbert, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, Sarah Shahi, Vince Vaughn
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Underrated Will Ferrell glory, and also Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson at their best. Can't really go wrong here.Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks Pictures and The Montecito... more5
2832Actors: Kevin Bacon, John Belushi, Donald Sutherland, Karen Allen, John Landis
Directed by: John Landis
THE classic party movie, plain and simple.National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The... more6
3036Happy Gilmore
1996Actors: Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Kevin Nealon, Joe Sakic
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
We miss this Adam Sandler so much, take a trip down memory lane to the glory days of Sandler comedy.Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert... more7
119The Lost Boys
1987Actors: Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Jami Gertz, Dianne Wiest
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
For the '80s-appreciative crowd. The most fun you can have with a vampire movie, period.The Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen horror film starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer... more8
1312Beerfest
2006Actors: Donald Sutherland, Cloris Leachman, Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson, Will Forte, Eric Christian Olsen
Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
The title really should speak for itself.Beerfest is a 2006 beer-themed comedy film by the comedy group Broken Lizard. Along with the... more9
2427Groundhog Day
1993Actors: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Michael Shannon, Harold Ramis, Chris Elliott
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Once again, Bill Murray. At. Every. Party. Great to catch classic moments here and there or watch in full.Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis. A derisive... more10
2529Airplane!
1980Actors: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie Nielsen, Ethel Merman, Peter Graves, Jonathan Banks
Directed by: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
Steve Martin in his heyday. Comedy gold.Airplane! is a 1980 American satirical disaster comedy film directed and written by David... more11
2428Rush Hour
1998Actors: Jackie Chan, Roselyn Sánchez, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Max von Sydow
Directed by: Brett Ratner
Chris Tucker when he was great! Jackie Chan, who is great, as always! Action comedy at its finest!Rush Hour is a 1998 American buddy action comedy film and the first installment in the Rush... more12
3035Ghostbusters
1984Actors: Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Walton, Ron Jeremy
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Bill Murray. Bill Murray at every party. The rest of the cast is pretty amazing, too.Ghostbusters is a 1984 American sci-fi-fantasy comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan... more13
3543Project X
2012Actors: Jimmy Kimmel, Alexis Knapp, Miles Teller, Jillian Barberie, Thomas Mann
Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh
This generation's Animal House, mindless fun excitement. May encourage bad behavior, so only play at those house parties that aren't at your house.Project X is a 2012 American comedy film directed by Nima Nourizadeh and written by Michael... more14
2226Moana
2016Actors: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
Moana is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy-adventure film directed by Ron... more15
2429Easy A
2010Actors: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Aly Michalka, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell
Directed by: Will Gluck
Another great teen literary adaptation. This one was way more fun than expected and is another easy background movie.Easy A is a 2010 American teen comedy film directed by Will Gluck. A clean-cut high school... more16
3140Actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Allison Janney
Directed by: Gil Junger
The best modern Shakespeare adaptation, hands down. A classic story that's well executed. Fun. Plain and simple.10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Gil Junger, and... more17
1923Actors: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, John Carpenter, James Hong, Kate Burton
Directed by: John Carpenter
A campy, 80's mullet-ed, classic! Play later in the evening and enjoy the lunacy.Big Trouble in Little China is a 1986 American action film directed by John Carpenter, and... more18
2735Dumb and Dumber
1994Actors: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Teri Garr, Lauren Holly, Cam Neely
Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Speaking of brilliantly dumb comedy, go back to one of the movies that made Jim Carrey a star.Dumb and Dumber is a 1994 American road buddy comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff... more19
1519Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Rob Reiner
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin... more20
1926Actors: Bob Hoskins, Bob Geldof, Joanne Whalley, Michael Ensign, James Laurenson
Directed by: Alan Parker
Trippy, awesome, and can be watched in full or just caught in pieces. Perfect for a party.Pink Floyd - The Wall is a fulldome production about Pink Floyd’s album The Wall. It was... more21
1825Actors: Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Matthew McConaughey, Renée Zellweger, Parker Posey
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Alright, alright, alriiight.Dazed and Confused is a 1993 coming of age comedy film written and directed by Richard... more22
1015Django Unchained
2012Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx, Quentin Tarantino
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
All the fun of a western, all of the fun of a Tarantino film, and Leo chewing alllll that scenery. Perfect for a party.Django Unchained is a 2012 American revisionist Western film directed by Quentin Tarantino.... more23
2132Finding Nemo
2003Actors: Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Eric Bana, Allison Janney, Albert Brooks
Directed by: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Anyone who doesn't like this movie shouldn't be at your party in the first place.Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by... more24
1930Aladdin
1992Actors: Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Welker, Jonathan Freeman, Jim Cummings
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
Again, if your friends don't like this movie they should probably leave... Revisit a whole new world, shining, shimmering, splendid!Aladdin is a 1992 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature... more25
1320American Pie
1999Actors: Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Shannon Elizabeth, Christina Milian, Mena Suvari
Directed by: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
It's the movie that started the dirty comedy movement! Re-watch it to feel nostalgic and old!American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz and directed by brothers Paul and... more
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