The Best High School Movies Of All Time

High school movies are the greatest examples of the angst of the teenage experience plus the turmoil of virgin sexual frustrations. This high school movies list includes really good high school films that capture all the drama and comedy of those teen years. Most of these also fall under the teen chick flicks category but not all of them. You'll find some high school horror movies on the list as well as coming of age dramas and comedies. But which one deserves to be at the top of the list? You can help decide by voting your favorites to the top.

School movies set in high schools account for some of the best performances by adults playing teens ever captured on the big screen. From Danny and Rizzo in Grease to pretty much all the members of The Breakfast Club, there are myriad movies about high school that you can have a peek at if you want to relive your high school experience or just think about how awful other people's adolescences were. Be sure to vote up your favorites and vote down any that you think other fans should skip.

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  • Clueless
    1
    Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy
    32 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Amy Heckerling
    In the heart of Beverly Hills, high schooler Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) reigns as a self-proclaimed fashionista and matchmaker. Clueless, a comedy-drama flick directed by Amy Heckerling, sees Cher navigating the tricky waters of adolescence while attempting to handle love interests and maintain her social status. Alongside Cher is her best friend Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash), who aids in her various escapades. The film, an amusing modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, cleverly taps into teenage angst and the complexities of young love. Despite its light-hearted tone, it subtly addresses pertinent social issues, making it a timeless classic.

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  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    2
    Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
    32 votes
    • Released: 1986
    • Directed by: John Hughes
    In the classic comedy, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is a high school senior who decides to play hooky for a day. He cleverly manipulates his parents, outwits his sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), and convinces his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to join him. They embark on an unforgettable adventure in Chicago, involving a vintage Ferrari, the Sears Tower, and a local parade. Meanwhile, their suspicious principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is determined to catch Ferris in the act. This film explores themes of friendship and rebellion against societal norms without resorting to heavy drama or violence.

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  • The Breakfast Club
    3
    Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson
    31 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: John Hughes
    In the film The Breakfast Club, five high school students, each representing a different stereotype, meet in detention. There's the brainy Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), the athletic Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), the rebel John Bender (Judd Nelson), the princess Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), and the outcast Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy). As they spend a Saturday together under supervision of the strict assistant principal Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason), they gradually open up to one another, revealing their deeper selves beneath their public personas. This 1985 coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by John Hughes explores themes of identity, peer pressure, and adolescence within its 97-minute runtime. To this day, it remains a classic in teen cinema.

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  • 10 Things I Hate About You
    4
    Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    27 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Gil Junger
    Welcome to 10 Things I Hate About You, a modern-day Shakespearean twist that dances on the line of teen romance and biting comedy. Set in an American high school, this late-90s gem revolves around two Stratford sisters: the rebellious Kat (Julia Stiles) and her popular younger sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). When Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a new student smitten by Bianca, learns of their father's strict dating rule, he hatches a plan involving bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to woo Kat. Amidst clever banter and unexpected romances, the characters navigate the labyrinth of teenage angst, love, and self-discovery. Noted for its memorable performances and sharp wit, this film is a charming exploration of young love and personal transformation.

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  • Superbad
    5
    Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
    32 votes
    • Released: 2007
    • Directed by: Greg Mottola
    Superbad is a coming-of-age comedy that navigates the tumultuous terrain of teenage life. Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), high school seniors, aim to lose their virginity before graduation. Aided by their unpredictable friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who adopts the infamous alias 'McLovin', they embark on a wild night of misadventures. Their quest for alcohol and female attention involves dodging irresponsible cops and navigating raucous parties. Directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film provides an honest, humorous glimpse into adolescent anxieties amidst chaotic circumstances.

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  • Back to the Future
    6
    Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover
    24 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
    In the 1985 adventure-comedy Back to the Future, high school student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is catapulted back to the 1950's in a time-traveling DeLorean car invented by his eccentric scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Stranded in the past, Marty inadvertently interferes with his parents' meeting, jeopardizing his own existence. Now, he must ensure they fall in love again to secure his future. This Robert Zemeckis-directed film won an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing and is known for its unique blend of science fiction and humor.

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