Films about high school typically explore the challenges and experiences of teenagers navigating through adolescence. These movies often deal with themes such as peer pressure, first loves, academic stress, identity crisis, and the quest for popularity, all set within the microcosm of the high school environment. They can range from comedies and dramas to horror and coming-of-age stories. Here is a list of prominent films set in high school:
“The Breakfast Club”, 1985
Director: John Hughes
Directed by John Hughes, this quintessential coming-of-age film features five high school students from different social cliques who come together during a Saturday detention. They start off as stereotypes but get to know each other beyond their surface-level identities.
Starring: Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, Paul Gleason, John Kapelos, Perry Crawford, Mary Christian, Ron Dean;
Production year: 1985;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Breakfast Club” on the website imdb.com
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off”, 1986
Director: John Hughes
Also a John Hughes classic, this comedy follows charismatic high schooler Ferris Bueller, who plays hooky and embarks on a one-day adventure through Chicago, outwitting his principal and his suspicious sister.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” on the website imdb.com
“Clueless”, 1995
Director: Amy Heckerling
A modern adaptation of Jane Austen's “Emma,” this film spins the tale of Cher Horowitz, a fashionable and popular girl who plays matchmaker at her Beverly Hills high school, dealing with the ups and downs of teen life.
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Elisa Donovan, Breckin Meyer, Jeremy Sisto, Dan Hedaya, Aida Linares;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Clueless” on the website imdb.com
“Mean Girls”, 2004
Director: Mark Waters
Written by Tina Fey, this film dissects high school social hierarchies. It follows Cady Heron as she navigates the complex social web of a suburban high school, dealing with a group of popular girls known as 'The Plastics.'
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jonathan Bennett, Daniel Franzese, Amy Poehler;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Mean Girls” on the website imdb.com
“10 Things I Hate About You”, 1999
Director: Gil Junger
This teen romantic comedy-drama is a modernization of Shakespeare's “The Taming of the Shrew,” set in a high school where a new student must find a suitor for the stubborn older sister of the girl he likes.
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, Gabrielle Union, Larry Miller, Daryl Mitchell;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “10 Things I Hate About You” on the website imdb.com
“High School Musical”, 2006
Director: Kenny Ortega
A Disney Channel Original Movie that became a sensation, depicting the story of two high school juniors from different cliques who come together through their love of singing.
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed, Chris Warren, Olesya Rulin;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: musical, drama, melodrama, comedy, family, music;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,6;
More information about the film “High School Musical” on the website imdb.com
“Friday Night Lights”, 2004
Director: Peter Berg
A sports drama based on real events, focusing on a high school football team in a small Texas town and the impact of high school sports on the community.
Starring: Derek Luke, Lucas Black, Jay Hernandez, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Billy Bob Thornton, Lee Jackson, Lee Thompson Young, Grover Coulson, Connie Britton;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, sport;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 118 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Friday Night Lights” on the website imdb.com
“Heathers”, 1988
Director: Michael Lehmann
A dark comedy starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, this film looks at the tumultuous and often cruel dynamics of high school cliquism and the extreme measures some will take to maintain or challenge the status quo.
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, Penelope Milford, Glenn Shadix, Lance Fenton, Patrick Labyorteaux, Jeremy Applegate;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: thriller, comedy, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Heathers” on the website imdb.com
“Superbad”, 2007
Director: Greg Mottola
A coming-of-age teen comedy that follows two inseparable high school friends who hope to party and lose their virginity before they graduate, leading to a series of humorous and awkward events.
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone, Aviva Baumann, Joe Lo Truglio, Kevin Corrigan;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 113 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Superbad” on the website imdb.com
“Easy A”, 2010
Director: Will Gluck
Inspired by “The Scarlet Letter,” this comedic interpretation features a high school student who lies about losing her virginity and then decides to use the school's rumor mill to her advantage.
Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: comedy, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
These films are just a few examples of how the high school setting has been used as a backdrop for storytelling, allowing audiences to reflect on their own experiences during those transformative years.
In conclusion, films about high school serve as poignant chronicles of the tumultuous journey of adolescence. They are more than mere entertainment; they are cultural markers that encapsulate the angst, hilarity, and transformation that define the teenage years. Whether they navigate the corridors of a John Hughes drama or the raucous parties of a Seth Rogen comedy, these films offer a mirror to the past for adults and a guiding light to those currently embarking on the bittersweet odyssey of high school life. They continue to resonate with audiences of all ages, demonstrating an enduring appeal that transcends generation after generation. Through their exploration of universal themes such as identity, friendship, love, and the anxiety of looming adulthood, high school films remain an integral part of the cinematic landscape, capturing the hearts of viewers with their authenticity and wit.
