Here are some films that beautifully capture the essence of leaving school:
“Superbad”, 2007
Director: Greg Mottola
This comedy follows high school seniors Seth and Evan during their final weeks of school. Focusing on their attempt to enjoy one last party before graduation, it humorously and poignantly explores themes of friendship, the fear of separation, and the anxiety of moving on to college and adulthood.
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
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, 2012
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Based on the novel by Stephen Chbosky, who also directed the film, it tells the story of introverted high school freshman Charlie and how he navigates the complexities of adolescence, including making friends, falling in love, and dealing with his past, all while the future looms large.
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Nina Dobrev, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, Paul Rudd, Mae Whitman, Adam Hagenbuch, Johnny Simmons;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” on the website imdb.com
“Lady Bird”, 2017
Director: Greta Gerwig
Directed by Greta Gerwig, this coming-of-age story focuses on the titular character, a fiercely independent high school senior living in Sacramento, California. The film explores her relationships with her friends, her first romances, and her tumultuous relationship with her mother, all in the shadow of her impending departure for college.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Lois Smith, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Odeya Rush, Jordan Rodrigues;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 94 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Lady Bird” on the website imdb.com
“Boyhood”, 2014
Director: Richard Linklater
A unique film by Richard Linklater, shot over 12 years with the same cast, capturing the life of a boy, Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college. It's a groundbreaking study of growing up, familial bonds, and the changes that come with time, including leaving school behind.
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, Libby Villari, Elijah Smith, Steven Chester Prince, Bonnie Cross, Sydney Orta, Marco Perella;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 166 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Boyhood” on the website imdb.com
“American Graffiti”, 1973
Director: George Lucas
Directed by George Lucas, this film takes place over a single night, focusing on a group of teenagers in the early 1960s on the cusp of leaving for college. It's a nostalgic look at youth culture, filled with music, racing, and the realization that things will never be the same again after this final night.
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, Wolfman Jack, Bo Hopkins;
Production year: 1973;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “American Graffiti” on the website imdb.com
“Grease”, 1978
Director: Randal Kleiser
A classic musical set in the 1950s, following the senior year of Sandy and Danny, who have a summer romance and unexpectedly find themselves reunited at Rydell High. Their story, along with that of their friends, delves into themes of identity, love, and the future waiting beyond graduation.
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward, Didi Conn, Jamie Donnelly, Dinah Manoff;
Production year: 1978;
Genre: musical, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Grease” on the website imdb.com
“Dead Poets Society”, 1989
Director: Peter Weir
This film, set in an elite, conservative boarding school in 1959, follows an English teacher, John Keating, and his unconventional teaching methods that inspire his students to challenge norms and think for themselves, making them contemplate life beyond school walls.
Starring: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Dylan Kussman, Allelon Ruggiero, James Waterston, Norman Lloyd, Kurtwood Smith;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Dead Poets Society” on the website imdb.com
“The Graduate”, 1967
Director: Mike Nichols
A landmark film in American cinema, it tells the story of Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate with no clear aim in life, who enters into an affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson, and later falls in love with her daughter Elaine. The film tackles post-college aimlessness and the search for purpose.
Starring: Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, William Daniels, Murray Hamilton, Elizabeth Wilson, Buck Henry, Brian Avery, Walter Brooke, Norman Fell;
Production year: 1967;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 105 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Graduate” on the website imdb.com
These films, each in their unique way, touch upon the universal experience of transitioning from the world of school to the broader stage of life, highlighting the excitement, challenges, and changes that come with this significant rite of passage.
As the curtains fall on “Films About Leaving School,” our journey through the myriad emotions, challenges, and transformative moments that punctuate the end of school life reaches its conclusion. These films, woven from the threads of nostalgia, anxiety, excitement, and self-discovery, invite viewers to reflect on their own transitions from the sheltered halls of education into the vast, often intimidating world beyond. Whether it is the raucous laughter shared among friends in “Superbad,” the poignant introspection in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” or the relentless ambition depicted in “Rushmore,” these stories transcend mere entertainment. They serve as universal narratives that resonate with the shared experiences of youth, the bittersweet farewells to adolescence, and the inevitable march toward adulthood. As a tapestry of cinematic art, films about leaving school illustrate the timeless and universal nature of growing up, echoing the sentiment that while we may all walk different paths, the journey from the classroom into the larger world is a journey that binds us all.
