In this article, we have compiled some of the best high school movies for you to watch. Whether you’re feeling nostalgic about the lost days of glory or just looking for some inspiration for your high school baddie phase, these movies have everything you will ever need!
The 7 Best High School Movies
1. The Breakfast Club (1985)
Directed by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club tells the story of a particular Saturday when five high school students from diverse backgrounds spend a day together in detention.
As the different social roles, prejudices, and perspectives clash, we see a vivid deconstruction of high school stereotypes. The narrative explores universal themes of authority versus rebellion, familial expectations for growing children, and the complexities of alienation and connection.
Hughes utilizes the single-location setting to his advantage, intensifying the drama. With no way to leave, the characters are now forced to confront their uncomfortable truths. Hughes keeps the narrative character-driven, maintaining a restrained treatment that allows the setup to take over psychologically.
2. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is more like an immersive experience, weaving multiple narratives of an ensemble cast of students on the last day of a small-town Texan high school in 1976.
The central theme of the film is freedom and youth. Instead of focusing on the destination, Linklater takes us on a journey to relive one of the most exciting days in an individual’s life. The portrayal is vivid and soaked in nostalgia.
By not basing the narrative on a single protagonist, Linklater doesn’t let character arcs take away attention from the chaos of the “big event”—the last day of school. As we follow a sprawling ensemble-driven narrative, the treatment makes space for the viewer to become a part of the day as a whole.
3. Dope (2015)
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, Dope follows high-school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends, a couple of straight-A students and hip-hop lovers with big dreams, as they tangle with a gang at a party by accident.
Dope is a fine comedy that explores themes of identity and stereotypes through Malcolm’s journey: first, as he navigates life in a tough neighborhood, and then in a serious predicament that could have changed his life forever.
As he emerges victorious, leveraging the situation to his advantage to secure his future, Malcolm shushes the critics forever, all those who never believed how “dope” he is despite being a nerd.
Dope stands out for its energetic blend of genres, melding coming-of-age comedy, crime caper, and social commentary.
4. Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls perfectly captures the struggles of fitting in through a 16-year-old’s perspective.
Directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, Mean Girls follows Cady (Lindsay Lohan), who joins a public high school for the first time after years of homeschooling.
As she becomes part of an elite group of popular girls, “The Plastics,” Cady begins to lose herself in her pursuit of social acceptance.
Mean Girls demonstrates a witty blend of satire and emotional insight, complemented by the use of stylized visual gags and memorable set pieces, such as the Burn Book Riot.
5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Starring Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a heart-racing comedy following an expert truant who never gets caught. He decides to make one last duck before graduation. Only this time, his high school principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is already on his tail, hell-bent on catching him in the act.
Another masterpiece by John Hughes, the narrative is a sharp and witty celebration of youthful rebellion. Ferris embodies the idea of carpe diem, and his actions and motivations are an exploration of the themes of material comfort versus a sense of fulfillment.
Hughes breaks the fourth wall throughout the narrative, allowing viewers to experience psychological intimacy with the protagonist as they see the world through his eyes.
6. Dead Poets Society (1989)
Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society is the story of a teacher who manages to positively transform the lives of a few of his students as they fight against the burden of traditional education and parental expectations, breaking out of their shells to pursue their dreams.
The film subtly conveys irony throughout by contrasting the institution's rigid, bureaucratic teaching methods with what truly constitutes meaningful education. Mr. Keating (Robin Williams), the English teacher, embodies both the “seize the day” philosophy and the transformative power of unconventional pedagogy, inspiring his students to break free from conformity and discover their voices.
Dead Poets Society is a poetic narrative of students burdened with expectations and confined by educational structures until they encounter Mr. Keating, who guides them toward growth as they pursue their individuality and dreams.
7. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
A heart-warming tale of healing, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie (Logan Lerman), a socially awkward freshman, as he joins high school after being discharged from a psychiatric hospital for depression.
Grieving the suicide of his best friend and haunted by repressed trauma, Charlie struggles to navigate school until two charismatic seniors take him under their wing, and he learns to embrace life as a main character, instead of watching it pass by from the sidelines.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower showcases a brilliant use of humor to tap into some of the most complex themes of life, like trauma, grief, and self-discovery. Charlie's gradual transformation from isolated observer to confident participant creates genuine emotional resonance.
Have you watched any of these movies? Which is your favorite?
As the year comes to a close, we've got plenty of 'Best Of' lists coming down the pipeline over the next couple of weeks. We share videos throughout the year, but it is simply a snapshot of the hundreds and thousands of videos uploaded every day. The good people over at Vimeo, who consistently curate a steady stream of fantastic videos, from shorts and docs, to music videos, to experimental videos, and everything in between, have handpicked a list of their 12 favorite videos from 2012.
