1
Warner Bros.
Rebel Without A Cause
Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
James Dean's iconic performance as the original 'kid from the wrong side of the tracks' was given a macabre injection of added impact by the actor's untimely death less than a month before its release. More than 60 years on, Nicholas Ray's sweeping, melodramatic teen angst tale still resonates.
James Dean's iconic performance as the original 'kid from the wrong side of the tracks' was given a macabre injection of added impact by the actor's untimely death less than a month before its release. More than 60 years on, Nicholas Ray's sweeping, melodramatic teen angst tale still resonates.
2
United Artists
Carrie
Carrie (1976)
Far from making you nostalgic for high school, Brian de Palma's lurid, haunting take on Stephen King's prom-gone-wrong story will have you sprinting in the opposite direction. As the titular outcast, Sissy Spacek's transformation from victim to mad-eyed psychic destroyer evokes pity and terror in perfect proportion.
Far from making you nostalgic for high school, Brian de Palma's lurid, haunting take on Stephen King's prom-gone-wrong story will have you sprinting in the opposite direction. As the titular outcast, Sissy Spacek's transformation from victim to mad-eyed psychic destroyer evokes pity and terror in perfect proportion.
3
Warner Bros.
Risky Business
Risky Business (1983)
That Scene with Tom Cruise dancing around in his pants has at this point, at least in terms of public memory, eclipsed everything else about Paul Brickman's debut teen comedy. But the whole thing is gold: a disarmingly stylish, perceptively written satire of privileged suburban kids and their uniquely self-centred worldview.
That Scene with Tom Cruise dancing around in his pants has at this point, at least in terms of public memory, eclipsed everything else about Paul Brickman's debut teen comedy. But the whole thing is gold: a disarmingly stylish, perceptively written satire of privileged suburban kids and their uniquely self-centred worldview.
4
20th Century Studios
Sixteen Candles
Sixteen Candles (1984)
'80s movie teen queen Molly Ringwald stars as the perpetually disillusioned Samantha, ignored equally by her middle-class family and the hunky object of her affections. Writer-director John Hughes assembled an endearing ensemble to deliver his witty, heartfelt script.
'80s movie teen queen Molly Ringwald stars as the perpetually disillusioned Samantha, ignored equally by her middle-class family and the hunky object of her affections. Writer-director John Hughes assembled an endearing ensemble to deliver his witty, heartfelt script.
5
Universal
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Reuniting his Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, John Hughes created what may be the best-loved high school movie of all time in this stereotype-deconstructing tale of five disparate high schoolers thrust together in detention.
Reuniting his Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, John Hughes created what may be the best-loved high school movie of all time in this stereotype-deconstructing tale of five disparate high schoolers thrust together in detention.
6
Moviestore Collection Rex/Shutterstock
Heathers
Heathers (1989)
Possibly the blackest high school comedy ever made, Michael Lehmann's Heathers sees popular girl Winona Ryder turn on her shallow and bitchy friends after meeting a handsome rebel (Christian Slater). Events spin rapidly out of her control, but even at its most darkly outlandish the film maintains an enjoyably detached, satirical tone.
Possibly the blackest high school comedy ever made, Michael Lehmann's Heathers sees popular girl Winona Ryder turn on her shallow and bitchy friends after meeting a handsome rebel (Christian Slater). Events spin rapidly out of her control, but even at its most darkly outlandish the film maintains an enjoyably detached, satirical tone.
7
Touchstone Pictures
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Yes, it's over-quoted, yes, it's dated and yes, it's frequently more than a tad cheesy. But look beyond the eclipsing presence of Robin Williams' archetypial 'inspirational teacher' and you'll find a warm and frequently poignant coming-of-age story, with Robert Sean Leonard's sensitive budding actor Neil as its beating heart.
Yes, it's over-quoted, yes, it's dated and yes, it's frequently more than a tad cheesy. But look beyond the eclipsing presence of Robin Williams' archetypial 'inspirational teacher' and you'll find a warm and frequently poignant coming-of-age story, with Robert Sean Leonard's sensitive budding actor Neil as its beating heart.
8
20th Century Studios
Say Anything...
Say Anything... (1989)
There's a reason why Cameron Crowe's directorial debut is often ranked among the very best modern big-screen romances – the central dynamic between John Cusack's underachieving army brat and Ione Skye's high-flying fellow grad crackles with an authentic and refreshingly mature energy.
There's a reason why Cameron Crowe's directorial debut is often ranked among the very best modern big-screen romances – the central dynamic between John Cusack's underachieving army brat and Ione Skye's high-flying fellow grad crackles with an authentic and refreshingly mature energy.
9
Moviestore Collection Rex/Shutterstock
Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused (1993)
The heady haze of mixed emotions brought on by the last day of high school is captured with affectionate, playful precision by writer-director Richard Linklater, while a young ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey and Parker Posey fill out the various well-established social roes.
The heady haze of mixed emotions brought on by the last day of high school is captured with affectionate, playful precision by writer-director Richard Linklater, while a young ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey and Parker Posey fill out the various well-established social roes.
10
Paramount
Clueless
Clueless (1995)
Gently mocking the high school movie genre while simultaneously existing within it, Amy Heckerling's smartly written comedy transplants the story of Jane Austen's Emma to modern day Beverly Hills, where the pampered and popular Cher (Alicia Silverstone) makes it her mission to transform dowdy new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy).
Gently mocking the high school movie genre while simultaneously existing within it, Amy Heckerling's smartly written comedy transplants the story of Jane Austen's Emma to modern day Beverly Hills, where the pampered and popular Cher (Alicia Silverstone) makes it her mission to transform dowdy new girl Tai (Brittany Murphy).
11
Touchstone Pictures
Rushmore
Rushmore (1998)
Wes Anderson's sophomore feature is still among his funniest and most poignant, combining the writer-helmer's trademark quirk with humanity and moments of real pain. Eccentric teen Max Fischer strikes up a friendship with Bill Murray's jaded business mogul, who shares his affections for Olivia Williams' widowed new teacher.
Wes Anderson's sophomore feature is still among his funniest and most poignant, combining the writer-helmer's trademark quirk with humanity and moments of real pain. Eccentric teen Max Fischer strikes up a friendship with Bill Murray's jaded business mogul, who shares his affections for Olivia Williams' widowed new teacher.
12
Moviestore Collection/Columbia Rex/Shutterstock
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions (1999)
All right, so in many respects it's not a classic, but Roger Krumble's tale of lying, incest and sexual manipulation – in which Sarah Michelle Gellar bets stepbrother Ryan Phillippe that he can't bed a virginal Reese Witherspoon – is an entertainingly nasty film centred on one of the most twisted big-screen love triangles in history.
All right, so in many respects it's not a classic, but Roger Krumble's tale of lying, incest and sexual manipulation – in which Sarah Michelle Gellar bets stepbrother Ryan Phillippe that he can't bed a virginal Reese Witherspoon – is an entertainingly nasty film centred on one of the most twisted big-screen love triangles in history.
13
Moviestore Collection Rex/Shutterstock
Election
Election (1999)
Reese Witherspoon has seldom been better than as ruthlessly ambitious high schooler Tracy Flick, whose manipulative tendencies drive a teacher (Matthew Broderick) to try and bring her down a peg or two by sabotaging her campaign for class president. Alexander Payne's second feature is a joyously cynical black comedy about high school hierarchy taken to its extremes.
Reese Witherspoon has seldom been better than as ruthlessly ambitious high schooler Tracy Flick, whose manipulative tendencies drive a teacher (Matthew Broderick) to try and bring her down a peg or two by sabotaging her campaign for class president. Alexander Payne's second feature is a joyously cynical black comedy about high school hierarchy taken to its extremes.
14
Touchstone Pictures
10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Heath Ledger gives an early scene-stealing performance as high school rebel Patrick, who takes on the challenge of dating prickly outcast Kat (Julia Stiles) in Gil Junger's sly rom-com. Taking its cues from Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', this is a sharp-tongued, big-hearted pleasure.
Heath Ledger gives an early scene-stealing performance as high school rebel Patrick, who takes on the challenge of dating prickly outcast Kat (Julia Stiles) in Gil Junger's sly rom-com. Taking its cues from Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', this is a sharp-tongued, big-hearted pleasure.
15
New Market Films
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko (2001)
Teenagers don't get much more disaffected than Jake Gyllenhaal's Donnie Darko, who begins his own film passed out on a dusty roadside with no memory of how he got there, and believes that the world is about to end because a giant talking rabbit tells him so. The angst may not be universal, but the film's peerless as a strange, haunting portrait of misunderstood youth.
Teenagers don't get much more disaffected than Jake Gyllenhaal's Donnie Darko, who begins his own film passed out on a dusty roadside with no memory of how he got there, and believes that the world is about to end because a giant talking rabbit tells him so. The angst may not be universal, but the film's peerless as a strange, haunting portrait of misunderstood youth.
16
Universal
Mean Girls
Mean Girls (2004)
You'd be hard pushed to find anyone who was a teenager in the noughties and can't quote at least one line from Tina Fey's whip-smart deconstruction of high school dynamics at their bitchiest and most cliquey. Starring a fresh-faced Lindsay Lohan as wide-eyed new student Cady, this is an endlessly enjoyable, quotable and sharp-witted teen comedy.
You'd be hard pushed to find anyone who was a teenager in the noughties and can't quote at least one line from Tina Fey's whip-smart deconstruction of high school dynamics at their bitchiest and most cliquey. Starring a fresh-faced Lindsay Lohan as wide-eyed new student Cady, this is an endlessly enjoyable, quotable and sharp-witted teen comedy.
17
Sony Pictures/BBC Films
An Education
An Education (2009)
Carey Mulligan plays naïve but precocious schoolgirl Jenny in a luminous, breakout turn that would earn her an Oscar nod. Lone Scherfig's shrewdly cast coming-of-ager tells a potentially creepy story – underage girl seduced by much older conman – with warmth, wit and understated poignancy.
Carey Mulligan plays naïve but precocious schoolgirl Jenny in a luminous, breakout turn that would earn her an Oscar nod. Lone Scherfig's shrewdly cast coming-of-ager tells a potentially creepy story – underage girl seduced by much older conman – with warmth, wit and understated poignancy.
18
Will Gluck Productions
Easy A
Easy A (2010)
While far from her first major role, Emma Stone's preposterously charming turn as snarky social outcast turned faux-slutty girl Olive was the first indication of just how big a star we had on our hands. Mean Girls can't be beaten for snark, but this might be the noughties' freshest and truest portrait of high school life.
While far from her first major role, Emma Stone's preposterously charming turn as snarky social outcast turned faux-slutty girl Olive was the first indication of just how big a star we had on our hands. Mean Girls can't be beaten for snark, but this might be the noughties' freshest and truest portrait of high school life.
19
Universal
Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010)
Critically adored but dubbed a financial flop, Edgar Wright's first Stateside comedy starred Michael Cera as young musician Scott Pilgrim, who's struggling to win the girl of his dreams by doing battle with her seven evil exes. Directed with stylistic flair and energetically performed by its young ensemble, Scott Pilgrim more than earns its modern cult classic status.
Critically adored but dubbed a financial flop, Edgar Wright's first Stateside comedy starred Michael Cera as young musician Scott Pilgrim, who's struggling to win the girl of his dreams by doing battle with her seven evil exes. Directed with stylistic flair and energetically performed by its young ensemble, Scott Pilgrim more than earns its modern cult classic status.
Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. She loves owls, hates cilantro, and can find the queer subtext in literally anything.
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