September brings so many memories of fresh school supplies and a new outfit with an embarrassing photo taken before you get on the bus. What better way to celebrate this changing of the season than watching some incredible back-to-school movies and feeling the nostalgia?
Our 10 Favorite Back-to-School Movies
Clueless
Like most back-to-school movies, Clueless is a coming-of-age film. It’s a loose adaptation of the novel Emma by Jane Austen. Beautiful, rich, and popular high school students deal with problems within their cliques, welcoming new students to the crowd, and dealing with challenges at home. Plus, this is one of the best soundtracks of the 1990s.
Billy Madison
This comedy came out the same year as Clueless, so it was a good year for back-to-school movies. Billy Madison is a full-grown adult from a rich family. To take over the giant family business, Billy Madison has to go back to school and complete all 12 grades to prove he is competent enough to take over. The movie is hilarious and you’ll find yourself cheering on Adam Sandler in one of his most iconic roles.
Mean Girls
I’m referring to the original Mean Girls here, unless you really love musicals and then you could watch the new one for fun. This 2004 Lindsay Lohan movie addresses the idea of mean girls in high schools and how to deal with them (or join them.) It’s funny and tells the story from the point of view of a student coming back to the US after years of living abroad. The one-liners from this show are unforgettable.
Old School
Imagine a group of grown men pretending like they are back in college because it’s way more fun than adult life. Old School is one of the funniest back-to-school movies with an R rating. The group of men creates a fake fraternity to enjoy the perks of college, but through a series of unfortunate events and their sheer determination, they have to make themselves legitimate in the eyes of the University.
Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams plays an English teacher at an elite boarding school and helps to inspire his students using poetry. He pushes the students to seize the day and live life on their own terms. It’s more of a drama and might be a little different than your back-to-school experience unless you went to an all-male boarding school.
School of Rock
Imagine showing up at school and having a washed-up musician teaching your class. That’s what School of Rock is about. Jack Black plays Dewey Finn who is a struggling rock guitarist and ends up as a substitute teacher. He taps into the musical talent of the fourth graders he’s teaching and forms a band. It’s a fun way to mix musicals and back-to-school movies into one.
The Breakfast Club
This classic 1985 film covers the stereotypical cliques you’ll find in high school by putting five teenagers into Saturday detention together. There’s a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. It’s a movie that I could watch over and over again because you find a new line or change your favorite character each time.
Kindergarten Cop
Imagine if Arnold Schwarzenegger showed up to teach your kindergarten class. This movie features him as an undercover police detective who works as a kindergarten teacher to find the wife and child of a drug dealer. I love seeing Arnold in a comedy role and this one takes place in a city I love—Astoria, Oregon.
10 Things I Hate About You
This is a high-school romantic comedy featuring sisters who could not be more different. They navigate their father’s strict rules around dating by partnering up together. It’s a modernization of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. It’s filmed in Seattle and Tacoma, so it’s got the PNW vibe I love so much too. Plus, Heath Ledger is incredibly lovable in this movie as the bad boy who is trying to win over Julia Stiles’ character.
Sixteen Candles
Another John Hughes classic, this movie centers around sophomore Samantha Baker and her 16th birthday. She has a crush on a senior and a freshman has a crush on her. Her birthday is happening at the same time as her sister’s wedding, so she’s overlooked by the chaos of the nuptials. If you miss high school parties and the feelings of being noticed by your crush, this is a perfect watch.
What back-to-school movies are your favorites?
Which back-to-school movies am I missing from the list? I’ll be sneaking some of these in this week, plus I just opened a new pack of pens and a new notebook for the college class I’m taking. It’s a nice fresh start for the fall, so let’s all celebrate it. For more inspiration on things to watch, try choosing based on your favorite Taylor Swift era.
