The 25 Best High School Movies of All Time

As another person noted, "Back To The Future" was not included. That should have been in the Top 5. "Breakfast Club" is #1 on my list. Not much representation from the 70's and 80's (list clearly wasn't put together by a baby boomer), when movies were funny vs just being stupid. Also forgotten was "Valley Girl" (awesome soundtrack), and "Just One of the Guys" (very creative and funny). "Mischief" was a great underrated 50's-type movie (made in the 80's, featuring Kelly Preston), and how about "Peggy Sue Got Married"? A couple great sleeper HS movies from the 70's are "Almost Summer" (w/Bruno Kirby and DiDi Conn), and "The Chicken Chronicles" (Steven Guttenburg's first film, which is set in the Vietnam War era). Lastly, forgotten was the underrated "The Last American Virgin", a great comedy, but with serious overtones about friend betrayal and abortion (like "Fast Times"). Fun list, overall.

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How can they possibly leave out American Graffitti? And what happened to The Black Board Jungle which introduced rock n' roll to the American culture? It appears that the creators of this poll had better do some more homework.

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I agree with some of the movie placements, but i also think American Pie should be number 1. It's just the greatest film ever. I got called Stifler at school after that movie. lol

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ROFL

Heder and his dancing...next thing you know he will be on Dancing With The Stars to help his career. Marie O' is there promoting the Mormon Church (as if that isn't why she is there..hey,isn't she divorced and going to be stuck with that guy in the afterlife?) so why not Heder. He can't be any more of an embarrassment (seems to like portraying gays and sexually desperate losers) than the coach and his high as a kite sons. Let's have 'em all!! NOT!

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You're right! License To Drive was a great teen-age movie! One of my favorites! Also, Peggy Sue Got Married, Orange County, Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Sixteen Candles!!!

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Two that could have made the list were Breaking Away, and Can't Hardly Wait.

I really thought Girl Next Door was kind of lame.

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i definately agree with dazed and confused being on the list Awesome movie! "thats what i love about these highschool girls, i get older and they stay the same age."

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How about Blackboard Jungle? A old one but great. American Grafitti, Porky's. You list is too short.

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I think "Election" was meant to be a dark comedy rather than a teen flick. Where is "Say Anything?" John Cusak holding a boom box over his head is one of the most memorable teen flick moments...it deserves to be in the top 5!

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YOUR REASONING FOR BEST HIGH SCHOOLMOVIES WAS "IN AND AROUND HIGH SCHOOL AND FERRIS WAS NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT ABOUT HIGH SCHOOLERS, THE TRUE BEST PICTURE YOU LISTED AS NUMBER TWO. I AM 51 YEARS OF AGE NOW BUT WAS IN MY EARLY 20'S WHEN THAT FILM CAME OUT AND WAS AS MUCH IN LOVE WITH IT THEN AS NOW, AND I SUGGEST YOU MAKE A CORRECTION BASED ON YOUR OWN STANDARDS!

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FERRIS DIDNT SPEND A MINUTE IN SCHOOL THE DAY OF HIS DAY "OFF" SO YOU BROKE YOUR OWN RULES , YOUR NUMBER 2 PICK IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PICK IN MY BOOK AND WAY DOWN ON YOUR LIST IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN # 2 "TO SIR WITH LOVE" JUST BECAUSE ITS FORTY YEARS OLD IS NO REASON TO SIMPLY CATER TO THE YOUNGER AMONGST US!

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Remember the Titans deserves to be on the list.

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Awww c'mon guys!
Every American high school experience wasn't embodied through the eyes of John Hughes. How could you leave off "American Graffiti", "Blackboard Jungle", and "Westside Story"?
The biggest travesty is that "Cooley High" is not represented; great music and a different perspective of the common ailments of high school life. If you haven't seen it, do so!

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A second vote for 'Some Kind of Wonderful' The majority of us experience that, I'm not good enough for him or her, he or she is out of my league. And we all want to be somebody we're not. I thought Mary Stuart Masterson was great in this one.

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I agree with most of your list. Haven't seen The Girl Next Door, but don't know if I'd put it on your list. I agree with the people who said the following films sshould have been included: Cooley High, Blackboard Jungle, Valley Girl, Say Anything, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Another great film about high school is Up the Down Staircase - one of the best films ever made about this genre. It is comparable with To Sir With Love. How could everyone have overlooked this classic!

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I agree with Al on Three O'Clock High. How does that movie not make this list? But Superbad makes it after being out for less than a month? Come on.

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Also what about "Lean on Me". That movie was a classic. Morgan Freeman did an excellent job in that one. Plus with the hit song which I had to sing numerous times thru my grade school career puts Lean on Me easily in the top 5 High School movies

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Should've had "Some Kind Of Wonderful" on the list. I thought for sure it would make the top 10. Also, not having "Fast Times" at #1 is a disgrace. That's clearly the #1 HS movie of all time.

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Its a very good list, however you left out one of the all time best high school movies of the 70's if not ever. "American Graffitti". Look at how many up and coming young stars that movie produced. I don't think that there was a movie that produced as many future stars as American Graffitti. Stars like Harrison Ford, Cyndi Williams, Richard Dryfus, Mackenzie Philips, Susuan Sommers, Deba Lee Scott, Debra Winger, Joe Sprano, Candy Clark, Ron Howard and more. There were so many actors that started their careers from his one great High School movie.

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Ferris Bueller's Day off is not the best high school movie. what they talkin bout?

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