Within the last few years, TV shows have reinvented the way in which we approach teenage issues. The hit Netflix shows 13 Reasons Why and To All the Boys I've Loved are breaking new ground in the ways we discuss important issues such as bullying, suicide, the intensity of your first real crush, and the need to fit in—acknowledging the reality that navigating this stage of early adulthood isn't nearly as easy as the teen movies of yesteryear would have us believe.
And yet, there's something so deliciously enjoyable about the teen rom-coms of the '80s, '90s, and early aughts, with their stock characters, formulaic plots, and happy endings. There's a comfort to their predictability, and a joy in the way that they remind you of a time when all of your emotions were so extreme and life, in all its glory, was wide open with possibility. And some of them are worth watching for the fashion alone (did we really wear chokers? Why?). So if you're in the mood for a teen movie—be it a drama, comedy, or horror film—check out our ranking of some of the classics.
40 | Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
This 1987 film is about a nerdy high schooler (Patrick Dempsey) who bribes a beautiful cheerleader (Amanda Peterson) into pretending to be his girlfriend, in order to boost his own social status. If you want to watch a movie about two teens who wind up falling in love—by pretending to be in love—and are super into '80s fashion, this hits the spot.
39 | American Pie (1999)
Outrageously bawdy, the film about a group of high school students fumbling through attempts to lose their virginity is refreshingly frank in the way it deals with sex and masturbation. But it's also pretty shallow, and many of the scenes are really cringeworthy (see: Stifler).
38 | What a Girl Wants (2003)
Free-spirited American teenager Daphne (Amanda Bynes) goes to England to meet her estranged, uppity English father (Colin Firth), and ends up really shaking up the lives of the British middle class. It's one of those movies that you probably loved if you watched it as a tween but wouldn't enjoy as a first-time adult viewer.
37 | I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
This slasher about a group of high school students plagued by a hooked killer who, erm, knows what they did last summer, received mixed reviews when it was released but was a major success at the box office and continues to be a pop culture classic. The film's primary flaw is that, unlike Scream (keep reading!), it takes itself a little too seriously.
36 | Twilight (2008)
Summit EntertainmentIt's hard to even mention this movie without rolling your eyes, but anyone who's experienced the utter angst of teen love can relate to the tortured romance between teen girl Bella (Kirsten Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson). The film is also a good reminder that sunshine is a real mood-booster because many of the issues that they have could have been cured by a little extra melanin.
35 | The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Based on the bestselling book by John Green, this romantic tragedy film is about two cancer patients who fall in love. It doesn't exactly reinvent the genre, but it's a great tearjerker, and has touched the hearts of adults and teens alike.
34 | Napolean Dynamite (2004)
This totally original and hilarious film follows the titular character as he navigates life in rural Idaho—and really embodies the experience of teens bored senseless by high school. Thanks to its devastating deadpan humor, it has gained a much-deserved cult following.
33 | Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater's 1993 film follows a group of teens in Austin, Texas, trying to make the most of their last day of high school. It's pace is loose and refreshingly meandering, and it's also known for launching the careers of several stars, including Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey (whose catchphrase in the movie, "All right, all right, all right," is famous). It's considered one of the ultimate stoner flicks, partially because Linklater has an uncanny ability to make rambling monologues about the universe feel purposeful rather than pretentious.
32 | Superbad (2007)
Hilarity ensues when high school nerds Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) try to advance their social standing in the dumbest ways possible. The 2007 Judd Apatow film was both a critical and commercial success, with fans and critics alike praising the way it perfectly captured the immense awkwardness of being a teen. And yes, it brought McLovin' into the world.
31 | The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Summit EntertainmentBased on Stephen Chbosky's eponymous novel, the 2012 film stars a shy teen who befriends two fellow classmates who show what it means to truly be alive. The movie is notable for the way it handles sensitive topics like depression, suicide, death, and sexual abuse, but it can be a bit pretentious at times.
30 | Cry-Baby (1990)
A prim and proper schoolgirl (Amy Locane) breaks social taboos by falling in love with a juvenile delinquent named Cry-Baby (Johnny Depp). This is the ultimate so-bad-it's-good film, and, as such, it has garnered a cult following since its 1990 release.
29 | Never Been Kissed (1999)
Josie Gellar (Drew Barrymore) is a junior copyrighter hungry for success who poses as a high school student for what sounds like a terrible and extremely unethical investigative piece on teen culture. She's also never been kissed, and her budding romance with her English teacher (Michael Vartan) becomes complicated as a result of her deception. It's a fairly shallow film, but anyone who wasn't popular in high school can relate to the trials and tribulations of "Josie Grossie."
28 | Drive Me Crazy (1999)
The high school-set film was named after the Britney Spears song that features on its soundtrack, and it's just as begrudgingly enjoyable. High school neighbors Nicole (Melissa Joan Hart) and Chase (Adrien Grenier) pretend to be a couple in order to make their respective exes jealous, but end up falling in love in the process (gasp! Bet you never saw that one coming!).
It may not have as much depth of some of the films higher up on this list, but there's something immensely satisfying about the scene in which they finally give in to their true emotions.
27 | Scream 3 (2000)
Unpopular opinion: this movie is actually brilliant. Back when it premiered in 2000, the third installment of the iconic slasher series was panned by critics, but it's such a great spoof of the precise genre it reinvented, and it's even more laugh-out-loud funny than the original.
26 | Lady Bird (2017)
The most recent film on this entire list, Greta Gerwig's recent coming-of-age drama about a Catholic high school senior who calls herself "Lady Bird" (Saoirse Ronan) was critically acclaimed and won two Oscars, mostly because it's a rare example of a film about a young woman's identity that doesn't focus solely on her relationship with a boy. While it's funny, it's also not as purely fun as some of the other movies on this list.
25 | Juno (2007)
This beloved indie film is about a pregnant teen named Juno (Ellen Page) trying to find her identity in the midst of her unplanned pregnancy. Its quirky humor garnered it very favorable reviews, and it's unique for receiving criticism from both pro-life and pro-choice activists. The film's closing sequence has also got to be one of the sweetest scenes in teen movie history.
24 | The Princess Diaries (2001)
Anne Hathaway's breakthrough role as an ordinary San Francisco teen who suddenly finds out she's heir to the throne of a fictional European country called Genovia speaks to the secret teenage need to feel like you're special in a way that no one else recognizes. It's also a really charming film that inspires young women to break the mold and march to the beat of their own drums.
23 | Jawbreaker (1999)
This black comedy is about two popular teenage girls who accidentally murder the leader of their clique with a jawbreaker. It's no Heathers, but it's nonetheless notable for capturing the dangerous, sickly sweetness of young women coming into their own sexuality.
22 | The Craft (1996)
This supernatural horror film is absolutely ridiculous in every way imaginable, not least of all because of its terrible special effects. But the movie, which is about a group of outcast teenage girls whose dabbling in witchcraft really goes awry, gained a cult following because it really exudes the goth culture of its time period.
21 | 13 Going on 30 (2004)
It's been pegged as a romantic comedy, but this twist on the movie Big really spoke to teenagers wishing that they, like Jennifer Garner's lead heroine, could just skip adolescence and go straight into adulthood.
20 | A Walk to Remember (2002)
Based on the eponymous Nicholas Sparks novel, the 2002 romantic drama is about two teens who fall in love in spite of the fact that Jaimie (Mandy Moore) is sweet and shy and Landon (Shane West) is rebellious and popular. It's one of those films that really gets to you even though you recognize that it's hopelessly cheesy and that the religious undertones are a bit heavy-handed.
19 | Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Nick O'Leary (Michael Cera) is still heartbroken over the departure of his ex-girlfriend, but everything changes when he meets a girl named Norah (Kat Dennings) who shares his unique taste in music. The 2008 film garnered largely positive reviews, because it's just too sweet.
18 | Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
A prequel to the next film on this list, this film is set during the Cuban Revolution, and is about the forbidden romance that develops between a rich American teen (Romola Garai) and a Cuban busboy (Diego Luna). The film got negative reviews, but the dancing in it is incredible, which makes it the ultimate guilty pleasure.
17 | Dirty Dancing (1987)
This indie about the romance between a 17-year-old rich girl dubbed "Baby" (Jennifer Grey) and a wrong-side-of-the-tracks dancer named Johnny (Patrick Swayze) was a surprise box office hit and continues to be immensely popular. The chemistry between its leads is undeniable, and while it deals with some serious themes like illegal abortion, it's almost physically impossible not to roll over with laughter at the closing dance sequence.
16 | The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Based on the eponymous Jeffrey Eugenides bestseller, the 1999 Sofia Coppola film is a cautionary tale for restrictive parenting, as it follows five sisters who live in a deeply religious household which they rebel against in tragic ways.
15 | Back to the Future (1985)
This utterly lovable sci-fi flick is such a classic that people forget that much of the film deals with the difficulties of being a social outcast in high school. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) travels back to 1955, and has to plot to make sure his parents—total opposites—fall in love, while also trying to harness the power of lightning so he can get...back to the future. Come for amazing soundtrack and action set-pieces, but stay for the hilarious scenes in which Marty's teenage mom takes a pass at him.
14 | The Outsiders (1983)
Based on the coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton, this classic Francis Ford Coppola drama confronts the harsh lives of a gang of working class teens in Oklahoma, and has perhaps the most stacked male cast of any film in history, including Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, and Tom Waits. Bonus: Diane Lane's in it, too!
13 | Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Haha! Bet you didn't expect a 1955 film on this list, but, yes, it's actually a total teen classic. James Dean plays a troubled teen whose disillusionment with society is considered not only a compelling portrayal of teenage angst, but also a social commentary of the moral decay of America.
12 | She's All That (1999)
This film took every teenage movie trope in the book and smushed them together, which is what makes it such a fascinating relic. The school's most popular teen, Zach (Freddie Prince Jr.), makes a bet with his jock friends that he can turn the village outcast, Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) into the prom queen in just six weeks (her "makeover" essentially consists of taking off her glasses and paint-covered overalls).
Obviously, they fall in love in the process. It got terrible reviews but was a sleeper hit in theaters, and it's not only one of the ultimate feel-good films but also a veritable ode to '90s rom-coms.
11 | Scream (1996)
This iconic film about a masked serial killer plaguing a group of high school students managed to reinvent the slasher film genre by masterfully embodying and simultaneously poking fun at the genre. Of the horror teen films on this list, it is the very best, because it is a rare example of a movie that is both suspenseful/terrifying and yet extremely funny. Also, it's credited with launching the entire late-'90s horror genre, which could be combined together to create a super movie titled I Still Know Which Urban Legend You Screamed About Two Summers Ago.
10 | 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
The film is basically a better version of She's All That (with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger as the leads, how could it not be?). An adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, the film revolves around the romance between a caustic and outspoken senior named Kat Stratford and a devilishly handsome new arrival named Patrick Verona. By 1999, any storyline involving a bet was already becoming cliché, but the scene in which Kat finally lets her guard down and breaks into tears while reading a poem is genuinely moving.
9 | Bring It On (2000)
This film starring Kirsten Dunst deals with a high school cheerleading squad literally and figuratively bending over backwards in an attempt to win a competition and best a rival team. It's extremely fun and sassy, but the way it portrays sports culture and racial tension also lends it some surprising depth.
8 | Cruel Intentions (1999)
Very few people realize that the 1999 film is actually an adaptation of the 1782 French novel Dangerous Liaisons, which makes its tale of wealth, incest, betrayal, and intrigue all the more compelling. Rich playboy Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) makes a bet with his step-sister Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) that he can get an innocent fellow classmate (Reese Witherspoon) into bed, but ends up falling in love in the process. Is the power of love enough to bring out the good in someone so wicked?
7 | Grease (1978)
People don't think of this as a high school movie because all of the characters looked like they were 38 years old, but it is. The 1978 musical starring bad boy Danny (John Travolta) and good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton John) asks whether or not love is enough to transcend societal stereotypes. The fact that Sandy changes who she is for him at the end is, well, a bit sexist, but it's worth it to watch them literally ride off into the sky in his car.
6 | Say Anything (1989)
The classic film about a hopeless romantic (John Cusack) trying to win the affection of the smartest and prettiest girl at school (Ione Skye) has got to be one of the sweetest movies of all time, and the scene in which Cusack stands under her bedroom window at dawn playing Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" is simply iconic.
5 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
The 1986 film about a crafty teen named Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) who enlists his girlfriend and best friend into playing hooky from school in order to have an adventure, is pure fun. But it also has a secondary storyline in the form of a young man helping his friend stand up for himself and stop letting his life pass him by. In spite of the light-hearted nature of the movie, it has a profound message: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
4 | Heathers (1988)
IMDB/New World PicturesIn an era in which teen movies were invariably fluffy in nature, this 1988 film broke the rules by being dark, cynical, and subversive. Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), is a member of a clique of beautiful and wealthy girls who all share the name Heather. When Veronica and her boyfriend (Christian Slater) kills one of the girls and has to cover it up (and then continue to kill others), she begins to question whether or not the cost of popularity is too steep.
3 | Sixteen Candles (1984)
The beloved coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school sophomore (Molly Ringwald) dealing with the fact that her entire family has forgotten her 16th birthday, while also plagued by an attraction to the most popular boy in school. In many ways, it is the original teen rom-com, inspiring all of the others that we came to love later on, and therefore takes the teen rom-com crown.
2 | The Breakfast Club (1985)
Image via YouTubeFive students stuck in detention realize just how much they have in common despite coming from different cliques, and, in doing so, meaningfully explore high school stereotypes and the struggle to be understood. The 1985 film is such a classic that it was recently inducted in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.
1 | Mean Girls (2003)
This comedy about a girl named Cady (Lindsay Lohan), who gets sucked into a popular clique called the Plastics, isn't even a teen movie so much a brilliant piece of social satire, which is part of its endlessly enduring appeal. To this day, there is very little geopolitical tension that cannot be described via GIFs from this iconic film ("We should just stab Ceasar!") and its infamous lines are still extremely quotable ("And none for Gretchen Weiners"). For those reasons—and so many more!—it deserves to be number one.
To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram!
