Welcome, my fellow movie buffs!
If you’d prefer to listen to this discussion, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your favorite school movies. Leave me a comment on Instagram or X (aka Twitter).
Back-to-school season is upon us, and what better way to get into the academic spirit than by revisiting some of the best back-to-school movies? Whether you’re a student gearing up for a new semester or simply nostalgic for those classroom days, these films are the perfect way to relive the joys and challenges of school life. From heartwarming coming-of-age tales to hilarious comedies, my list of the “25 Best Back-to-School Movies” has something for everyone.
So grab your backpack, sharpen your pencils, and join me as we take a cinematic journey through the hallways of elementary school, high school, and college, exploring the timeless themes of friendship, growth, and the pursuit of knowledge.
My Favorite 25 Back-to-School Movies
25. National Lampoon’s Animal House – 1978
In 1962, at a college campus, Dean Vernon Wormer is resolute in his mission to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity. However, those mischievous troublemakers have a different agenda in mind for him.
Buy on Amazon here.
24. Grease – 1978
Sandy Olsson, the good girl, and Danny Zuko, the greaser, kindled their summer romance. However, when they unexpectedly find themselves in the same high school, will they manage to reignite their love?
Buy on Amazon here.
23. Peggy Sue Got Married – 1986
Peggy Sue collapses at her high school reunion. Upon regaining consciousness, she discovers herself transported to her own past right before her graduation.
Buy on Amazon here.
22. Dead Poets Society – 1989
Unconventional educator John Keating employs the power of poetry to inspire his students at a boarding school, urging them to explore newfound depths of self-expression.
Buy on Amazon here.
21. Footloose – 1984
An urban teenager relocates to a quaint small town where the prohibition of rock music and dancing prevails, and his defiant nature disrupts the community.
Buy on Amazon here.
20. Back to School – 1986
In a bid to motivate his discouraged son to succeed in college, a jovial and brash wealthy businessman resolves to enroll in the same school as a fellow student.
Buy on Amazon here.
19. Freaky Friday – 1976
On a peculiar Friday, a mother and her daughter experience a personality swap and must navigate each other’s lives.
Buy on Amazon here.
18. Weird Science – 1985
Two high school geeks employ a computer program to literally craft the ideal woman, setting in motion a series of events that completely disrupt their lives.
Buy on Amazon here.
17. 10 Things I Hate About You – 1999
In high school, Cameron faces a predicament where he can only date Bianca if her reclusive older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. To resolve this, Cameron hires a mysterious boy named Patrick to woo Kat.
Buy on Amazon here.
16. Adventures in Babysitting – 1987
A babysitter finds herself navigating the bustling metropolis with the children she’s caring for, facing unexpected challenges along the way.
Buy on Amazon here.
15. Legally Blonde – 2001
Elle Woods, a stylish sorority leader, experiences a breakup with her boyfriend. Determined to win him back, she chooses to pursue him at law school. During her time there, she discovers that her worth goes beyond her appearance, revealing hidden depths within herself.
Buy on Amazon here.
14. Like Father Like Son – 1987
A mysterious potion swaps the personalities of a disciplined doctor and his easygoing son.
Buy on Amazon here.
13. PCU – 1994
A high school senior spends a weekend visiting a college and lodges at the most raucous house on campus.
Buy on Amazon here.
12. Superbad – 2007
Two inseparable high school seniors find themselves grappling with separation anxiety when their scheme to host an alcohol-fueled party takes an unexpected turn.
Buy on Amazon here.
11. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 1986
A popular high school student, the envy of his classmates, makes the audacious choice to skip a day of school and resorts to extraordinary measures to execute his plan, much to the dismay of his determined principal, who is determined to thwart his efforts at all costs.
Buy on Amazon here.
10. Kindergarten Cop – 1990
A tough cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to locate a dangerous criminal’s ex-wife, who may hold the key to putting him behind bars.
Buy on Amazon here.
9. American Pie – 1999
Four teenage boys enter a pact to lose their virginity by prom night.
Buy on Amazon here or the 4-movie collection here.
8. Accepted – 2006
A high school underachiever, facing rejection from every college he applies to, chooses an unconventional path by establishing his own higher education institution, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a dilapidated piece of land near his hometown.
Buy on Amazon here.
7. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – 1989
Two rebellious teenagers, teetering on the edge of academic failure, embark on a mission to create the ultimate school history report when they are given access to a time machine.
Buy on Amazon here or the 3-movie collection here.
6. School Ties – 1992
In 1959, a talented quarterback from a blue-collar background gets a chance to enroll in a prestigious New England preparatory school. However, he grapples with the decision of whether or not to reveal his Jewish identity to his Evangelical classmates.
Buy on Amazon here.
5. Can’t Buy Me Love – 1987
A social outcast covertly offers the most popular girl in school a thousand dollars to feign being his girlfriend for a duration of one month.
Buy on Amazon here.
4. Just One of the Guys – 1985
Terry experiences discrimination when the summer job positions at the Sun Tribune are given to two male candidates. Determined to take action, she adopts a male appearance, complete with a new haircut. Will her fellow students from the neighboring high school recognize her? As she blends in as a “guy,” it catches the attention of the girls.
Buy on Amazon here.
3. The Breakfast Club – 1985
Five high school students come together during a Saturday detention, uncovering a surprising amount of common ground they share.
Buy on Amazon here.
2. Back to the Future – 1985
Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, finds himself inadvertently transported 30 years into the past when he takes a ride in a time-traveling DeLorean created by his eccentric scientist friend, Doc Brown.
Buy on Amazon here or the 3-movie collection here.
1. Clueless – 1995
Cher, a superficial, affluent, and socially accomplished student, reigns supreme at her Beverly Hills high school. Believing herself to be a proficient matchmaker, Cher initially persuades two teachers to embark on a romantic relationship.
Buy on Amazon here.
There you have it, my movie friends – my favorite 25 back-to-school-movies. There are many, many more, and maybe next year, I’ll do another episode, but these are my top favorites.
Until next time, my story lovers, happy watching!
*Please note that I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and a member of other affiliate programs. I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this article.
