With the upcoming release of my debut YA mystery novel, Football Sweetheart, I thought it would be fun to use this week’s Friday FabOoolousness post to share a few of my favorite movies about high school.
It all started for me when I was a little girl. The movie may have been released when I was a baby, but it wasn’t long before I was singing along with Sandy and Danny…
And while many have agreed the sequel didn’t hold a candle to the original, I’m not ashamed to admit that I liked it too and can still remember the musical numbers. Just ask my guy…
And then in 1984, John Hughes’ movies came into my life, some even stole my heart. Yes, I said movies—plural. I still watch every single one of these every opportunity I get. If I still had a working VCR, I could watch them whenever I wanted…
And let’s not forget the non-John Hughes films…
As I got a little older, I turned to the more mature themed high school movies…
And I wouldn’t be myself without adding at least one slasher to the list…
And let’s not forget about the football movies…
Now as an adult, I appreciate one particular older film just as much as any of the above. I can see why it’s a classic…
What are some of your favorite movies about high school? What makes them so special? I’d love to hear from you!
Come back next week when I share a few of my more recent favorites… you know, high school movies that have come out since the ’90s…
Tiffany A White's Ooo Factor 
I’m going to give away my age a little bit here, but I went to see Grease at the drive-in movie. Of course, I was small enough that both my parents were there. But I will never forget watching Grease at the Drive-in.
This is an awesome list. In fact, I have seen every movie you listed here.
Sixteen Candles was the first movie I went to see without my parents where they said the effword. That was right about the time the PG-13 rating came out. But I think the first PG-13 movie I saw at the movie house was Oxford Blues with Rob Lowe. I always thought he was so good looking.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is probably my favorite of the ones you listed. I still wear Spicolli shoes (those checkered Vans, KWIM?).
One of my favorite high school movies that you didn’t list is 3 O’Clock High. If you’ve never seen it, you totally need to. It’s hysterical.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_O'Clock_High
3 O’Clock High sounds really familiar, Catie. But after googling it, I’m not sure I’ve seen it. I’ll have to check it out!
And you’re right… Rob Lowe was good looking. He may play a tool, but I love him in St. Elmo’s Fire. Heck, what am I saying? He still looks pretty good today…
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I love ALL of them, but Sixteen Candles will always be my favorite. I even engraved his wedding band w/ a quote! LOL (Married? Ya, married! Married?)
Another cult favorite is Rock n’ Roll High School…I just LOVE The Ramones!!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rock n’ Roll High School, Claudia… I’ll have to check it out sometime.
And your husband’s wedding ring engraving? LOVE it!! I think I love even more that he gets it!
Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely LOVE Grease. And I’ll admit, I also like Grease 2. Could it possibly be because Max Caulfield was so yummy?
I just watched Scream again the other day. I’ve always wanted to see Rebel Without a Cause.
Max Caulfield is very yummy… especially in Grease 2 as Michael. Ahhh….
Scream is great. One of my favorites all-time. I can watch it anytime it’s on. And I highly recommend Rebel if you haven’t already seen it, Lauralynn. Such a great movie. A real classic. You’ll fall in love with James Dean. At least I did. And Natalie Wood.
Thanks for stopping by!
I was at high school when Grease came out. [Odd, given I’m still only 21 :-)] Have to confess I never saw it. Still haven’t. But there was ‘Porkys’ – same schtik as ‘Amerian Pie’, set mid-1950s. Very, very funny. Liked ‘American Pie’. And American Pie 2, too, if you get what I mean….
Hi, Matthew!
I haven’t seen Porkys in years… I remember watching it as a little girl and thinking I probably shouldn’t be watching it. LOL. I should give it another try as an adult.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I will, with some embarrassment, admit to loving Porkys. I remember I had the VHS tapes of at least the original and the sequel. One of my sons admitted, after he was a lot older, than he had gotten into the tapes when he was younger and watched them. LOL
Many of those movies are from my era. Love Grease & The Breakfast Club! Ferris Bueller’s Day Off would go on my list. I also adore Say Anything with John Cusack.
Great list, Tiffany!
I will watch pretty much anything with John Cusack, Julie! I love him! My guy said I should have put Grosse Pointe Blank on my list because of all the times I’ve watched it, but it’s about a high school reunion… it’s not quite the same. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
I love so many of those movies. I’ve never seen or heard Can’t Buy Me Love though. Grease and Heathers are still two of my favourite movies today. Christian Slater and Winona Ryder were so great together in Heathers. My favourite high school film is probably 10 Things I Hate About You. It had Heath Ledger, a wonderfully sarcastic Julia Stiles, an awesome soundtrack and the cutie, Joseph Gordon Levitt. It reminds me of my college years when every Thursday night was college night in town and a gang of us would head out on the tiles and go back to my friend’s Claire house with beer and watch 10 Things. We did this every Thursday night Freshman year 🙂
Oh, Emma! You should totally check out Can’t Buy Me Love… http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092718/
10 Things I Hate About You has multiple things going for it — Shakespeare (L.O.V.E.), the cast, and the soundtrack. Great choice!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
Such great movies! One of my favs was One Crazy Summer, I can’t remember how many times I watched it.
I haven’t seen One Crazy Summer in Years, Alica! I need to watch it again… Another John Cusack fave. 🙂
My favorite is is Can’t Buy Me Love. I also enjoy Say Anything (or really, anything John Cusack is in during this era of films), The Outsiders, She’s All That, and Drive Me Crazy.
I once took a history of youth film class in college. The class covered teen through early adulthood so some of these movies are older than high school. I think Rebel Without a Cause was my favorite in that class, but, while clicheish, I also enjoyed Gidget. We watched an early Brando film called the Wild One. While I didn’t care much for the storyline in that one, I did enjoy Brando’s portrayal of the the main character. Another one I enjoyed was Blacboard Jungle – one of those movies where a teacher comes in to try to teach a “rough class” and ends up succeeding. This was one of the first ones of it’s kind and it dealt with racial issues (released 1955) so it was banned from many theaters. It stars a young Sydney Poitier as one of the students. I loved this as he goes on later in his career to star as the teacher in one of these types of films in To Sir, With Love. As you can tell, I really enjoyed this class. Thanks for letting me wander down memory lane.
Hey, Melissa!
I took a Film Studies course in college too — actually, I watched Rebel for the first time as an assignment for this class and I’m so glad that I did. I’m not familiar with Wild One (although I do recognize the movie poster) or Blackboard Jungle. I need to watch more from the ’50s.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
You’re missing one amazing cult classic: Empire Records! “Oh Rexy, you’re so sexy.” Say no more, mon amore! LOL
I love this list, Tiffany; can we have a movie marathon?! I’ll bring the licorice, mambas, and pixie sticks. 😀
Empire Records!!! That is such a great movie, Jess! And I’d love to have a movie marathon with you… if you’re bringing the licorice, mambas, and pixie sticks, I’ll grab the Twizzlers, Junior Mints, and Popcorn! 🙂