10. Easy A 

A newcomer to the category of the high school comedy, Easy A burst onto the scene in 2010 as one of the year’s highest grossing comedies. The film even shocked many film fans when it was nominated for a Golden Globe. Its young star Emma Stone has since become a bit of a commodity garnering roles in many upcoming films, one of which is the highly anticipated new Spiderman film where she will play Gwen Stacy. Easy A plays with the teen movie clichés, but in its attempt to make fun creates a very witty film, based on The Scarlet Letter, that I have a feeling will become a teen classic soon enough.

9. American Pie

The little gross out comedy that critics hated, but teens loved. Hollywood finally recognized that the frat guy audience had a lot of buying power so this film catered almost exclusively to that audience. The film also makes never looking at an apple pie the same way ever again a very realistic possibility. But it blazed a trail in regards to gross out teen comedy with its subject matter, risk-taking cast, and its utterly silly humor. Although there was this one time at band camp…

8. Clueless

 In the realm of teen comedies and chick flicks Clueless is certainly one of the golden classics. Alicia Silverstone stars in one of the nineties biggest films, and has added some fantastic slang terms to American vocabularies since its release including the gems, “like” and “as if.” And nothing quite says teen classic like taking the “ugly girl” and giving her a whore make over. It is ridiculous and cheesy but hey aren’t all of these movies?

7. 10 Things I Hate About You

Who knew that a film set in high school based on the William Shakespeare classic The Taming of the Shrew would be a hit? Answer, no one but those of us who grew up in the nineties. With an all star ensemble cast of nineties up and coming teen stars 10 Things I Hate About you is a clever re-telling of a classic story, full of humor, mild action, and of course sex. And if those aspects don’t quite grab you did I mention it stars a young, extremely sexy, and at times singing, Heath Ledger?

6. Sixteen Candles

 I would be remiss if I didn’t include some John Hughes in the list. One of his best films is about the trials and tribulations of a young girl growing up, growing boobs, and a growing a crush on one of the hottest hotties of the eighties, Jake Ryan. Molly Ringwald became the girl-next-door that represented an entire population of underappreciated and often ignored girls who got their chance to shine through this film. Aside from that, Sixteen Candles is full of funny moments, and memorable characters making it a classic that will have teenagers for years to come saying “no more yankie my wankie”… or maybe not.

5. Mean Girls

 “I’m sorry that people are so jealous of me… but I can’t help it that I’m so popular.” Mean Girls has quickly become one of the most quoted movies of this generation, and for good reason. It is packed with one liners that are appropriate for almost all situations, while providing young girls with a message of unity, and equality. Messages aside, Mean Girls is down right hilarious every time, with Tina Fey behind the project, and a supporting cast of SNL alums and established comedians it was bound to be comedy gold.

4. Dazed & Confused

The antithesis of the 1970’s teen culture, Dazed and Confused takes us back to the days of sex, drugs, and a younger, creepier Matthew McConaughey. Dazed and Confused chronicles the last day of school as the incoming freshmen get hazed and the rest of the kids get blazed. The 70’s have never been this cool, although I think we can all agree that we don’t miss the freshmen bashing that perhaps some of us received. Although I think I know a few girls, and maybe boys who wouldn’t have minded a paddling from a young Ben Affleck.

3. Grease

 “Tell me about it… stud.” The classic story of wrong-side-of-the-social-tracks love Danny and Sandy taught teens everywhere that to fit in all they needed to do was change themselves completely and don a skin tight black leather suit. One of the best musicals of all time Grease still captivates teens with its music, content, and cool. Not to mention John Travolta actually looks pretty good with that slicked back ‘do.

2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

 Matthew Broderick stars as one of the coolest characters ever to hit the silver screen. Ferris Bueller’s confidence and cunning leads him to accomplish every teen’s wildest dream with his “personal holiday.” The film is just fun from beginning to end, as the audience tags along with Ferris on his day off as he joy rides, swims, dines out, goes to a baseball game, and… sings in a parade? Another John Hughes hit, the film makes playing hooky an art, while reminding us that “life is short, and if you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.”

1. The Breakfast Club

 A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal came together for one day of detention and in turn made the best teen movie ever. Who doesn’t relate to all of these stereotypes in one way or another? John Hughes, the films mastermind, took all of the aspects of a typical high school experience and put them all into one library, in a social experiment everyone wishes would have occurred at their school. Though the outcome of that Saturday detention is mildly improbable it leaves every teenager, and beyond with a great message. With a phenomenal young cast of up and comers, The Breakfast Club stands tall as the quintessential teen movie.

March 25, 2011
Categories: Emily's Reviews, The List . Tags: 10 Things I Hate About You, American Pie, Clueless, Dazed and Confused, easy a, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Grease, Mean Girls, Sixteen Candles, Teen Films, The Breakfast Club . Author: reel2reality . Comments: Leave a Comment