# Need suggestions for a high school (setting) movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274 "2004-05-03T13:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/1 "2004-05-03T13:45:50Z")
Hello, Dopers 🙂 My Film and Literature class is writing their own screenplay to finish out the year. Because of our budget ($.85), it is going to be set at school. Any suggestions for school-appropriate (PG-13) movies set in a high school that might get their creative juices flowing? I have juniors and seniors in the class, and would like to find something they might not have seen before. Thanks 🙂 -cats ---
**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/2 "2004-05-03T14:07:44Z")
Here are a few that I love: \*The 10 Things I Hate About You \* - It a reworking of Taming of the Shrew. Its very funny and probably my favorite high school movie. Its stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Larry Miller (who is a comic genius). \*Fast Times at Ridgemont High \* - A classic of the high school movie scene, great dialog and some very sexy scenes. I think its an R so it wouldn’t fly in class, but it might be a good excuse for some of you to get together over someone’s house for movie night! 🙂 It stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold. _Heathers_ - A dark comedy about peer groups and being popular in high school. Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty. Good luck on your project. Mike ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/3 "2004-05-03T14:22:48Z")
Three O’Clock High (High Noon) Clueless (Emma) The trick is to find an established plot from a movie and retool it (humorously) to a high school setting. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/4 "2004-05-03T14:24:51Z")
Thinl about movies like Three O’Clock High (High Noon) and Clueless (Emma). The trick is to find an established plot from a classic play, movie, or novel and retool it (humorously) to a high school setting. ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/5 "2004-05-03T14:36:27Z")
Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming! \*10 Things I Hate About You \* I have already used when we were discussing modern adaptations. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/6 "2004-05-03T14:48:08Z")
_The Breakfast Club_ _Racing with the Moon_ \*Greece\*\*Ferris Buler’s Day Off[i/]_Summer School_ ---
**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/7 "2004-05-03T17:09:22Z")
so i’m the only sicko that immediately thinks of _Carrie_? 😃 plus any number of teenage Revenge-of-the-Whatever-at-the-Big-Prom slasher types ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/8 "2004-05-03T17:11:37Z")
The Romeo Zomie flicks. Or, get a Halloween copy of a hockey golie’s mask, & do a slasha flic. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/9 "2004-05-03T20:58:17Z")
[Rock n’ Roll High School](http://imdb.com/title/tt0079813/) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/10 "2004-05-03T21:38:33Z")
Definitely the John Hughes movies, since many of students (especially the ones who weren’t even alive in the '80s) probably haven’t seen them. A summer school setting would probably be even easier than normal school, since there would be no (or less) need for extras. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/11 "2004-05-03T22:09:56Z")
I’m betting they’ve seen the John Hughes movies. But I’m also betting they haven’t seen _[Lucas](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0091445/)_. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/12 "2004-05-04T00:01:11Z")
How about **Can’t Buy Me Love**? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/13 "2004-05-04T00:12:28Z")
> [@vl\_mungo](#): > > [Rock n’ Roll High School](http://imdb.com/title/tt0079813/) No no no, you have to watch the sequel. **No one** I know ('sides my brother) has ever seen it, and it’s one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. The appliance worship cult is priceless. [Rock n’ Roll High School Forever](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100504/combined). Plus, it’s got one of the Coreys in it 😛 The people at IMDB have no taste, none at all… Seriously, if you want something they’ve never seen, this is a great pick. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/14 "2004-05-04T00:14:13Z")
_School Ties_ - Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon. It takes place in the '50’s at an exclusive prep school. It really like this. _Dead Poets Society_ - suprised I’m the first to mention this one. Maybe it’s because most have seen it already. _Remember The Titans_ - This is about football and high school. It deals with racism. It does have a lot of football, but I enjoy it alot. _Ferris Buellers Day Off_ - is about skipping high school. Again, everyone has probably seen this one. _Pump up the Volume_ - stars Christian Slater as a DJ of his own pirate radio station (a sizeable highschool component in it). There is some brief nudity and some colorful language but it’s very good. My grade ten english teacher showed us a version of Romeo and Juliet with nudity in it so I don’t think it’s a big deal. As far as the John Hughes movies go, I’d highlight _The Breakfast Club_. I think it’s the best of the group. Of the movies I’ve mentioned I think your best bets are **School Ties** , **Pump up the Volume** , and **Dead Poets Society**. If you don’t end up using them for school, watch them anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/15 "2004-05-04T00:43:42Z")
**The Emperor’s Club** is a good movie set in a prep school. More snaps for **Dead Poets Society** as well. ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/16 "2004-05-04T14:54:47Z")
Thanks everyone!! I’m showing Some Kind of Wonderful; mostly because I already own it. The kids are already loving Duncan. I’m going to bookmark this thread, though, and use these suggestions for next year. Thanks again, I knew I could count on you all! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/17 "2004-05-04T16:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > The trick is to find an established plot from a movie and retool it (humorously) to a high school setting. _Casablanca High_ Rick Blaine is the mysterious student who runs the best table in the Casablanca High School cafeteria (thanks in part to his cozy relationship with hall monitor Louis Renault). School nerd Billy Ugarte has gotten his hands on a hall pass signed by Superintedant Weygand - nobody can question this pass, not even the principal - and gives it to Rick to hold for him right before he gets caught and sent to detention. Now the principal’s snitch, Henry Strasser is trying to find the pass. Then into the cafeteria walks Ilsa Lund, the girl that broke Rick’s heart. They met at the Paris Mall foodcourt and had a wonderful day eating pizza and playing videogames. But when Rick asked her to the prom, she said no. Now she’s reappeared and reveals to Rick that she was going steady with Victor Laszlo, the head of the school debate team the whole time. The story ends with a dramatic climax. Rick convinces Ilsa that they’re going to use the hall pass to get out of school early and go to the movies. But at the least minute he gives the pass to Victor instead and he takes Ilsa to the movies. Strasser sees all this and is ready to go tell the principal when Louis writes him up for being out in the hall between classes and sends him to detention. In the final scene, Rick and Louis head off to study hall to hang out. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/18 "2004-05-04T17:06:57Z")
They could redo The Seven Samurai. It’s been done as a western The Magnificent Seven and a children’s movie, A Bug’s Life so a HS adaptation shouldn’t be too hard. A group of nerdy kids hire some guys to protect them from a gang of bullies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/19 "2004-05-04T17:14:37Z")
Do your students get extra credit if they can work in a scene where they need an answer to something, so they check The Straight Dope? Bonus points for a Cecil reference? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274/20 "2004-05-04T20:54:26Z")
Currently in theaters is **Mean Girls** , a truly hilarious and well-written comedy which comes very close to the holy grail of having a message without being cloying. I also recommend **Bring It On** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-a-high-school-setting-movie/243274.md?page=2)