Top High School/College Comedies of all time & top in last 10 yrs. Poll & Discussion

Cafe Society
1

Here is my list for all time and in the last ten years. I could not even get to 10. Am I a crotchety old man that thinks things were best when I was in the age range or was the 80s the best times for these films? Please help me fill out the last 10 years.

  1. Animal House (1978) 7.6
  2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) 7.9
  3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) 7.1
  4. Back to the Future (1985) 8.2
  5. The Breakfast Club (1985) 7.8
  6. Real Genius (1985) 6.7
  7. Better off Dead (1985) 7.1
  8. Risky Business (1983) 6.6
  9. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) 6.1
  10. Harold and Kumar go to White Castles (2004) 7.1

** Last 10 years **

  1. Harold and Kumar go to White Castles 2004 7.1
  2. American Pie 1999 6.8
  3. Mean Girls 2004 7.0
  4. Rushmore 1998 7.7
  5. Election (1999) 7.4
  6. Napoleon Dynamite 2004 6.9
  7. Legally Blonde (2001) 6.3

A short list of many other movies in this genre. I purposely left off non comedies like the Wanderers or the Graduate. I know I am missing a lot of comedies. What are your lists, additions and have fun bashing my choices.

Creator (1985) 5.3
WarGames (1983) 7.0
Weird Science (1985) 6.2
Sixteen Candles (1984) 6.9
The Sure Thing (1985) 6.7
The Wild Life (1984) 5.2
Say Anything (1989) 7.5
Dazed and Confused (1993) 7.4
Reality Bites (1994) 6.2
American Graffiti (1973) 7.6
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) 6.6
The Manhattan Project (1986) 5.6
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 6.7
Can’t Hardly Wait (1998) 6.1
My Bodyguard (1980) 6.6
Teen Wolf (1985) 5.3
Fame (1980) 6.3
Karate Kid (1984) 6.7
Teacher (1984) 5.6
The Lost Boys (1987) 6.8
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985) 5.4
Van Wilder (2002) 5.9
Valley Girls
Last American Virgin
Dude where’s my car?

Honorable mention for You’re Only Young Once (1937) and the rest of the ‘Andy’ Hardy movies.

2

Here, in random order, are my favorites from this genre (the ones I can recall, anyway):

Election (probably my favorite, the characters are just so perfectly acted, with special props to Reese)
Heathers (dark, perhaps not so much a comedy the further in you get, but still brilliantly funny in parts)
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (an intelligent stoner movie, what?)
Ferris Beuller’s Day Off (maybe it’s just nostalgia, but a great group-watch movie nonetheless)

Don’t know if I really like any others in this genre.

3

[QUOTE=Windwalker]
Here, in random order, are my favorites from this genre (the ones I can recall, anyway):

Election (probably my favorite, the characters are just so perfectly acted, with special props to Reese)
Heathers (dark, perhaps not so much a comedy the further in you get, but still brilliantly funny in parts)
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (an intelligent stoner movie, what?)
Ferris Beuller’s Day Off (maybe it’s just nostalgia, but a great group-watch movie nonetheless)

Don’t know if I really like any others in this genre.
[/QUOTE]

I forgot about Heathers, good addition. It was more dark than humor though.

4

Animal House seems to top these types of lists a lot and I’ve never found it all that funny. I dunno, I just don’t find any of them all that likeable.

Superbad was released this year. That’d probably make my list andn right near the top as well. This movie is easily as good as any comedies from the 80’s listed.

It’s not out yet, but Juno is supposed to be a pretty good movie, it’s released pretty soon. It did quite well at the Toronto International Film Fest. Coincidentally, both of those movies star Michael Cera.

Orange County is also a good little movie. I figured Colin Hanks would take after this one, ah well. Jack Black is in this one as well.

How about Scream? I always looked at that as more of a Comedy than a Horror movie. I remember laughing at the time, although I haven’t seen it recently.

Clueless is also tragically underrated. A very decent remake of Emma.

As far as what the golden age of High School/College Comedies, things were only best in the 80’s because they seemed to make a heck of a lot more of them so naturally there are more that people remember. I don’t have the numbers on this but I’m not sure I’m wrong either.

5

You forgot “Pretty in Pink” and “Clueless,” which are fun, if a little silly.

I applaud the inclusion of “Better Off Dead,” which is one of my all-time favorites.

And now I see “Clueless” has been mentioned, before me. Damn.

6

I have a deep and abiding affection for Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. “Do your parents know you’re Ramones?”

7

I don’t really think it’s fair to compare movies like Election and Rushmore with movies like American Pie. They’re just setting out to do such different things, even if both are set in a high school.
I don’t have the energy to really give this one a well thought answer, but I will nominate one of my absolute favorite B-movies, the charmingly fun and endlessly quotable Bring It On.

8

No Back To School?

Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect!

Also, School of Rock!

9

how about Can’t Buy Me Love, and Three O’clock High?

10

I thought Not Another Teen Movie was great - a parody of the genre and an excellent movie in its own right.

11

Another vote for Clueless.

I’ll list a few that weren’t mentioned.

House Party was great in it’s time. I haven’t seen it for years but the scene with the kid making Koolaid was hilarious.

I also like CPU. Way over the top with Parliament.

Oh - one of my favorites in the 80s - St. Elmo’s Fire.

12

I’m kind of sad that Clueless isn’t within the last ten years anymore, though. I feel old.

13

[QUOTE=drm]
Animal House seems to top these types of lists a lot and I’ve never found it all that funny. I dunno, I just don’t find any of them all that likeable.

Superbad was released this year. That’d probably make my list andn right near the top as well. This movie is easily as good as any comedies from the 80’s listed.

It’s not out yet, but Juno is supposed to be a pretty good movie, it’s released pretty soon. It did quite well at the Toronto International Film Fest. Coincidentally, both of those movies star Michael Cera.

Orange County is also a good little movie. I figured Colin Hanks would take after this one, ah well. Jack Black is in this one as well.

How about Scream? I always looked at that as more of a Comedy than a Horror movie. I remember laughing at the time, although I haven’t seen it recently.

Clueless is also tragically underrated. A very decent remake of Emma.

As far as what the golden age of High School/College Comedies, things were only best in the 80’s because they seemed to make a heck of a lot more of them so naturally there are more that people remember. I don’t have the numbers on this but I’m not sure I’m wrong either.
[/QUOTE]

I am one of the legion that loves Animal House, I don’t think it is even my age, I am actually a little young for it. One problem I think with Animal House, it is set the bar for all the later movies and so some of it seems old pat if you saw it later. A friends at work makes the same complaint about God Father.

Orange County (2002) 6.1 was fairly funny, I think it would make my last 10 year list.
Clueless (1995) 6.6 was a bad oversight by me, but it would not crack my list and is too old for the last 10.

I did not consider Scream, but as I listed Lost Boys, I guess I should. My wife insisted Back to the Future counts and while I love the movie, I really don’t feel it fits in this genre. I wonder how others feel about it.

I like your theory at the end, but I also think it had a lot to do with John Hughes cranking out so many great ones in that time period.

[QUOTE=MissGypsy]
You forgot “Pretty in Pink” and “Clueless,” which are fun, if a little silly.

I applaud the inclusion of “Better Off Dead,” which is one of my all-time favorites.

And now I see “Clueless” has been mentioned, before me. Damn.
[/QUOTE]

I won’t throw either on my list, but good additions.

[QUOTE=pinkfreud]
I have a deep and abiding affection for Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. “Do your parents know you’re Ramones?”
[/QUOTE]

Excellent addition, thanks.

[QUOTE=MaxTheVool]
I don’t really think it’s fair to compare movies like Election and Rushmore with movies like American Pie. They’re just setting out to do such different things, even if both are set in a high school.

I don’t have the energy to really give this one a well thought answer, but I will nominate one of my absolute favorite B-movies, the charmingly fun and endlessly quotable Bring It On.
[/QUOTE]

Bring it On (2000) 5.9 was the Cheerleader movie, not great, but it reminds me add The New Guy (2002) 5.3 to the list of recent movies to be considered.

[QUOTE=MrDibble]
No Back To School?

Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect!

Also, School of Rock!
[/QUOTE]

I can’t believe I forgot Back to School (1986) 6.0 and I can’t believe it only has a 6.0 rating. I think that needs to knock something off my list. I need to figure out which one.

Okay, I will drop Risky Business off.

[QUOTE=phungi]
how about Can’t Buy Me Love, and Three O’clock High?
[/QUOTE]

Good Additions:
Can’t Buy Me Love (1987) 6.2 rating. It was better than the concept sounds like.
Three O’Clock High (1987) 6.8 rating. This was a fun clever movie. Just one more gem from the 80s.

Reminds me of this grouping of not very good ones:
The Allnighter (1987) 3.4 Memorable only for the hyper cute Susanna Hoffs and another solid supporting actress role by Joan Cusack.
License to Drive (1988) 5.4 a crappy two Corey’s movie.

A few more minor 80s gems
Secret Admirer (1985) 5.9
Mischief (1985) 6.2 Period piece back to 1956.

[QUOTE=jali]
Oh - one of my favorites in the 80s - St. Elmo’s Fire.
[/QUOTE]

Was that College? I think of that as post College, now they are adults. I don’t think it fits despite the cast.

14

Old School?

15

[QUOTE=jali]
I also like CPU. Way over the top with Parliament.
[/QUOTE]

I think that should be PCU, starring Jeremy Piven. And as someone mentioned Better Off Dead, I’ll add How I Got Into College.

16

Is Saved! in this genre? If so, it deserves to be up there.

17

What about Road Trip? Porky’s?

18

[QUOTE=Surbey]
Old School?
[/QUOTE]

I don’t know, does it count? To me it is a middle-age, man I want to live in Delta House movie.

[QUOTE=Dewey Finn]
I think that should be PCU, starring Jeremy Piven. And as someone mentioned Better Off Dead, I’ll add How I Got Into College.
[/QUOTE]

PCU (1994) 5.9 Not bad, humorous.
How I Got Into College (1989) 5.6 I never saw it. Are you tossing it out for the overall genre or suggesting it should crack a top 10? Would you recommend putting it in a NetFlix Queue?

[QUOTE=Aesiron]
Is Saved! in this genre? If so, it deserves to be up there.
[/QUOTE]

Saved! (2004) 7.0 I don’t know it, what type of comedy is it?

[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett]
What about Road Trip? Porky’s?
[/QUOTE]

I can’t belive I forgot Porky’s, I think I saw that my junior year. I will never forget Lassie.
Porky’s (1982) 5.7
Road Trip (2000) 6.3 Where to you put it? Do you recommend it?

19

With the exception of Rushmore & Election, 10 Things I Hate About You is leagues better than any of the films you have in your Top 10 (last 10 years) list.

And how in the world can you possibly call The Graduate a “non-comedy”? Have you actually seen it?

20

[QUOTE=What Exit?]
PCU (1994) 5.9 Not bad, humorous.
How I Got Into College (1989) 5.6 I never saw it. Are you tossing it out for the overall genre or suggesting it should crack a top 10? Would you recommend putting it in a NetFlix Queue?
[/QUOTE]

I don’t think I’d consider How I Got Into College one of the top ten high school/college comedies, but it is worth seeing, particularly if you want to see early Lara Flynn Boyle or you like the comic sensibility of Savage Steve Holland, who also did Better Off Dead.