Best Teen Movies

With a focus on the last two decades, this list of teen movies includes ten great teen films. In order to be considered among the best movies for teens, the movie has to star teenagers, target a largely teenage audience, and generally center around characters that are in high school or college.

Other criteria for teen movies that pass the basic qualifications include a high level of entertainment value, a film that would be appealing to a broader audience as well, and a memorable plot, story, or characters. Additionally, movies that are intentionally excessive on crude humor were not considered. Here are ten great teen films (in no particular order) that pass the test:

10. 10 Things I Hate About You – Perhaps it was the Heath Ledger connection that helps this movie remain popular among teen and young adult crowds, but it also offers a nice romantic comedy story of opposites attracting.

9. Napoleon Dynamite – Arguably the most culturally iconic among teen comedies of the last twenty years, this 2004 film launched Jon Heder into superstardom and helped propel a fashion trend with “Vote for Pedro” shirts appearing everywhere.

8. She’s All That – This is a very nice 1999 romantic teen comedy that told a story of the most popular guy (Freddie Prinze Jr.) who ditches the most popular girl in order to win a bet. His target is Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), an awkward, artsy girl, who “shockingly” is a beautiful young woman waiting to break out of her shell.

7. I Know What You Did Last Summer – This 1997 teen thriller movie featured an amazing collection of actors, which somewhat overcame the “okay” plot. Sarah Michelle-Gellar and future hubby Freddie Prinze Jr. were joined by Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Philippe, Bridgette Wilson and Anne Heche.

6. Not Another Teen Movie – Any list of teen movies would not be complete without a mention of this 2001 film that parodied many of the best films for teens of the previous two decades. Very humorous if you get the jokes and have seen the movies.

5. National Lampoon’s Van Wilder – So the rules for this list of teen movies clearly states no intentionally crude movies are to be included. This Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid romantic comedy that chronicles two completely different college students offers to much entertainment value to leave out, though. Perhaps their 20s age range is being overlooked slightly as well.

4. The Girl Next Door – This movie is “entertaining” in one word. Elisha Cuthbert stars as an adult entertainment star with a vivacious personality who tries to walk away from the business and her persistent manager (Timothy Olyphant). Emile Hirsch is an accomplished high school senior preparing for college success when he gets sidetracked by “The Girl Next Door”.

3. Adventureland – The newest film on the list and the most recent among popular teen comedies, this movie stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg as two struggling teenagers who meet at an interesting theme park in the summer before college. A nice supporting cast includes Ryan Reynolds and SNL star Kristen Wiig.

2. The New Guy – It is certainly possible that others might not appreciate this teen movie as much, but DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku (long before Dollhouse) formed another great opposites attract duo in this very funny, offbeat romantic comedy about the new guy who goes out of his way to impress a girl.

1. Mean Girls – Before she got weird, Lindsay Lohan gave a nice, and effective performance as the new girl in school who came with a smart and classy attitude, attached herself to the cool click, changed for a guy, and ultimately, rediscovers herself.

While happy with the quality of this list of teen movies, there is no question there are other great teen movies that could have been included. Here are some other teenager films that could easily have been in the top 10 that you might also enjoy:

Cruel Intentions, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Never Back Down, American Pie, Charlie Bartlett, School of Rock, Scary Movie, Scream, The Perfect Man, Stealing Harvard, Swim Fan, John Tucker Must Die, A Walk to Remember, Legally Blonde

If you have other favorite teen films, simply add a comment and share your thoughts. Let us know the name of the movie, why you liked it, and a little bit about it!

Best Teen Movies feature article written by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

• List of Funny Movies
• Best High School Movies
  

Tags: Best Teen Movies, Cruel Intentions, Girl Next Door, I Know What You Did Last Summer, List of Teen Movies, New Guy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Teen Movies