Definitive HS movies by decade

[BorWhiskey]

I was thinking about what movies I’m going to make my kids watch when they get older after rewatching Dazed and Confused for probably the 20th time (although I don’t think I watched it in my 30s so it’s been a minute).

If I were to make them watch movies, or a movie, and say “this gives the best vibe of that decade for HS kids”, I’d go:

1950s - Stand By Me (@Tsakoi )
1960s - The Outsiders
1970s - D&C, Almost Famous is a stretch but about a HS kid.
1980s - a lot of Hughes movies are good options but maybe Breakfast Club would be my pick. Ferris B would be up there.
1990s - Mid 90s will be up there. 10 things I hate about you.
2000s - American Pie. Maybe Superbad.
2010s and 2020s I have no idea.

What recommendations do others have?

Here's what I pulled out of the thread;

1950s - Stand By Me
Mentions - Porky's, Dead Poets Society, Back to the Future, Rebel Without a Cause

1960s - The Outsiders
Mentions - Heaven Help Us, American Graffiti

1970s - Dazed & Confused
Mentions - Remember the Titans, Grease, Halloween

1980s - Breakfast Club
Mentions - Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ferris Bueller, Freaks & Geeks (tv show), Karate Kid, Just One of the Guys, Pretty in Pink, Weird Science, Better Off Dead, Sixteen Candles, Making the Grade, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Valley Girl

1990s - American Pie
Mentions - Mid 90s, 10 Things I Hate About You, Can't Hardly Wait, Varsity Blues, She's All That, Drive Me Crazy, Clueless, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kids

2000s - Superbad
Mentions - Mean Girls, Bring it On, EuroTrip, Friday Night Lights

2010s - Easy A
Mentions - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 21 Jump Street, Project X, Dope

2020s - Euphoria (tv show)
Mentions - Snack Shack

 

[Jay Bilzerian]

Haven’t seen it yet, but the reviews are good. Was made by a Nebraska guy in Nebraska City.

 

[Tsakoi]

Stand By Me... should be on the list.

 

[DrinkItIn]

Can't Hardly Wait - 1998

 

[BorWhiskey]

Stand By Me... should be on the list.

Definitely. That’s the 50s movie.

 

[Goskers07]

Varsity Blues needs to be there.

 

[BorWhiskey]

Can't Hardly Wait - 1998

I watched this in HS once. IIRC it was a girls coming of age story. I’ve got two boys. If you’ve seen it more recently or with better recollection, what would you say about it knowing I’ll be forcing two boys to watch it.

 

[nja13]

1950s - Stand By Me (@Tsakoi )

It's interesting that you picked a movie from 1986 to best represtent the '50s. Would a movie from the '50s do that better? Unless you think SBM would better hold their attention than a movie from the '50s.

I remember when I first got a Netflix subscription (back in the mailed DVD days) and started to watch some classic movies I always heard referenced but had never seen. One of them was The Graduate, and I was like, "Oh, this is what the '60s looked like and felt like." The clothing, the style, the furnatute, etc. It hits different when you're seeing something actually from that era rather than an attempt to recreate it, like an Austin Powers or Mad Men version of the '60s.

 

[DrinkItIn]

I watched this in HS once. IIRC it was a girls coming of age story. I’ve got two boys. If you’ve seen it more recently or with better recollection, what would you say about it knowing I’ll be forcing two boys to watch it.

I wouldn't call it a coming-of-age movie about a girl. It all takes place at a high school graduation party. A popular girl (Jennifer Love Hewitt) was dumped by her boyfriend, and the main character (Ethan Embry) is attempting to win her over.

It was only rated PG-13 but had been rated R, like American Pie, which came out after, I think it really would have been a more memorable movie. I still love it, though.

 

[Cornicator]

I was thinking about what movies I’m going to make my kids watch when they get older after rewatching Dazed and Confused for probably the 20th time (although I don’t think I watched it in my 30s so it’s been a minute).

If I were to make them watch movies, or a movie, and say “this gives the best vibe of that decade for HS kids”, I’d go:

1950s - Stand By Me (@Tsakoi )
1960s - The Outsiders
1970s - D&C, Almost Famous is a stretch but about a HS kid.
1980s - a lot of Hughes movies are good options but maybe Breakfast Club would be my pick. Ferris B would be up there.
1990s - Mid 90s will be up there. 10 things I hate about you.
2000s - American Pie. Maybe Superbad.
2010s and 2020s I have no idea.

What recommendations do others have?

1970's - Debbie Does Dallas
1980- Debbie Does Dallas Part 3: The Final Chapter
1990s- Debbie Does Dallas Again
2000s- Debbie Does Dallas: East vs. West
2010s- Debbie Does Dana

 

[Goskers07]

1970's - Debbie Does Dallas
1980- Debbie Does Dallas Part 3: The Final Chapter
1990s- Debbie Does Dallas Again
2000s- Debbie Does Dallas: East vs. West
2010s- Debbie Does Dana

2020s - Debbie's Done

 

[Red Finger]

 

[Kaladin]

Varsity Blues needs to be there.

Came here to say this

 

[Kaladin]

Remember the Titans is good too

 

[Jay Bilzerian]

Porky’s

 

[betsch]

American Pie is definitely for me. Graduated HS 1995.

 

[Black Dean]

Can't Hardly Wait - 1998

 

[vailhusker]

Red Dawn, WarGames.

 

[Black Dean]

View attachment 36047

@Mr.Bojangles

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

@Mr.Bojangles

😂